Mark Morales-Smith· Aug 4, 2026
Morales-Smith names four late-round quarterback sleepers — Kyler Murray, Malik Willis, Tyler Shough and Cam Ward — arguing each will outperform his draft cost. He also insists Murray, not J.J. McCarthy, will be the Vikings' starter, and that Shough can deliver low-end QB1 production.
“As the QB17 off the boards, he's an absolute steal in fantasy drafts.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 4, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
5 checkable claims — 3 sleeper calls, 1 depth chart call and 1 positional finishe — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 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.
Where this call stands in the room
Kyler Murray · 2026 season38 calls from 28 pundits between 1 and 2. Mark Morales-Smith said 1. the room's median is 1. 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
5 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 CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsAug 4, 2026
Kyler Murray to outplay his draft cost (QB17)
“As the QB17 off the boards, he's an absolute steal in fantasy drafts.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans SaintsAug 4, 2026
Tyler Shough to outplay his draft cost (QB20)
“He could very well give you low-end QB1 production at a QB20 price this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“Murray has seen his ADP dip a bit because of this strange narrative going around that JJ McCarthy has a real shot to win this starting job. Spoiler alert: he doesn't.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMalik WillisMiami DolphinsAug 4, 2026
Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost (QB21)
“we are in on him at his current price. He's being drafted as the QB21... He has league-winning upside”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to finish QB1 (1–12) at his position, by passing yards
“He could very well give you low-end QB1 production at a QB20 price this season.”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
What others said about the same people
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Devon PlatanaTrade and Signing Calls · Johnny HekkerHit · 100With punter Brett Thorson dealing with a hamstring injury, Platana suggests the Vikings have a decent chance of bringing back veteran free-agent punter Johnny Hekker as a familiar fill-in.
- Mike MoraitisRoster Spot Calls · Andre Jones Jr.Hit · 100Moraitis expects Andre Jones Jr. to hold a spot on Miami's 53-man roster after being signed off Buffalo's practice squad, with a significant special teams role under coordinator Chris Tabor.
- Doug JoubertRoster Spot Calls · Kelvin Banks Jr.Miss · 0Joubert grades the Saints' units after their win at Baltimore and predicts that left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. will be placed on injured reserve, with one of three practice-squad tackles potentially elevated.
- Dylan SandersScore Predictions · New Orleans SaintsHit · 98Dylan Sanders picked the Saints to upset the Ravens 23-17 in a low-scoring game.
- Tyler SullivanGame Outcome Picks · New Orleans SaintsHit · 100A CBS Sports column flags five Week 2 favorites on upset alert, effectively backing the underdogs — Lions at Bills, Bengals at Texans, Jets over Packers, Jaguars at Broncos and Saints at Ravens — to pull off wins.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Derek BrownSleeper Calls · Travis HunterHit · 100Derek Brown ("Debro") laid out a slate of wide receiver breakouts — Ricky Pearsall, Jalen Coker, Egbuka, Jalen Waddle, Joshua Palmer, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Travis Hunter — while fading Xavier Worthy, Tyreek Hill and the cheap Cleveland/late-round types, and gave his own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.
- Tom StrachanSleeper Calls · Ricky PearsallHit · 100Tom Strachan backed Xavier Worthy, Jalen Coker, Egbuka, Jalen Waddle, Darnell Mooney, Zay Flowers, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Travis Hunter as values at their draft costs, while avoiding Jerry Jeudy and the Cleveland receivers.
- Ryan WormeliSleeper Calls · Ricky PearsallHit · 100Host Ryan Warmley endorsed Ricky Pearsall as a bet worth making and put his rookie-receiver capital in Tetairoa McMillan, while fading Zay Flowers at his cost and opting out of Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Chris WelshSleeper Calls · Tyler WarrenHit · 100Welsh drafted Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan, Travis Hunter, the Rams and Saints receivers, Justin Fields (a top-10 QB), Drake Maye (QB10-14), Travis Kelce and Tyler Warren, while passing on Joe Mixon, the Commanders backfield, Tyreek Hill, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.
- Pat FitzmauriceSleeper Calls · Rashee RiceMiss · 0Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (his WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (his QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields.
- Joe PisapiaSleeper Calls · RJ HarveyHit · 100Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: he passed on Christian McCaffrey at pick 7, Breece Hall, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Travis Hunter and Chris Olave, while drafting RJ Harvey, Tyreek Hill, Tetairoa McMillan, Puka Nacua, Tyler Warren and a late-round Joe Mixon.