Pat Fitzmaurice· Jun 26, 2026
Fitzmorris defends Christian McCaffrey as worth a mid-first-round pick, is bullish on Kyren Williams paying off his late-third-round price, ranks Jameson Williams, Kyle Pitts and Mark Andrews above consensus, and fades Rashee Rice, Bhayshul Tuten, RJ Harvey, Rashod White and (mildly) Chase Brown.
“So I think we just need to get like twelve or thirteen games, fourteen games out of him to have him be worth that mid first round pick.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
12 checkable claims — 5 sleeper calls, 4 fantasy bust calls, 2 depth chart calls and 1 positional finishe — 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.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 1.
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Who this take is about
12 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 CallsKyle PittsAtlanta FalconsJun 26, 2026
Kyle Pitts to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Yep, you should still be the clear number two target in the Atlanta offense behind Drake London.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJ.K. DobbinsDenver BroncosJun 26, 2026
J.K. Dobbins to be 1st on the depth chart
“So Dobbins is back... I think Dobbins gets a majority of the early down carries and the goal line carries.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsKyle PittsAtlanta FalconsJun 26, 2026
Kyle Pitts to outplay his draft cost (ECRs at eighty six)
“I know people like hating on Kyle Pitts, but he's going to be a value in drafts yet again this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJameson WilliamsDetroit LionsJun 26, 2026
Jameson Williams to outplay his draft cost (fifty on the button that ECR)
“Pat is above at forty one... I don't want to forget about the season splits for Jamison Williams last year and how much better the second half was than the first half.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsRashee RiceKansas City ChiefsJun 26, 2026
Rashee Rice to fall short of his draft cost (ECR twenty seven overall)
“There's no discount this year at ECR twenty seven overall... I do think there are better options on the board around that round two, round three turn, and they're certainly safer options on the board at that point.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rachaad White to fall short of his draft cost (the east Yar at one sixteen)
“Pat you've got him lower at one twenty seven... I just don't think Rashad White is a good enough runner to really become the lead guy... I just don't see much of a ceiling.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsChristian McCaffreyJun 26, 2026
Christian McCaffrey to outplay his draft cost (that mid first round pick)
“Pat has them ranked number seven overall... So I think we just need to get like twelve or thirteen games, fourteen games out of him to have him be worth that mid first round pick... that's why I'm willing to draft Christian McCaffrey in the middle of the first round.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMark AndrewsBaltimore RavensJun 26, 2026
Mark Andrews to outplay his draft cost (ecs in between at one thirty)
“pat has n't at one oh four... So I think if you punt tight end, Andrews is a worthwhile target.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsKyren WilliamsLos Angeles RamsJun 26, 2026
Kyren Williams to outplay his draft cost (this sort of late third round valuation)
“right now, with this sort of late third round valuation, McVeigh could turn up the dials a little bit on Blake Koram's usage and scale back on Kyron, and Kyron could still pay off on this price point.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsRJ HarveyDenver BroncosJun 26, 2026
RJ Harvey to fall short of his draft cost (ECR eighty three)
“Pat, You're way further down at one thirty three... Like ECR and Ericson's ranking put RJ. Harvey in the seventh round. No thank you, no thank you to that price.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Bhayshul Tuten to fall short of his draft cost (ECRs in between you guys at sixty five)
“fits a year at seventy six... I'm nervous that Tuton winds up being more of a flex type guy than a guy you feel good about starting every week.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesChase BrownCincinnati BengalsJun 26, 2026
Chase Brown to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“I do think he's more of a low end RB one than a second round value.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- Jared DubinDepth Chart Calls · Daniel FaaleleMiss · 0Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0The unsigned Pick Six newsletter expects Seth McLaughlin to step into the Lions' starting center job with Cade Mays injured, and suggests Tua Tagovailoa is on track to be Atlanta's Week 1 starting quarterback.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Matt Money SmithSleeper Calls · Tre HarrisMiss · 0Smith 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.
- Brandon CarneySleeper Calls · Javonte WilliamsHit · 100Carney predicted AJ Brown would not be back with the Eagles, forecast a wave of free-agent landing spots (Breece Hall to the Chiefs, Alec Pierce to the 49ers, Rico Dowdle to the Saints, George Pickens to the Patriots, Mike Evans to the Bills), and named Week 1 starting quarterbacks for several teams in flux. He also gave fantasy takes on Javonte Williams, Chris Olave and others.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonSleeper Calls · Saquon BarkleyMiss · 0Johnson says the Steelers aren't legitimate Super Bowl contenders even with Aaron Rodgers back, and that Saquon Barkley can have a bounce-back season in year nine with the Eagles competing for a championship if the offensive line stays healthy.
- Ross JacksonSleeper Calls · Devaughn VeleMiss · 0Ross Jackson agreed to the same Saints mock draft board — Jeremiah Love at eight, Akeem Mesador in the second, Keonte Scott at 73, Keelan Rutledge and Ted Hurst in the fourth, Xavien Harris at 148, Aaron Anderson in the fifth and Bryce Boettcher in the sixth — and also called Devon Vellet a 2026 breakout candidate.
- Greg CosellSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Cosell 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.
- Andrew EricksonSleeper Calls · Malik NabersMiss · 0Erickson gave his 2026 first-round board, leaning on running backs early with Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, Ja'Marr Chase as his WR1 and Christian McCaffrey slipping to 12. He also touted Malik Nabers as a buying opportunity, projected big touchdown numbers for Burrow and Chase, and called Barkley a buy-low.