Matt BowenAug 12, 2026
Bowen names five low-cost, high-upside players they expect to outperform their draft cost: Elijah Arroyo, Jaydon Blue, Pat Bryant, Keaton Mitchell and Isaac TeSlaa. They also see Blue winning the No. 2 job behind Javonte Williams, Mitchell competing for the Chargers' No. 2 back role, and lists Omarion Hampton as a breakout candidate.
Published in writingRead the original
What Matt Bowen said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromNone of the 10 names that follow are being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts, but every one has the upside to make a major difference for your team at some point.
- The piece
- Have skills, need opportunity: 10 fantasy football picks who just need a chance to shine
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Keaton Mitchell to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)“But this also creates opportunity for Mitchell, if he can earn the No. 2 role in the backfield.”
- 2AJ Barner to be 1st on the depth chart“AJ Barner is the No. 1 tight end in Seattle”
- 3Isaac TeSlaa to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)“So, let's keep the second-year wide receiver on the radar. There's potential upside here in one of the league's most explosive offenses. -- Bowen”
- 4Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart“That's why I have the Chargers' top back, Omarion Hampton, listed as a breakout candidate.”
- 5Jaydon Blue to be 2nd on the depth chart“he has a path to win the No. 2 role behind Javonte Williams in a Dallas offense that scores points”
- 6Jaydon Blue to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)“Because I see pro traits with Blue, and he has a path to win the No. 2 role behind Javonte Williams in a Dallas offense that scores points.”
- 7Pat Bryant to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)“he has the traits to be a productive player in deeper formats if he can find an opening to jump into the wide receiver rotation on a consistent basis this season”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keaton Mitchell to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)1 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| AJ Barner to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Isaac TeSlaa to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)3 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jaydon Blue to be 2nd on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jaydon Blue to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)6 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Pat Bryant to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)7 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 7 calls · 7 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
7 checkable claims — 4 sleeper calls and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Omarion Hampton · 2026 season6 calls from 3 pundits between 1 and 1. Matt Bowen 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.
1Sleeper CallsKeaton MitchellLos Angeles Chargers
Keaton Mitchell to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsAJ BarnerSeattle Seahawks
AJ Barner to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Sleeper CallsIsaac TeSlaaDetroit Lions
Isaac TeSlaa to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsOmarion HamptonLos Angeles Chargers
Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsJaydon BlueDallas Cowboys
Jaydon Blue to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Sleeper CallsJaydon BlueDallas Cowboys
Jaydon Blue to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Sleeper CallsPat BryantDenver Broncos
Pat Bryant to outplay his draft cost (not being selected among the top 100 picks in fantasy football drafts)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role.Zack Kelberman · Roster Spot Calls · Sean Fresch Jr. · Miss 0
Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Micah Parsons · Miss 0
Eisen expects Myles Garrett to be traded before the draft and says the Browns will then take Abdul Carter with their early first-round pick; they also predict Buffalo will end up paying James Cook and that Micah Parsons will remain a Cowboy and get their money from Dallas, likely late in the process.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Derek Brown · Sleeper Calls · Travis Hunter · Hit 100
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 their own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.Chris Welsh · Sleeper Calls · Tyler Warren · Hit 100
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.Pat Fitzmaurice · Sleeper Calls · Rashee Rice · Miss 0
Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (their WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (their QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields.Joe Pisapia · Sleeper Calls · Tyreek Hill · Miss 0
Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: they 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.