Pat Fitzmaurice#8 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 1, 2026
Fitzmaurice lists 11 players they're avoiding in 2026 fantasy drafts, arguing each will underperform their current draft price — including Jalen Hurts, Jaxson Dart, De'Von Achane, Quinshon Judkins, Rico Dowdle, Woody Marks, Rashee Rice, Davante Adams, Brian Thomas Jr., Trey McBride and Dalton Kincaid.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Pat Fitzmaurice said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromWith sensational rushing yards no longer bankable, Hurts is a fade.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- Pat Fitzmaurice’s 11 Fantasy Football Players to Avoid (2026)
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart“The Texans signed David Montgomery to be their lead back”
- 2Woody Marks to be 2nd on the depth chart“The Texans signed David Montgomery to be their lead back, which means Marks can slide back into the third-down role to which he's better suited.”
- 3Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart“My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year, and it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.”
- 4Fantasy Rankings“Pat Fitzmaurice's 11 Fantasy Football Players to Avoid (2026)”
- 5Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart“My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year, and it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Woody Marks to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “Pat Fitzmaurice's 11 Fantasy Football Players to Avoid (2026)”4 | Fantasy Rankings | — | — | — | — | |
| Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 fantasy ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 2.
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
David Montgomery · 2026 season23 calls from 16 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
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston Texans
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsWoody MarksHouston Texans
Woody Marks to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsRico DowdlePittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“Pat Fitzmaurice's 11 Fantasy Football Players to Avoid (2026)”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsJaylen WarrenPittsburgh Steelers
Jaylen Warren 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
Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Houston Texans · Hit 81
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Houston Texans · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.