Derek Brown· Sep 6, 2026
Brown predicts Jordan Mason tops 1,000 rushing yards, picks the Bengals and Cowboys to reach the Super Bowl with top-12 fantasy defenses, and touts Parker Washington, Christian Watson, Casey Concepcion, Dontavion Wicks, Malik Willis, Jordan Love and Tyler Shuck as values while souring on Brian Thomas Jr.'s early season.
“I think Jordan Mason is going to have a thousand rushing yards this season.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
19 checkable claims — 8 sleeper calls, 3 positional finishes, 2 conference champions, 2 depth chart calls, 2 fantasy defense calls, 1 fantasy bust call and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 22 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 3 and below it on 3.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Jordan Mason
- Minnesota Vikings
- Dallas Cowboys
- Brian Thomas Jr.
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Parker Washington
- K.C. Concepcion
- Cleveland Browns
- Jack Strand
- Atlanta Falcons
- Tyler Shough
- New Orleans Saints
- Dontayvion Wicks
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Dalton Kincaid
- Buffalo Bills
- Christian Watson
- Green Bay Packers
- Malik Willis
- Miami Dolphins
- Jordan Love
19 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 Defense CallsCincinnati BengalsSep 6, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals defense to finish 12th among fantasy defenses
“I have both the Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys as top 12 fantasy defenses.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJordan MasonMinnesota VikingsSep 6, 2026
Jordan Mason to outplay his draft cost (94th overall)
“in real-time ADP, Jordan Mason is 94th overall. I've bumped Jordan Mason up to 87th in my rankings... I would be absolutely circling Jordan Mason and drafting him like about a round or at least a half round ahead of where he's at on every site.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsDallas CowboysSep 6, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to reach the Super Bowl
“Spoiler, they're both my picks to make the Super Bowl this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brian Thomas Jr. to fall short of his draft cost
“I think Brian Thomas Jr. could be one of the most dropped players to begin the season and be one of the poster boys like when we're at midseason as a buy low.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Washington to outplay his draft cost (wide receiver 29 in real-time ADP)
“The upside swing to take in every single one is Parker Washington... So Parker Washington, like as a wide receiver three that I can draft... Yeah, I think he's the best value.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
K.C. Concepcion to be 1st on the depth chart
“as the clear wide receiver one for the Cleveland Browns”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJack StrandAtlanta FalconsSep 6, 2026
Jack Strand to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think Jack Strand is going to make some starts this year. I don't have any faith in Pennix and Tua.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans SaintsSep 6, 2026
Tyler Shough to outplay his draft cost (QB 20)
“Tyler Shuck at QB 20, produced as a QB 1 during the back half of last season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Conference ChampionsCincinnati BengalsSep 6, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals to reach the Super Bowl
“Spoiler, they're both my picks to make the Super Bowl this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dontayvion Wicks to outplay his draft cost (a great late round flyer)
“So he could be a guy that really pops this year... Yeah, so just keep drafting Dontavion Wicks instead of taking a kicker or defense in your final round.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Dalton Kincaid to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points
“If his route share goes to the 65-70% range, he could be a top five tight end this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to outplay his draft cost
“Bro, I've had him as a top 20 wide receiver the entire draft season. He's wide receiver 19... just draft the Green Bay wide receiver one, clear wide receiver one as a wide receiver three.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsK.C. ConcepcionCleveland BrownsSep 6, 2026
K.C. Concepcion to outplay his draft cost (wide receiver 46 in real-time ADP)
“I'm able to get him at wide receiver 46 in real-time ADP right now as the clear wide receiver one for the Cleveland Browns... So I love Casey Concepcion at cost.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMalik WillisMiami DolphinsSep 6, 2026
Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost (QB 21)
“Malik Willis at QB 21 is absolute insanity to me... Malik Willis is going to be a wonderful pick in fantasy this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Malik Willis to finish top 15 at his position, by fantasy points
“So he's going to be a top 15 quarterback at his floor.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJordan LoveGreen Bay PackersSep 6, 2026
Jordan Love to outplay his draft cost (QB 18, real-time ADP)
“we've talked about Jordan Love, a crap ton. He's QB 18, real-time ADP. Again, hearkening back to yesteryear, QB 5, the last time we didn't see Josh Jacobs pulling down this entire all-passing attack.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jordan Mason to record 1,000 rushing yards
“I think Jordan Mason is going to have a thousand rushing yards this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Malik Willis to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“I think he's going to produce as a QB1 in fantasy because he's going to freaking run.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Defense CallsDallas CowboysSep 6, 2026
Dallas Cowboys defense to finish 12th among fantasy defenses
“I have both the Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys as top 12 fantasy defenses.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- 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.
- John ShipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jack KiserMiss · 0Shipley projects a full 16-player (plus one international/exemption spot) Jaguars practice squad for 2026, naming specific players at each position he expects to land there.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- Mike HarmonSleeper Calls · Zay FlowersHit · 100Harmon gave his Week 18 fantasy rankings — top five quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers — plus lists of 'hot plays,' 'cold sores' (players to avoid) and 'ninjas' (sneaky plays), and said Trevor Lawrence would land around a top-four fantasy quarterback finish for the season.
- Patrick ClaybonSleeper Calls · Jacoby BrissettHit · 100Claibon says Aaron Rodgers' deep-passing outburst was a one-week product of Baltimore's defense and won't continue, still endorses starting Jacoby Brissett in a tough Houston matchup, and picks Devon Achane as the top running back and AJ Brown as the top receiver for Week 15.