Derek Brown#12 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 18, 2026
Brown touts Jonathon Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd as late-round fliers with upside, likes Blake Corum as a high-end handcuff, projects Marvin Harrison Jr. as a volume-based WR3/flex, sees Brian Thomas Jr. as a WR3/4, and is avoiding Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell entirely.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Derek Brown said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromI'll happily avoid Worthy in drafts again this year.
- 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
- 1Marvin Harrison Jr. to finish top 36 at his position, by fantasy points“If he can overcome the quarterback play and a talented running mate in Michael Wilson, Harrison Jr. can be a volume-based WR3/flex for 2026.”
- 2MarShawn Lloyd to outplay his draft cost (late in drafts)“Take a flier on Lloyd late in drafts.”
- 3Brian Thomas Jr. to finish top 48 at his position, by fantasy points“Thomas is a WR3/4 who could easily be a WR2 by the end of the year if the big plays and touchdowns come.”
- 4Jonathon Brooks to be 1st on the depth chart“Brooks could pull an Uncle Rico from last year and steal Hubbard's starting job in 2026.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Harrison Jr. to finish top 36 at his position, by fantasy points1 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| MarShawn Lloyd to outplay his draft cost (late in drafts)2 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Brian Thomas Jr. to finish top 48 at his position, by fantasy points3 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Jonathon Brooks to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 2 positional finishes, 1 depth chart call and 1 sleeper call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 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
Jonathon Brooks · 2026 season20 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 2. Derek Brown 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 record
positional finishTheir call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
1Positional FinishesMarvin Harrison Jr.Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. to finish top 36 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Sleeper CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay Packers
MarShawn Lloyd to outplay his draft cost (late in drafts)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Positional FinishesBrian Thomas Jr.
Brian Thomas Jr. to finish top 48 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsJonathon BrooksCarolina Panthers
Jonathon Brooks 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
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.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.John Middlekauff · Game Outcome Picks · Green Bay Packers · Hit 100
Middlekauff declared the AFC South over and the Jaguars the division champs, while listing several clubs they expect in the playoffs and pegging the Jets for a top-five draft slot. They also leaned Packers and Bears in Week 9 games, predicted roughly five or six wins for Washington, said Brandon Aiyuk is not coming back, and called Tyson Bagent's current deal the biggest they'll ever sign.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · Green Bay Packers · Close 71
Dubin predicts a lopsided Jaguars win over the Ravens on Thursday night and takes the Packers to upset the Patriots in Week 9.
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.