Henry McKenna· Aug 24, 2026
McKenna's preseason notebook: DeVonta Smith takes over as the Eagles' WR1 with rookie Makai Lemon as WR2; Fernando Mendoza will start for the Raiders at some point in 2026; the Browns are the best-positioned team for the 2027 No. 1 overall pick; Houston will end up paying C.J. Stroud; and he flags several rookie receivers as fantasy names to watch.
“I still think he'll start at some point this season.”
published in writing · Fox Sports · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 4 sleeper calls, 3 depth chart calls, 1 team draft slot call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 16 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season16 calls from 14 pundits between 1 and 2. Henry McKenna 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.
Their call against the room
overall pickTheir call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
9 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.
- Team Draft Slot CallsCleveland BrownsAug 24, 2026
Cleveland Browns to pick at number 1
“But after the Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson as QB1, no other team is in a better position to get the top pick.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Trade and Signing CallsC.J. StroudHouston TexansAug 24, 2026
C.J. Stroud to move to Houston Texans
“In all likelihood, the Texans will have to pay Stroud.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsCaleb DouglasMiami DolphinsAug 24, 2026
Caleb Douglas to outplay his draft cost
“keep an eye out for receivers Ja'Kobi Lane (Ravens), De'Zhaun Stribling (49ers) and Caleb Douglas (Dolphins)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJa'Kobi LaneBaltimore RavensAug 24, 2026
Ja'Kobi Lane to outplay his draft cost
“All you fantasy folks out there, keep an eye out for receivers Ja'Kobi Lane (Ravens), De'Zhaun Stribling (49ers) and Caleb Douglas (Dolphins).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsCyrus AllenKansas City ChiefsAug 24, 2026
Cyrus Allen to outplay his draft cost
“I also like Allen a lot, even with this rearrangement of the depth chart. He might not be Hill 2.0, but he's still probably going to be good.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“I still like Mendoza. I still think he'll start at some point this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to outplay his draft cost
“keep an eye out for receivers Ja'Kobi Lane (Ravens), De'Zhaun Stribling (49ers) and Caleb Douglas (Dolphins)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
DeVonta Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
“It would've been hard enough to get promoted from WR2 to WR1 in the wake of the A.J. Brown trade.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesAug 24, 2026
Makai Lemon to be 2nd on the depth chart
“But he is expected to contribute immediately as the team's WR2.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
- Paul KerenDepth Chart Calls · Teven JenkinsMiss · 0Keren says Teven Jenkins still projects as Cleveland's Week 1 starting right guard despite a push from KT Leveston, and that Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams will be the Browns' lead linebackers.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1.
- 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.
- 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.
- Joe PisapiaSleeper Calls · Omarion HamptonMiss · 0Joe 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.