# Derek Brown: DBro loves Malik Willis as a draft target in Miami, arguing his rushing alone puts him near QB1 production and that he could be a strong QB1 with upside if the passing game exceeds low expectations. He also plants a flag on Jaylen Waddle in Denver, saying he can be drafted as a WR2 with WR1 upside. **Claimed:** Aug 29, 2026 **Pundit:** Derek Brown — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/derek-brown **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/5-must-have-players-experts-love-to-draft-2026-fantasy-football/ 4 checkable claims — 2 positional finishes and 2 sleeper calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 4 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 above the rest of the room on every one. > Willis’s running prowess should have him flirting with QB1 production this year alone. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylen Waddle to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylen Waddle to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Malik Willis to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Malik Willis — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/malik-willis - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Jaylen Waddle — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jaylen-waddle - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos ## What others said about the same people - Nathan Jahnke on Jalen Tolbert: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 0) - Nathan Jahnke on Jalen Tolbert: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/22a4578b-eb92-41d2-820b-1a7eaa2e4e2f (scored 0) - Jared Dubin on Denver Broncos: Dubin picks Denver to win narrowly in Kansas City, 21-20. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b4339e96-6ced-44c2-88e9-b490d027df7b (scored 2.38) - Tyler Sullivan on Denver Broncos: Sullivan picks Denver to beat Kansas City 24-20. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d8636e57-b6d8-471a-a98a-75871c7ee5bf (scored 9.52) - Jordan Dajani on Denver Broncos: Dajani picks the Broncos over the Chiefs, 17-14. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/12e23aa9-d2ca-4db3-bfb0-25c09e63b1eb (scored 7.14) - John Breech on Denver Broncos: In the Pick Six newsletter, Breech picks the Broncos to upset the Chiefs on Monday night, 23-21. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31f3511a-a211-46e0-a6dd-d2cfb70ee207 (scored 4.76) ## More sleeper calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Matt Money Smith on Tre Harris: Smith 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1f779ee4-78d9-4f01-a069-bcd0ef45fc72 (scored 0) - Brandon Carney on Javonte Williams: Carney 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9337347d-fde9-46c9-9bb6-26ade467538b (scored 100) - Chad Ochocinco Johnson on Saquon Barkley: Johnson says the Steelers aren't legitimate Super Bowl contenders even with Aaron Rodgers back, and that Saquon Barkley can have a bounce-back season in year nine with the Eagles competing for a championship if the offensive line stays healthy. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cd0eab3d-1392-41f3-a9b6-026860f9ffa5 (scored 0) - Ross Jackson on Devaughn Vele: Ross 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b4c58f9f-23b8-4857-8505-17c213d3a342 (scored 0) - Greg Cosell on Omarion Hampton: Cosell 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/26c1330e-ee04-42a9-b29d-d6f0cc6bab6a (scored 0) - Andrew Erickson on Malik Nabers: Erickson 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/abd0628c-1338-467b-9ac3-d89c922468eb (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=derek-brown