# Ralph Vacchiano: Vacchiano names one breakout candidate for each of the 16 AFC teams in 2026, predicting players like Laiatu Latu will reach double-digit sacks, Jayden Higgins will be Houston's No. 2 receiver, Chris Rodriguez Jr. will become Jacksonville's workhorse back, and Ashton Jeanty, Ladd McConkey and Cam Ward will bounce back into stars. **Claimed:** Aug 5, 2026 **Pundit:** Ralph Vacchiano — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/ralph-vacchiano **Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fox-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/breakout-candidates-one-player-from-each-afc-team-poised-star-turn 24 checkable claims — 17 sleeper calls, 6 depth chart calls and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 33 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 below the rest of the room on every one. > Double-digit sacks seem like a lock for the 2024 first-round pick, especially with Arden Key now on the opposite end to take some of the pressure off. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Daxton Hill to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Daxton Hill, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **RJ Harvey to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chris Rodriguez Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: not settled yet - **Harold Fannin Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Adonai Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ladd McConkey to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Laiatu Latu to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: not settled yet - **Harold Fannin Jr. to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cole Bishop to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Cole Bishop, Buffalo Bills - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tutu Atwell to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Tutu Atwell, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Campbell to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Will Campbell, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cam Ward to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Adonai Mitchell to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nohl Williams to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Nohl Williams, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Derrick Harmon to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Derrick Harmon, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Ashton Jeanty to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Malaki Starks to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Malaki Starks, Baltimore Ravens - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chris Rodriguez Jr. to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylin Noel to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nohl Williams to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Nohl Williams, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Laiatu Latu to record 10 sacks** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jayden Higgins to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jayden Higgins to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Will Campbell to outplay his draft cost** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Will Campbell, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Daxton Hill — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/daxton-hill - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bengals - RJ Harvey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/rj-harvey - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Chris Rodriguez Jr. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/chris-rodriguez-jr - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Harold Fannin Jr. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/harold-fannin-jr - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Adonai Mitchell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/adonai-mitchell - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/jets - Ladd McConkey — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ladd-mcconkey - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Laiatu Latu — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/laiatu-latu - Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/colts - Cole Bishop — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/cole-bishop - Buffalo Bills — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/bills - Tutu Atwell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tutu-atwell - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Will Campbell — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/will-campbell - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Cam Ward — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/cam-ward - Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/titans - Nohl Williams — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/nohl-williams - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Derrick Harmon — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/derrick-harmon - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Ashton Jeanty — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/ashton-jeanty - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Malaki Starks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/malaki-starks - Baltimore Ravens — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/ravens - Jaylin Noel — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jaylin-noel - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/texans - Jayden Higgins — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jayden-higgins ## What others said about the same people - John Shipley on Jack Kiser: Shipley 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c0a52b7c-63b2-4e18-b7da-9342dbbc111f (scored 0) - Bucky Brooks on Keenan Allen: Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 100) - Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0) - 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) - Paul Keren on Teven Jenkins: Keren 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/86b36112-724c-4f9c-a4fd-cf74a38be8e4 (scored 0) ## More sleeper calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - 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) - 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) - Jake Ciely on Saquon Barkley: Sealey laid out his projected first round for 2026 fantasy drafts, opening with Bijan Robinson followed by three wide receivers, then a tier of running backs, and closing with Rashee Rice, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Omarion Hampton. He also called Saquon Barkley a buy-low. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b63cc1db-f999-42de-9255-55ffa7d8d29f (scored 0) - Mike Harmon on Caleb Williams: Harmon 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/e2e20c82-d482-48e6-90f3-929d0862fc0d (scored 100) --- 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=ralph-vacchiano