Eric Patterson· Aug 12, 2026
In a bold-predictions column for the 2026 fantasy season, Patterson calls Kenneth Walker III the top-scoring RB in Kansas City, fades De'Von Achane, likes Blake Corum as a top-20 back, predicts Justin Jefferson reclaims WR1 with Kyler Murray, has Jordyn Tyson outscoring Chris Olave and Matthew Golden outscoring Christian Watson, sees Brock Bowers breaking the single-season receptions record, and pegs Brock Purdy as a top-five quarterback.
“Walker is one of a few running backs with RB1 upside, but he's being picked in the second round.”
published in writing · read the original →
25 checkable claims — 7 player season numbers, 6 sleeper calls, 5 positional finishes, 3 depth chart calls, 3 fantasy bust calls and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 20 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 25 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 13 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 3 and below it on 10.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season14 calls from 12 pundits between 1 and 2. Eric Patterson said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Dolphins at Raiders 48 calls
25 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas RaidersAug 12, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Kirk Cousins, who will likely start Week 1 for the Raiders”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- LV
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Kirk Cousins
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- quarterback
- reported:
- named the starter
- naive slot:
- 2
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he keeps the job he had last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Kenneth Walker III to outplay his draft cost (RB11)
“who's being drafted as RB11 according to FantasyPros' average draft position (ADP) ... Walker is one of a few running backs with RB1 upside, but he's being picked in the second round.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Purdy to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points
“Purdy finishes as top-5 QB”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to record 60 receptions
“and catch at least 60 passes out of the backfield”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to record 1,400 rushing yards
“He has a path to lead the NFL in touchdowns, surpass 1,400 yards on the ground”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock PurdySan Francisco 49ersAug 12, 2026
Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (the 13th quarterback off the board)
“Purdy is being picked as the 13th quarterback off the board. That'll go down as one of the season's biggest fantasy-draft steals”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesBrock BowersLas Vegas RaidersAug 12, 2026
Brock Bowers to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“That's too low for a player who will lead his position in points.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Jefferson to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Jefferson reclaims WR1 status ... there's a chance Kyler Murray ... can lead Jefferson to this year's WR1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsChris OlaveNew Orleans SaintsAug 12, 2026
Chris Olave to fall short of his draft cost (WR12 in half-PPR leagues)
“There's reason to believe Jordyn Tyson can outscore his Saints teammate ... Olave is currently being drafted as WR12 in half-PPR leagues”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“And when Fernando Mendoza eventually takes over, there's no better security blanket for a rookie than targeting Bowers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsDe'Von AchaneMiami DolphinsAug 12, 2026
De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (the seventh running back off the board)
“Achane finishes outside RB20 ... Achane is being selected as the seventh running back off the board ... Achane comes with way too many risks, especially at his draft slot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to fall short of his draft cost (WR29)
“Matthew Golden is being drafted as WR51, while Christian Watson is WR29. That's a huge difference in draft capital, but there may not be much separating the two Packers wideouts when the season ends.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 12, 2026
Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (RB36)
“Blake Corum is one injury away from being a league winner and is currently being drafted as RB36.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 12, 2026
Blake Corum to finish top 20 at his position, by fantasy points
“Corum sneaks inside top-20 RBs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Jefferson to record 100 receptions
“It's safe to predict Jefferson will turn in his fourth 100-catch season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Walker takes RB1 crown ... To be the top-scoring running back ... so does Kenneth Walker III”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Bowers to record 150 receptions
“Bowers sets single-season receptions record ... The current record is held by Michael Thomas, who caught 149 passes for the Saints in 2019.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock BowersLas Vegas RaidersAug 12, 2026
Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost (behind Trey McBride at 20th overall)
“Bowers is being picked behind Trey McBride at 20th overall. That's too low for a player who will lead his position in points.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsLos Angeles RamsAug 12, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to finish with 10 wins
“The Rams project to have one of the league's best defenses and are expected to win double-digit games.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 12, 2026
Blake Corum to record 10 rushing tds
“Scoring at least 10 touchdowns and eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards is within Corum's range of outcomes”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Jefferson to record 1,000 receiving yards
“and surpass 1,000 yards for the seventh straight season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMatthew GoldenGreen Bay PackersAug 12, 2026
Matthew Golden to outplay his draft cost (WR51)
“Golden outscores Watson ... Matthew Golden is being drafted as WR51, while Christian Watson is WR29.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJordyn TysonNew Orleans SaintsAug 12, 2026
Jordyn Tyson to outplay his draft cost (WR33)
“Tyson outscores Olave ... Olave is currently being drafted as WR12 in half-PPR leagues, while Tyson is WR33. That gap is way too big.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Player Season NumbersBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 12, 2026
Blake Corum to record 1,000 rushing yards
“Scoring at least 10 touchdowns and eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards is within Corum's range of outcomes”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 12, 2026
Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart
“The third-year running back will split time with Kyren Williams to open the season ... Even with a 60-40 split in Williams' favor”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
- Warren SharpDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100Sharp argues Raiders rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is not ready to play, predicting he won't start Week 1 or Week 2 and that Kirk Cousins will be the Week 1 starter, with Mendoza sitting behind him for a long stretch.
- Greg AumanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Auman states Malik Willis will be Miami's Week 1 starting quarterback and the player the Dolphins build their season around, despite having only six career starts.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100The newsletter says Shedeur Sanders' preseason Week 2 start may have won him the Browns' starting quarterback job over Deshaun Watson, and that Kirk Cousins will lead the Raiders' offense in Week 1. It also asserts Florida is the best college basketball team heading into 2026-27.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100An unsigned preseason overreaction piece: Kirk Cousins, not rookie Fernando Mendoza, will start Week 1 for the Raiders; 49ers second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling could be the most productive rookie receiver in 2026 and the team's top target; Cam Ward's rough preseason isn't a real problem; Drew Allar isn't yet Pittsburgh's 2027 starter; and D.J. Moore will boost Buffalo's offense.
More player season numbers
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris BroussardPlayer Season Numbers · Lamar JacksonMiss · 0Broussard expects Lamar Jackson to play well but not vintage — two touchdown passes and no picks — while Derrick Henry carries the load with over 100 rushing yards. He also takes the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record.
- Nick WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 100Wright picks the Steelers to beat the Ravens outright in Pittsburgh, takes Seattle over San Francisco, and thinks the Browns lose to Cincinnati even as Myles Garrett gets the sack record.
- Nick WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 84Nick Wright says Myles Garrett is playing at an all-time level and might reach 25 sacks this season, and among his weekly picks he expects the Bears to beat the Steelers in an ugly low-margin home win and Seattle to win comfortably at Tennessee.
- Shannon SharpePlayer Season Numbers · T.J. WattMiss · 0On a Bengals-Steelers matchup, Sharpe took the over on several player props: Ja'Marr Chase over 74.5 receiving yards, Joe Flacco over 36.5 pass attempts, and T.J. Watt over 3.5 tackles+assists, adding that Watt will get two sacks. He also predicted Rico Dowdle would make the Pro Bowl this season.
- Joe MarinoPlayer Season Numbers · Kyle PittsClose · 67Marino argued Kyle Pitts deserves more respect after a good season and expects his touchdown total to keep rising, landing on six touchdowns next season (following the pattern of his yearly totals).
- Tim HasselbeckPlayer Season Numbers · Isaiah LikelyMiss · 0Hasselbeck expects Kyler Murray to be released by Arizona, believes Malik Willis will sign somewhere as the anointed opening-day starter, and thinks Isaiah Likely can be a true No. 1 tight end who would catch over 75 passes with close to seven touchdowns as a full-season starter.