# Pat Fitzmaurice: In his 2026 quarterback draft primer, Fitzmaurice argues for spending down at QB in 1QB leagues given a small gap between the top and mid tiers, and names Malik Willis, Tyler Shough and Sam Darnold as his top late-round quarterback targets — i.e. values relative to their late-round cost. **Claimed:** Aug 3, 2026 **Pundit:** Pat Fitzmaurice — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/pat-fitzmaurice **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/fantasy-football-strategy-how-to-draft-quarterbacks-2026/ 3 checkable claims — 3 sleeper calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Fitz lays out quarterbacks to target in each part of the draft. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost (Late-Round)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Malik Willis - Verdict: not settled yet - **Sam Darnold to outplay his draft cost (Late-Round)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Sam Darnold - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tyler Shough to outplay his draft cost (Late-Round)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Tyler Shough - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Malik Willis — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/malik-willis - Sam Darnold — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/sam-darnold - Tyler Shough — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tyler-shough ## What others said about the same people - Justin Penik on Sam Darnold: Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4af0c93c-46f5-4a2c-ae24-e6ffa81a6559 (scored 0) - Rich Eisen on Sam Darnold: Eisen predicts three quarterbacks go in the first round, with Jaxson Dart taken late in round one, and says three running backs in the first would be a surprise; he also insists Shedeur Sanders will not fall out of the top 10 and picks the Rams to win the NFC West while keeping the Eagles as the NFC favorite over Washington. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b7b4272f-1a0d-4a49-aa8d-9c4e0fafe7f4 (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Sam Darnold: Brockman floats several overreactions: the Titans trade the No. 1 pick, at least six QBs and RBs combined go in round one, Shedeur Sanders falls out of the top 10, the Rams win the NFC West, the Deebo Samuel trade makes Washington the NFC's team to beat, and Sam Darnold leaves Minnesota for $50 million a year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/f5a95573-4efe-4e21-89cc-287b362c5823 (scored 100) - Chris Brockman on Sam Darnold: Brockman floats a series of overreactions: the Titans won't make the first overall pick because someone trades up, at least six quarterbacks and running backs combined go in round one, Shedeur Sanders falls out of the top 10, the Rams win the NFC West, the Commanders become the team to beat in the NFC, and Sam Darnold leaves Minnesota for $50 million a year. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a2b07104-54ed-4c96-9d46-9aa0edca856a (scored 100) - Rhett Lewis on Tyler Shough: Lewis names Louisville's Tyler Shough as the new QB3 of the class — the third quarterback off the board — and views Milroe as a second-round selection. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/d116ab63-5271-4b18-838b-29bb93d58530 (scored 100) - Colin Cowherd on Sam Darnold: Cowherd picks Kansas City to beat Philadelphia in Super Bowl 59 by a field goal, 30-27, in a close, high-scoring game, and gives the Chiefs edges at head coach, quarterback, tight end, defensive front seven, secondary and kicker while giving the Eagles edges at running back, wide receiver and offensive line. He also predicts Travis Kelce retires if the Chiefs win, Sam Darnold leaves Minnesota with the Raiders in play, and Shedeur Sanders slides in the draft. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/20b95f66-a4d8-4c9c-8b28-24ec3daab872 (scored 0) ## More sleeper calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Derek Brown on Travis Hunter: Derek 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/effe2fda-3dcb-489f-a1e1-f8fa5b11ada7 (scored 100) - Tom Strachan on Ricky Pearsall: Tom 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c42eacc5-eb10-4103-a94d-50545a487cbb (scored 100) - Ryan Wormeli on Ricky Pearsall: Host 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/192d6e67-2e0e-49b3-bc82-4c8a77bd5950 (scored 100) - Chris Welsh on Tyler Warren: Welsh 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9f0f2132-f3b8-4813-b2b1-374b827d86a8 (scored 100) - Joe Pisapia on Tyreek Hill: Joey 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c3c95c1c-64a4-42b6-9389-58d5fb5b27d1 (scored 0) - Ryan Wormeli on Tetairoa McMillan: Hosting the segment, Warmley backed Bryce Young to finish better than his QB22 consensus ranking, endorsed Cedric Tillman as a late-round target, and said Tetairoa McMillan will be a top-15 fantasy receiver this season. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2c695b79-bc5e-4d3f-8136-6705656267a2 (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=pat-fitzmaurice