Brandon Carney · May 5, 2026
Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP.
“I will eventually be right about the motherfucking Chargers winning this division.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast) · read the original →
35 checkable claims from this
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.
Jauan Jennings to be 1st on the depth chart
“Oh, he's immediately their number one receiver.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Fantasy RankingsMay 5, 2026
“I've got quarterback Drew Aller... Running backs, Jonah Coleman and Caitron Allen. Wide receivers here... Karneltate, Mekhi Lemmon, Jordan Tyson, and then, as my second flex... Casey Concepcion, and tight end Eli Stowers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jeremiyah Love to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“you've got a guy like Jeremiah Love who is, I think, highly likely to be at least a high end RB two for fantasy purposes”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Carnell Tate to finish top 1 at his position, by receptions
“I think he's definitely, you know, health permitting and all that, gonna be the target leader among rookie receivers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Eli Stowers to be 2nd on the depth chart
“I'll go with Eli Stowers... I think obviously buried behind Dallas Goedder for year one, but should at least see the field occasionally.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Calvin Ridley to move to Tennessee Titans
“I think Calvin Ridley is kinda just biding his time before he finds his way, quite frankly, out of the league, but at least off the titans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
A.J. Brown to move to New England Patriots
“This is contingent on a certain trade going through that I think we are all very certain is going to go through at this point... as a Patriots fan, I'm so excited to get AJ Brown on board”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Stefon Diggs to move to Las Vegas Raiders
“So Stefon Diggs, this is the one I feel the least confident about. But just looking at depth charts, like, I put them on your Raiders.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Jauan Jennings to move to Miami Dolphins
“So I'm gonna put Jennings and Samuel both on the Dolphins, filling different roles here”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Deebo Samuel Sr. to move to Miami Dolphins
“So I'm gonna put Jennings and Samuel both on the Dolphins”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Tyreek Hill to move to Kansas City Chiefs
“Tyreek Hill, I still just think he ends up on the Chiefs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Brandon Aiyuk to move to Washington Commanders
“So I've got Brandon Ayuk going to the commanders.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Joe Mixon to move to Washington Commanders
“So I put Joe Mixon to the commanders, big asterisk if he's good to go.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Austin Ekeler to move to Seattle Seahawks
“Are you going to Seattle here? Yeah... Ekeler's the best guy out there.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
Najee Harris to move to Green Bay Packers
“just looking at potential fits for Najee Harris and looking at back fields that have, again, vacancies, I think the Packers make a lot of sense”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersNew England PatriotsMay 5, 2026
New England Patriots to win the division
“So I will go with the Patriots for the AFC East.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles ChargersMay 5, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers to win the division
“But I'll go with the Chargers and the AFC West.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersCincinnati BengalsMay 5, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to win the division
“So I'm going with the Bengals as well.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersJacksonville JaguarsMay 5, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“I went with the Jaguars here. Obviously, it was between them and the Texans.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersPhiladelphia EaglesMay 5, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles to win the division
“starting with the NFC East. I gave some thought to the Cowboys. I went with the Eagles.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersLos Angeles RamsMay 5, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to win the division
“it wasn't that hard for me. It's the Rams.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersMinnesota VikingsMay 5, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to win the division
“I'm picking the Vikings... So Vikings in the NFC North.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Division WinnersNew Orleans SaintsMay 5, 2026
New Orleans Saints to win the division
“Cock on table, I'll go with the Saints.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksBuffalo BillsMay 5, 2026
Buffalo Bills to make the playoffs
“I do have the Bills, Broncos, and Ravens... Wild card, Broncos, Ravens, Bills.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksDenver BroncosMay 5, 2026
Denver Broncos to make the playoffs
“Wild card, Broncos, Ravens, Bills.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksBaltimore RavensMay 5, 2026
Baltimore Ravens to make the playoffs
“Wild card, Broncos, Ravens, Bills.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksSeattle SeahawksMay 5, 2026
Seattle Seahawks to make the playoffs
“And then wildcards, Seahawks, obviously... And then I went with the Bears and the Cowboys.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsMay 5, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“And then I went with the Bears and the Cowboys.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysMay 5, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“And then I went with the Bears and the Cowboys.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Award PicksJoe BurrowCincinnati BengalsMay 5, 2026
Joe Burrow to win MVP
“MVP. I'm going with Joe Burrow until I'm right. So I'm going with Joe Burrow.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Award PicksJustin JeffersonMinnesota VikingsMay 5, 2026
Justin Jefferson to win Offensive Player of the Year
“My offensive player of the year going along with the Kyler resurgence, is Justin Jefferson.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Award PicksMaxx CrosbyLas Vegas RaidersMay 5, 2026
Maxx Crosby to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive player of the year. Give me a motivated Max Crosby”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Award PicksJeremiyah LoveArizona CardinalsMay 5, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“I think love just has so much opportunity compared to everyone. No. I agree.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Award PicksCaleb DownsMay 5, 2026
Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“I'll go Caleb Downs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.
- Coach Award PicksMay 5, 2026
Liam Cohen to win Coach of the Year
“But to me, the Jags, Liam Cohen was just such a clear runner-up this past year to Mike Grable that if they just run it back and look even better this year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the season it describes has finished.