Mike Fanelli· Aug 17, 2026
Fanelli advises against drafting Christian McCaffrey or De'Von Achane as a 'hero' running back, calling them the only top-12 ADP backs he would avoid due to McCaffrey's injury risk and Achane's dependence on the passing game and on Tua Tagovailoa. He also describes Kyle Monangai and Blake Corum as their teams' No. 2 running backs behind D'Andre Swift and Kyren Williams.
“They are the only two backs in the top 12 I don’t want to draft when using a Hero RB strategy.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 2 fantasy bust calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 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
Blake Corum · 2026 season13 calls from 9 pundits between 2 and 2. Mike Fanelli said 2. the room's median is 2. 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
4 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.
- Fantasy Bust CallsDe'Von AchaneMiami DolphinsAug 17, 2026
De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (11.2 ADP/RB7)
“De’Von Achane (11.2 ADP/RB7) are missing. They are the only two backs in the top 12 I don’t want to draft... over 50% of Achane’s fantasy production during the past two years has come in the passing game.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKyle MonangaiChicago BearsAug 17, 2026
Kyle Monangai to be 2nd on the depth chart
“While Kyle Monangai and Blake Corum have some FLEX appeal as their team’s No. 2 running back... If D’Andre Swift or Kyren Williams misses significant time”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsChristian McCaffreyAug 17, 2026
Christian McCaffrey to fall short of his draft cost (5.6 ADP/RB3)
“Christian McCaffrey (5.6 ADP/RB3) and De’Von Achane (11.2 ADP/RB7) are missing. They are the only two backs in the top 12 I don’t want to draft when using a Hero RB strategy... Unfortunately, McCaffrey carries a high risk of injury.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 17, 2026
Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart
“While Kyle Monangai and Blake Corum have some FLEX appeal as their team’s No. 2 running back... If D’Andre Swift or Kyren Williams misses significant time”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1.
- Nick ShookRoster Spot Calls · Aaron DonaldHit · 100Shook unveiled his first NFL power rankings of the year, putting the Rams first, the Broncos second and the defending champion Seahawks only third, with the Dolphins last.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
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.