Evan TarraccianoSep 3, 2026
Tarracciano names five late-round running backs (RB3/RB4 tier) they believe can outperform their draft cost and reach RB1-type value if the backs ahead of them falter: MarShawn Lloyd, Blake Corum, Jonathon Brooks, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jonah Coleman.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Evan Tarracciano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHere are several options I'd strongly consider that have true RB1 potential if things break right ahead of them.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- RB3s With RB1 Potential (2026 Fantasy Football)
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Jonathon Brooks to outplay his draft cost (RB32 in average draft position (ADP))“it appears the market overcorrected, sinking Brooks back down to RB32 in average draft position (ADP)... He simply has a better skill set than Hubbard and a much higher ceiling.”
- 2Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (Currently ranked as the RB35)“Currently ranked as the RB35, I'm fine rostering him in the FLEX spot most weeks and am happy to stash him as an investment with one of the highest ceilings at the position.”
- 3Chris Rodriguez Jr. to outplay his draft cost (Currently the RB46 in ADP)“Currently the RB46 in ADP, Rodriguez, is being viewed as the fly in the ointment of Tuten's breakout campaign, but I think he can be the more valuable player to roster by season's end.”
- 4MarShawn Lloyd to outplay his draft cost (RB31 in ECR)“MarShawn Lloyd is still ranked as the RB31 in ECR... If — and yes, that is a massive if —Lloyd can stay healthy, he has a shot at low-end RB1 value.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathon Brooks to outplay his draft cost (RB32 in average draft position (ADP))1 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (Currently ranked as the RB35)2 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. to outplay his draft cost (Currently the RB46 in ADP)3 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| MarShawn Lloyd to outplay his draft cost (RB31 in ECR)4 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 4 sleeper calls — 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.
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.
1Sleeper CallsJonathon BrooksCarolina Panthers
Jonathon Brooks to outplay his draft cost (RB32 in average draft position (ADP))
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Sleeper CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles Rams
Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (Currently ranked as the RB35)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Sleeper CallsChris Rodriguez Jr.Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Rodriguez Jr. to outplay his draft cost (Currently the RB46 in ADP)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Sleeper CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay Packers
MarShawn Lloyd to outplay his draft cost (RB31 in ECR)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.Bill Huber · Game Outcome Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Huber argues Green Bay has no excuses left and will beat New England in Foxborough, and expects Christian Watson to play despite their rib injury. They also sketch the projected interior offensive line, with John Williams at center and Laken Tomlinson at right guard.Derek Brown · Game Outcome Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Brown picked the Bengals to beat the Falcons in Madrid, the Packers to win outright in New England and the Bills to beat the Vikings on Monday night. They were bullish on Jonah Coleman's rest-of-season value, expected Jonathan Taylor to play for the Colts, floated a Breece Hall trade, and did not expect DJ Reed to play in Week 9.Danny Parkins · Game Outcome Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Parkins named the seven AFC teams they believe are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as their Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Derek Brown · Sleeper Calls · DeVonta Smith · 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.