# Pat Fitzmaurice: Fitzmaurice names three players to avoid in 2026 fantasy drafts: Jalen Hurts (a fade at his midrange QB1 price because his rushing production has declined), De'Von Achane (not worth a second-round pick amid a bad Miami situation), and Brian Thomas Jr. (no bounce-back expected in a crowded Jacksonville target ecosystem). **Claimed:** Aug 4, 2026 **Pundit:** Pat Fitzmaurice — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pat-fitzmaurice **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/3-players-experts-avoid-2026-fantasy-football/ 2 checkable claims — 2 fantasy bust calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > With sensational rushing yards no longer bankable, Hurts is a fade. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (the second round of fantasy football drafts)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Hurts to fall short of his draft cost (midrange QB1 price)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - De'Von Achane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/de-von-achane - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Jalen Hurts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-hurts - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles ## What others said about the same people - Nate Tice on Philadelphia Eagles: Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b8378e16-ea5c-4107-a883-28aaf0e71134 (scored 0) - Steven Ruiz on Philadelphia Eagles: Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a30ff469-4972-4c48-855b-ba984e4de9d0 (scored 0) - Matt Harmon on Philadelphia Eagles: Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. He took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/21a71025-ab65-4716-ac2c-e77ad5ce3348 (scored 100) - Ty Schmit on Philadelphia Eagles: While taking the Bears to cover, he said he expects the Eagles to win Monday night in Chicago in a tight game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/118b8db9-3aa5-429d-925b-8683b0f17024 (scored 0) - Darius Butler on Philadelphia Eagles: He trusts Jalen Hurts over the Bears' quarterback situation and picked Philadelphia to beat Chicago on Monday night. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d98968c9-3fd0-44cf-af9d-e305f0a97648 (scored 0) - Jared Dubin on Philadelphia Eagles: Dubin picked the Eagles to win at Chicago 23-10 on Monday night. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ff02a653-02d7-47d8-872c-107113a8dbf7 (scored 33.33) ## More fantasy bust calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Ryan Wormeli on Zay Flowers: 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.co/opinions/192d6e67-2e0e-49b3-bc82-4c8a77bd5950 (scored 0) - Derek Brown on Zay Flowers: 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.co/opinions/effe2fda-3dcb-489f-a1e1-f8fa5b11ada7 (scored 0) - Chris Welsh on Austin Ekeler: 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.co/opinions/9f0f2132-f3b8-4813-b2b1-374b827d86a8 (scored 100) - Joe Pisapia on Rashee Rice: 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.co/opinions/c3c95c1c-64a4-42b6-9389-58d5fb5b27d1 (scored 0) - Derek Brown on Chuba Hubbard: Derek 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9cc5c06e-e0c5-45bd-8b93-fa089f8673a8 (scored 100) - Simon Hunter on Tetairoa McMillan: Simon is drafting Ashton Jeanty in the late first/early second and is comfortable taking him in the first round, is all-in on DeVonta Adams with the Rams, and calls Puka Nacua one of the most overdrafted players who should not be taken in the first round. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/15f74c4e-cd8f-455b-b84f-e4098e767a84 (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.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.co/corrections?pundit=pat-fitzmaurice