Pat Fitzmaurice#8 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 18, 2026
Fitzmaurice projects Drake Maye as a top-five fantasy quarterback going forward, Caleb Williams as capable of a high-end QB1 season, and Bo Nix as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 with a safe floor and limited ceiling. They also see Jayden Daniels as a high-upside but riskier fantasy QB, and expects Brock Bowers to match or exceed their rookie numbers as the Raiders' top pass catcher.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Pat Fitzmaurice said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHe's a top-five fantasy quarterback moving forward.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- 15 Third-Year Players (2026 Fantasy Football)
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Caleb Williams to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points“Williams has a bright future, and with Johnson as his mentor and a pass-catching corps that includes TE Colston Loveland and WRs Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, a high-end QB1 fantasy season is within reach.”
- 2Bo Nix to finish QB1 (1–12) at his position, by fantasy points“Nix offers a relatively safe floor but might have a limited ceiling. Consider him a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2.”
- 3Drake Maye to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points“Despite the sour ending, Maye's second NFL season was a triumph. He's a top-five fantasy quarterback moving forward.”
- 4Brock Bowers to be 1st on the depth chart“The Raiders are talent-starved at wide receiver, so Bowers is poised to be their alpha pass catcher.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Williams to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points1 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Bo Nix to finish QB1 (1–12) at his position, by fantasy points2 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Drake Maye to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points3 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Brock Bowers to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 3 positional finishes and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 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 above the room on 2 and below it on 1.
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
Brock Bowers · 2026 season4 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 1. Pat Fitzmaurice 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.
Their call against the room
positional finishTheir call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Positional FinishesCaleb WilliamsChicago Bears
Caleb Williams to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Positional FinishesBo NixDenver Broncos
Bo Nix to finish QB1 (1–12) at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Positional FinishesDrake MayeNew England Patriots
Drake Maye to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsBrock BowersLas Vegas Raiders
Brock Bowers to be 1st on the depth chart
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.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.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nick Wright · Positional Finishes · Puka Nacua · Close 75
Nick Wright picked the Ravens to beat Houston this weekend even with Lamar Jackson possibly out (leaning on Derrick Henry and Cooper Rush), the Chiefs to win in Jacksonville, and the Rams to beat the 49ers on Thursday night. They also laid out an AFC playoff field of Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Chargers and Colts, projected the Chiefs' receiver pecking order once Rashee Rice returns, and called Justin Jefferson the best receiver in football with Puka Nacua a top-five receiver.Rich Hribar · Positional Finishes · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Hribar published their 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how they prioritize drafting the position, with Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes in the top tier as the trio most likely to finish as the overall QB1.Chris Brockman · Positional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-Njigba · Hit 100
Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called their shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.Ryan Tracy · Positional Finishes · Bryan Cook · Miss 0
Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; they name Brian Robinson as their target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10.Pat Gustavson · Positional Finishes · Bijan Robinson · Close 75
Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out their own coaching landing spots.