Derek Brown· Sep 2, 2026
Brown names five wide receivers to target in 2026 fantasy drafts, arguing each will outperform his draft cost: McLaurin bounces back as a WR2, Flowers is a WR2 with WR1 upside, Egbuka beats his mid-WR2 cost and becomes Tampa Bay's clear WR1, Watson is Green Bay's clear WR1 and a strong WR2, and Evans is a value with WR1 upside in San Francisco.
“Consider me a rabid drafter hellbent upon drafting as much Egbuka as possible this season.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
10 checkable claims — 5 sleeper calls, 3 positional finishes and 2 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
Christian Watson · 2026 season11 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 1. Derek Brown 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
10 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.
- Sleeper CallsMike EvansSan Francisco 49ersSep 2, 2026
Mike Evans to outplay his draft cost
“he should be one of the best values on the board for fantasy season with WR1 upside”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Terry McLaurin to outplay his draft cost
“McLaurin should return to his target-hog WR2 ways in 2026. He's a strong bounceback candidate.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emeka Egbuka to outplay his draft cost (mid WR2 draft cost)
“Emeka Egbuka could crush his mid WR2 draft cost this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to outplay his draft cost
“Watson is a strong WR2 with upside for more in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart
“Egbuka can establish himself as the team's clear WR1 and return WR1/2 production.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Christian Watson got the bag this offseason and should be considered the clear WR1 for the Green Bay Packers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“Watson is a strong WR2 with upside for more in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsZay FlowersBaltimore RavensSep 2, 2026
Zay Flowers to outplay his draft cost
“Flowers is a strong WR2 with WR1 upside again this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Terry McLaurin to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“McLaurin should return to his target-hog WR2 ways in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zay Flowers to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“Flowers is a strong WR2 with WR1 upside again this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris BrockmanTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100Brockman's season-preview overreactions: Fernando Mendoza becomes an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist; Dak Prescott wins MVP and the Cowboys win the Super Bowl; Jesse Minter's Ravens win the AFC North; C.J. Stroud leads Houston to the AFC's No. 1 seed; Jonathan Taylor approaches 2,000 rushing yards; Baker Mayfield wins the NFC South, goes 12-5 and reaches the NFC title game while landing a $60 million-per-year deal; and Aaron Rodgers throws 35-plus touchdowns as the Steelers go 11-6 and win the North.
- Jon GrudenTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The former Buccaneers head coach predicted that Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield are closer on a new contract than believed and that an extension will get done.
- Joel CorryTrade and Signing Calls · Baker MayfieldHit · 100The unsigned CBS Sports analysis lays out the contract it believes Tampa Bay will have to give Mayfield at minimum: a two-year extension averaging $50 million per year with $110 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause.
- Seth WalderTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver.
- Garrett PodellTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports report frames Stefon Diggs as filling Washington's vacant No. 2 receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin after his reported one-year deal, expecting him in that spot in the 2026 passing game with Jayden Daniels.
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
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.