Derek Brown· Aug 19, 2026
Brown is high on Jonathon Brooks as a late-round upside pick, believing he'll be healthy and could take over as Carolina's lead back, while avoiding Chuba Hubbard. He also likes De'Zhaun Stribling as a late-round value and is avoiding Alec Pierce and Jordyn Tyson due to injuries.
“Brooks could pull an Uncle Rico from last year and steal Hubbard's starting job in 2026.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls, 3 fantasy bust calls and 2 sleeper calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 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 1 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Jonathon Brooks · 2026 season23 calls from 12 pundits between 1 and 2. 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.
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Who this take is about
8 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.
De'Zhaun Stribling to outplay his draft cost (WR48)
“Stribling is a great late-round selection in fantasy football drafts in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJordyn TysonNew Orleans SaintsAug 19, 2026
Jordyn Tyson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Jordyn Tyson should become the second target in the Saints' offense this season once he's healthy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jonathon Brooks to be 1st on the depth chart
“Brooks could pull an Uncle Rico from last year and steal Hubbard's starting job in 2026. ... If Jonathon Brooks is fully healthy (I think he will be), he could easily be the backfield leader coming out of camp.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsChuba HubbardCarolina PanthersAug 19, 2026
Chuba Hubbard to fall short of his draft cost (RB32)
“I'll be avoiding Hubbard in drafts this year, especially with him also dealing with a hamstring injury in camp now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsAlec PierceIndianapolis ColtsAug 19, 2026
Alec Pierce to fall short of his draft cost (WR37)
“With the addition of Keenan Allen and Pierce's continued health struggles, I'm avoiding him in drafts this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAlec PierceIndianapolis ColtsAug 19, 2026
Alec Pierce to be 4th on the depth chart
“push him into the WR3/4 territory in drafts”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsJordyn TysonNew Orleans SaintsAug 19, 2026
Jordyn Tyson to fall short of his draft cost (WR40)
“This automatically makes him a player that I'm avoiding unless he slips past his ADP.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJonathon BrooksCarolina PanthersAug 19, 2026
Jonathon Brooks to outplay his draft cost (RB30)
“Jonathon Brooks is a wonderful wild card pick for 2026 with big-time upside. ... I'll be drafting Brooks a ton this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Keenan AllenHit · 100Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- Noah ComptonDepth Chart Calls · C.J. AllenMiss · 0After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
- Mike TannenbaumTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Tannenbaum argues the Chiefs should lean on the run game early while Mahomes recovers, says the Bills haven't done enough at receiver and would repeat their playoff shortcoming, expects AJ Brown to have a massive impact in New England, thinks George Pickens will earn a big raise, and offers free-agent fits: Deebo Samuel to Buffalo, Joey Bosa to Tampa Bay, Taylor Decker to Houston, and Stefon Diggs to San Francisco.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · San Francisco 49ersMiss · 0In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Kevin WildesGame Outcome Picks · Indianapolis ColtsMiss · 0Wildes parlayed two upsets: Houston beating Buffalo and Indianapolis beating Baltimore, and had picked Dak Prescott as league MVP.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Carolina PanthersMiss · 0AJ Hawk picked the Ravens over the Colts, Carolina to beat Chicago outright, the Bills at Houston, the Bengals over Tampa Bay, the Titans over the Jets, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- 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.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.