# Ralph Vacchiano: Vacchiano names one breakout candidate for each of the 16 NFC teams for 2026, including Abdul Carter reaching double-digit sacks, Colston Loveland becoming the NFL's best tight end, and Zach Charbonnet taking over as Seattle's unquestioned lead back. **Claimed:** Aug 6, 2026 **Pundit:** Ralph Vacchiano — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/ralph-vacchiano **Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fox-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/breakout-candidates-one-player-from-each-nfc-team-poised-star-turn 24 checkable claims — 16 sleeper calls, 6 depth chart calls, 1 player season number and 1 positional finishe — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 34 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 5. > Double digits in sacks wouldn't be a shock for Carter. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Makai Lemon to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Coker to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Turner to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chig Okonkwo to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zach Charbonnet to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Renardo Green to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Renardo Green, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Marvin Harrison Jr. to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Abdul Carter to record 10 sacks** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Abdul Carter, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Shough to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Byron Young to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Alim McNeill to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Alim McNeill, Detroit Lions - Verdict: not settled yet - **DeVonta Smith to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Watson to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colston Loveland to finish top 1 at his position, by receiving yards** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears - Verdict: too vague to check - **DeMarvion Overshown to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas Cowboys - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colston Loveland to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Xavier Watts to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Xavier Watts, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zach Charbonnet to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Colston Loveland to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dontayvion Wicks to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Coker to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Abdul Carter to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Abdul Carter, New York Giants - Verdict: not settled yet - **Emeka Egbuka to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Dallas Turner to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Makai Lemon — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/makai-lemon - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Jalen Coker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jalen-coker - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Dallas Turner — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dallas-turner - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Chig Okonkwo — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/chig-okonkwo - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/commanders - Zach Charbonnet — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/zach-charbonnet - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Renardo Green — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/renardo-green - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Marvin Harrison Jr. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/marvin-harrison-jr - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Abdul Carter — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/abdul-carter - New York Giants — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/giants - Tyler Shough — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/saints - Byron Young — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/byron-young-9137 - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/rams - Alim McNeill — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/alim-mcneill - Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/lions - DeVonta Smith — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/devonta-smith - Christian Watson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/christian-watson - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/packers - Colston Loveland — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/colston-loveland - Chicago Bears — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bears - DeMarvion Overshown — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/demarvion-overshown - Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/cowboys - Xavier Watts — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/xavier-watts - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Dontayvion Wicks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/dontayvion-wicks - Emeka Egbuka — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers ## What others said about the same people - Tyler Sullivan on Detroit Lions: An unsigned CBS Sports column flags five Week 2 favorites on upset alert, effectively backing the underdogs — Lions at Bills, Bengals at Texans, Jets over Packers, Jaguars at Broncos and Saints at Ravens — to pull off wins. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0ee2daf0-868b-4ffd-a252-f478174d97f6 (scored 0) - Tony Fusco on Detroit Lions: In his satirical Week 2 NFL predictions, Tony Fusco called exact final scores in five games: Lions over Bills, Panthers over Falcons, Bears over Vikings, Patriots over Steelers, and Eagles over Titans. He also predicted Atlanta would trick Tua into missing the game entirely. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/84c5d696-88f5-4b4d-9990-706a1698baa5 (scored 0) - Colin Cowherd on Detroit Lions: The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") gave his own Week 2 picks: Seattle, the Niners in dominant fashion, his Lions over Buffalo, Cincinnati 31-27 at Houston, Chicago, Pittsburgh 24-21 as a road upset, Jacksonville by at least a touchdown, Dallas 26-22, and Kansas City handily. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5e7a2965-bd9c-4c78-81b8-cb9ff18f6520 (scored 0) - Christian Booher on Devin Cochran: Booher lays out a projected Detroit Lions offensive depth chart ahead of the 2026 regular season, naming starters, backups and practice squad members at every offensive position. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c8fa7c98-626b-413d-ac56-ac6dc7cc764f (scored 0) - Kevin Wildes on Detroit Lions: Kevin picked every game and came out with the Bills missing the playoffs, the Texans as the AFC's No. 1 seed and the Seahawks as the NFC's, Dak Prescott as MVP, and the Patriots beating the Lions in the Super Bowl. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/989d3882-a69f-47c8-9295-1924f6ff4e6c (scored 0) - Randy Gurzi on Jadarian Price: Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/350eed1b-4675-4a2d-aaf5-812e20678283 (scored 100) ## More sleeper calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Matt Money Smith on Tre Harris: Smith says Ladd McConkie is a legitimate No. 1 receiver who could post a Jaylen Waddle-like season of roughly 1,700 yards and eight touchdowns, and he predicts second-year Chargers receiver Trey Harris will have a big year under Mike McDaniel. He also expects Philip Rivers to become an NFL head coach and thinks the Chargers offense will be good in the coming season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1f779ee4-78d9-4f01-a069-bcd0ef45fc72 (scored 0) - Greg Cosell on Omarion Hampton: Cosell expects the Nick Bonito vs. Will Campbell matchup to be pivotal, predicts Caleb Williams' future is bright, expects the Chargers' run game to improve dramatically under Mike McDaniel with a good season from Omarion Hampton, and expects Sean Payton not to hide Stidham. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/26c1330e-ee04-42a9-b29d-d6f0cc6bab6a (scored 0) - Joe Pisapia on Omarion Hampton: Joe Pisapia's 2026 first round is receiver-heavy, starting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ja'Marr Chase, insisting Amon-Ra St. Brown belongs in the top five, keeping Justin Jefferson in round one, and dropping Christian McCaffrey to 12. He also sees Omarion Hampton as a value who will be a top-10 pick a year later. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/830a3414-41f0-4e58-9f3b-b1a5f9e10c3c (scored 0) - Mike Harmon on Zay Flowers: Harmon gave his Week 18 fantasy rankings — top five quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers — plus lists of 'hot plays,' 'cold sores' (players to avoid) and 'ninjas' (sneaky plays), and said Trevor Lawrence would land around a top-four fantasy quarterback finish for the season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e2e20c82-d482-48e6-90f3-929d0862fc0d (scored 100) - Adam Rank on Shedeur Sanders: Rank recommends JJ McCarthy as a Week 15 quarterback streamer against Dallas and thinks Shedeur Sanders can carry fantasy teams into the semifinals against the Bears. For the Week 15 'perfect lineup' he picks Drake Maye as the top quarterback and Christian McCaffrey as a top running back, and he expects Terry McLaurin to produce with Marcus Mariota starting. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/edbecc9c-cb9a-405e-b3d5-856af9f4e21f (scored 0) - Chris Welsh on Malik Washington: Welsh argued Quentin Johnston should now be viewed as the Chargers' No. 1 receiver, that Jaylen Waddle becomes Miami's de facto No. 1 with Tyreek Hill out, and called Malik Washington a sneaky deeper option. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5607e120-cc01-4b69-b0e5-2713c46f13be (scored 100) --- 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=ralph-vacchiano