Pat Fitzmaurice· Sep 6, 2026
Fitzmaurice expects Jordan Mason to be Minnesota's lead back and a draft steal, backs Christian Watson, Makai Lemon, Jonah Coleman, Harold Fannin and Brock Bowers as undervalued, and calls Jared Goff his favorite late quarterback target.
“So I do think Mason is going to be the guy and I've like sort of vaulted him up my rankings to the point where I think he's, uh, really, he's been a draft steal.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 7 sleeper calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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Who this take is about
8 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.
- Sleeper CallsJonah ColemanDenver BroncosSep 6, 2026
Jonah Coleman to outplay his draft cost
“Jonah Coleman just seems like the perfect Sean Payton back... It's just kind of possible that Coleman is just better than Dobbins and Harvey at everything and winds up as sort of the lead guy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jordan Mason to be 1st on the depth chart
“the drum beat got louder and louder that he was maybe going to be the lead guy in Minnesota... So I do think Mason is going to be the guy”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJordan MasonMinnesota VikingsSep 6, 2026
Jordan Mason to outplay his draft cost (he's being ranked as an RB4)
“he's been a draft steal because like, I know even in the week one rankings, like people have him in like RB4 range... And he's being ranked as an RB4.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Harold Fannin Jr. to outplay his draft cost
“so I think we're going to be a lot more excited about Fannin, who is underrated right now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJared GoffDetroit LionsSep 6, 2026
Jared Goff to outplay his draft cost (An 11th round pick in real time ADP)
“It's Jared Goff... So I love Goff. And, you know, you bypass a quarterback... to load up on other positions in the early rounds and then just take a steady quarterback.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock BowersLas Vegas RaidersSep 6, 2026
Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost
“I feel like he's capable of putting up high-end wide receiver one numbers, and that a year from now we might be looking back on him and saying, why wasn't he a top 10 pick in fantasy?”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia EaglesSep 6, 2026
Makai Lemon to outplay his draft cost
“I just think there's a pretty decent chance we look back on this rookie class and say that Makai Lemon and not Carnell Tate or Jordan Tyson or Casey Concepcion was the best rookie in the class.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Christian Watson to outplay his draft cost
“I'm going to go up one spot in the wide receiver rankings to the guy who's been consistently a value all draft season, Christian Wilson... I think he could be a star.”
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.
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- 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.
- Matt OkadaDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100In a PPR-framed fantasy draft guide, Okada makes a few non-fantasy claims: rookie Jeremiyah Love will be Arizona's featured back despite being listed as RB2, Tua Tagovailoa will be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, and Kyler Murray will open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback.
- Mike FanelliDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fanelli ranks all 32 NFL teams for 2026 fantasy purposes, with the Bengals first and the Dolphins last, and makes assorted calls including Joe Burrow winning Comeback Player of the Year, Drake Maye leading the league in passing touchdowns, various starting-role and depth-chart projections, plus sleepers (Godwin, Travis Hunter, Jonathon Brooks) and a bust call on De'Von Achane.
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.