# Eric Patterson: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Eric Patterson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/eric-patterson **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.thescore.com/news/3574917/fantasy-8-bold-predictions-for-the-2026-season 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. > Walker is one of a few running backs with RB1 upside, but he's being picked in the second round. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Kenneth Walker III to outplay his draft cost (RB11)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Purdy to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to record 60 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to record 1,400 rushing yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (the 13th quarterback off the board)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Bowers to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Jefferson to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chris Olave to fall short of his draft cost (WR12 in half-PPR leagues)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (the seventh running back off the board)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Watson to fall short of his draft cost (WR29)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (RB36)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to finish top 20 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Jefferson to record 100 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Bowers to record 150 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost (behind Trey McBride at 20th overall)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to finish with 10 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to record 10 rushing tds** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Jefferson to record 1,000 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Matthew Golden to outplay his draft cost (WR51)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jordyn Tyson to outplay his draft cost (WR33)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to record 1,000 rushing yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Kenneth Walker III — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kenneth-walker-iii - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Brock Purdy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brock-purdy - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Brock Bowers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brock-bowers - Justin Jefferson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/justin-jefferson - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Chris Olave — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/chris-olave - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - De'Von Achane — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/de-von-achane - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Christian Watson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/christian-watson - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/packers - Blake Corum — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/blake-corum - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams - Matthew Golden — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/matthew-golden - Jordyn Tyson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jordyn-tyson ## What others said about the same people - Rich Hribar on Malik Willis: Hribar 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0ff48079-418b-4d5a-9eb2-6e66b0e6f6e1 (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Malik Willis: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/054d7c3e-baca-4414-b3dd-72c4eced2725 (scored 100) - Warren Sharp on Kirk Cousins: Sharp 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f6c6fdb0-ba07-4779-bdb0-bed9dfc089c6 (scored 100) - Greg Auman on Malik Willis: Auman 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4954ba44-5b36-43a2-9dcf-26538ad31e26 (scored 100) - Carter Bahns on Kirk Cousins: The 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/551a6c15-18a9-488d-a1c2-52e7643735cd (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Kirk Cousins: An 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/171507fa-f1c7-4308-957f-f9114e41996a (scored 100) ## More player season numbers The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Chris Broussard on Lamar Jackson: Broussard 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5a026afc-40fe-4b1f-b209-3ce53ae205d7 (scored 0) - Nick Wright on Myles Garrett: Wright 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9a8b5cea-9f2f-46f0-9939-72c2a60e4c26 (scored 100) - Nick Wright on Myles Garrett: Nick 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/029b0090-8d3f-47de-9fb9-7f0a02320f3a (scored 84) - Shannon Sharpe on T.J. Watt: On 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1fbc5b8e-7449-41f4-a5a2-7029cc4ef65e (scored 0) - Joe Marino on Kyle Pitts: Marino 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). — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/73dfb52d-5f75-423d-ac98-c593c1f09e76 (scored 66.67) - Tim Hasselbeck on Isaiah Likely: Hasselbeck 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f427a6b0-2fb5-4887-90e3-a02973258757 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=eric-patterson