Rich Hribar· Aug 4, 2026
Analyzing historical running back ADP trends, Hribar names which 2026 backs best fit the profiles of dead-zone picks who beat their draft cost (Jeremiyah Love, Cam Skattebo, TreVeyon Henderson, plus veterans Breece Hall and D'Andre Swift), which most resemble historic dead-zone traps (Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams, David Montgomery), which later-round team RB1s are unlikely to pay off, and a list of bench 'darts' he prefers over popular handcuffs like Isiah Pacheco, Brian Robinson and Tank Bigsby.
“The backs who closest resemble historic dead zone traps are Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams , and David Montgomery .”
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10 checkable claims — 5 fantasy bust calls and 5 sleeper calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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Who this take is about
10 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 CallsCam SkatteboAug 4, 2026
Cam Skattebo to outplay his draft cost (the RB2 dead zone)
“If we are paring down that initial list with overlap as pass catchers, Love, Skattebo, and Henderson are the best bets.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsRachaad WhiteAug 4, 2026
Rachaad White to fall short of his draft cost (outside of the RB1 range in ADP)
“That makes it tougher to bet on landing a big hit from team RB1 picks (per ADP) going later in Tony Pollard, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, Rachaad White, and Aaron Jones”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsJaylen WarrenAug 4, 2026
Jaylen Warren to fall short of his draft cost (outside of the RB1 range in ADP)
“That makes it tougher to bet on landing a big hit from team RB1 picks (per ADP) going later in Tony Pollard, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, Rachaad White, and Aaron Jones”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsD'Andre SwiftAug 4, 2026
D'Andre Swift to outplay his draft cost (the RB2/dead-zone range)
“If looking at veteran backs currently going in the RB2/dead-zone range, Breece Hall and D'Andre Swift are the guys with a viable pass-catching resume to this point.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJeremiyah LoveAug 4, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to outplay his draft cost (the RB2 dead zone)
“If we are paring down that initial list with overlap as pass catchers, Love, Skattebo, and Henderson are the best bets.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsChuba HubbardAug 4, 2026
Chuba Hubbard to fall short of his draft cost (outside of the RB1 range in ADP)
“That makes it tougher to bet on landing a big hit from team RB1 picks (per ADP) going later in Tony Pollard, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, Rachaad White, and Aaron Jones”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTreVeyon HendersonAug 4, 2026
TreVeyon Henderson to outplay his draft cost (the RB2 dead zone)
“If we are paring down that initial list with overlap as pass catchers, Love, Skattebo, and Henderson are the best bets.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsTony PollardAug 4, 2026
Tony Pollard to fall short of his draft cost (outside of the RB1 range in ADP)
“That makes it tougher to bet on landing a big hit from team RB1 picks (per ADP) going later in Tony Pollard, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, Rachaad White, and Aaron Jones”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsAaron JonesAug 4, 2026
Aaron Jones to fall short of his draft cost (outside of the RB1 range in ADP)
“That makes it tougher to bet on landing a big hit from team RB1 picks (per ADP) going later in Tony Pollard, Jaylen Warren, Chuba Hubbard, Rachaad White, and Aaron Jones”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBreece HallAug 4, 2026
Breece Hall to outplay his draft cost (the RB2/dead-zone range)
“If looking at veteran backs currently going in the RB2/dead-zone range, Breece Hall and D'Andre Swift are the guys with a viable pass-catching resume to this point.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Lance ZierleinMock Draft Picks · Jeremiyah LoveHit · 100Zierlein laid out his final mock draft: Jeremiah Love at No. 3 to Arizona, Sonny Styles at No. 4 to Robert Saleh's team, and Caleb Downs to the Giants at No. 5. He also called Styles the only first-round linebacker in the class and said Ty Simpson is a lock to be a first-round pick, most likely to Arizona.
- Gregg RosenthalTrade and Signing Calls · Breece HallMiss · 0Rosenthal calls the Chiefs the No. 1 favorite and says they are going to the Super Bowl. He also expects several players to be moved before the trade deadline, most confidently David Njoku, and views Riq Woolen and Breece Hall as likely trade pieces.
- Nick ShookTrade and Signing Calls · Breece HallMiss · 0Shook names Breece Hall, Jakobi Meyers and David Njoku as trade candidates, suggesting Hall could land with the Chargers and that the Raiders will move Meyers as sellers.
- Philip HughesRoster Spot Calls · Rachaad WhiteHit · 100Hughes projects Washington's initial 53-man roster ahead of the final preseason game, naming every player he expects to make the team by position group, and slots Athan Kaliakmanis as the No. 3 quarterback behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.
- Ethan HurwitzRoster Spot Calls · TreVeyon HendersonHit · 100Hurwitz gives his latest 53-man roster projection for the Patriots after the preseason opener, naming who makes the team at each position and slotting rookie Jam Miller as RB3, Karon Prunty as CB4 and Kindle Vildor as CB5.
- Zach RobertsRoster Spot Calls · Chuba HubbardHit · 100Roberts projects the Carolina Panthers' 53-man roster following the Hall of Fame Game, naming every player he expects to make the team at each position, and pegs AJ Dillon as the fourth running back on the depth chart.
More fantasy bust calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ryan WormeliFantasy Bust Calls · Zay FlowersMiss · 0Host 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.
- Derek BrownFantasy Bust Calls · Zay FlowersMiss · 0Derek 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.
- Chris WelshFantasy Bust Calls · Austin EkelerHit · 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.
- Joe PisapiaFantasy Bust Calls · Rashee RiceMiss · 0Joey 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceFantasy Bust Calls · Tyreek HillHit · 100Pat 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.
- Derek BrownFantasy Bust Calls · Xavier WorthyHit · 100Derek Brown ("Deebro") names three busts to avoid in 2025 fantasy drafts: Kyren Williams at an RB1 price, Chuba Hubbard as a top-20 RB, and Xavier Worthy as his ultimate bust, arguing Rashee Rice is the clear No. 1 receiver in Kansas City.