# Mike Fanelli: Fanelli ranks all 32 NFL teams for 2026 fantasy purposes, with the Bengals first and the Dolphins last, and makes assorted calls including Joe Burrow winning Comeback Player of the Year, Drake Maye leading the league in passing touchdowns, various starting-role and depth-chart projections, plus sleepers (Godwin, Travis Hunter, Jonathon Brooks) and a bust call on De'Von Achane. **Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Mike Fanelli — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-fanelli **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/fantasy-football-power-rankings-2026/ 33 checkable claims — 22 depth chart calls, 3 fantasy rankings, 3 positional finishes, 2 sleeper calls, 1 award pick, 1 fantasy bust call and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 48 players and teams, each linked to their own record. 3 of 33 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls. Of the 20 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 18. > Maye is a dark horse candidate to lead the NFL in passing touchdowns this season. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **DeVonta Smith to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylen Warren to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Travis Hunter to outplay his draft cost (WR70 ADP)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: not settled yet - **Troy Franklin to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Emeka Egbuka to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans - Verdict: not settled yet - **Isaiah Davis to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Isaiah Davis, New York Jets - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chris Godwin Jr. to outplay his draft cost (WR42)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Chris Godwin Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Malik Washington to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Travis Etienne to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Travis Etienne, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Zachariah Branch to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Zachariah Branch, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jordan Mason to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **He is my TE1 for this season... The only tight end I would draft over Trey McBride is Brock Bowers** - Kind: Fantasy Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Drake Maye to finish top 1 at his position, by passing tds** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Drake Maye, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Watson to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylen Waddle to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos - Verdict: not settled yet - **Aaron Jones to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **I've put together fantasy football rankings for all 32 NFL teams, along with my thoughts on each squad for the 2026 season.** - Kind: Power Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Joe Burrow to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year** - Kind: Award Picks · About: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jeremiyah Love to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bhayshul Tuten to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Nailor to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jalen Nailor, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (RB5 and first-round ADP)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Xavier Legette to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jackson is the QB2 in my four points per passing touchdown scoring rankings behind Josh Allen.** - Kind: Fantasy Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Bijan Robinson is the top overall player on my board** - Kind: Fantasy Rankings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Nico Collins to finish top 10 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Nico Collins, Houston Texans - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Kyler Murray — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyler-murray - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Tua Tagovailoa — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tua-tagovailoa - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - DeVonta Smith — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/devonta-smith - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Jaylen Warren — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaylen-warren - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Travis Hunter — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/travis-hunter - Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jaguars - Troy Franklin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/troy-franklin - Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/broncos - Emeka Egbuka — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka - Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers - Tony Pollard — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tony-pollard - Tennessee Titans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/titans - Isaiah Davis — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/isaiah-davis - New York Jets — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jets - Chris Godwin Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chris-godwin-jr - Malik Washington — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/malik-washington - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Travis Etienne — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/travis-etienne - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - Zachariah Branch — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/zachariah-branch - Jordan Mason — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jordan-mason - Drake Maye — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drake-maye - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Christian Watson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-watson - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers - Jaylen Waddle — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaylen-waddle - Aaron Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-jones - Joe Burrow — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/joe-burrow - Cincinnati Bengals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/bengals - Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love - Arizona Cardinals — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cardinals - Bhayshul Tuten — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bhayshul-tuten - Jalen Nailor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-nailor - Rico Dowdle — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rico-dowdle - De'Von Achane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/de-von-achane - Xavier Legette — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/xavier-legette - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Carson Beck — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/carson-beck - Kenneth Walker III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenneth-walker-iii - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Nico Collins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/nico-collins - Houston Texans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/texans ## What others said about the same people - Chris Simms on Kansas City Chiefs: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 100) - Connor Rogers on Kansas City Chiefs: Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 100) - Chris Long on Cincinnati Bengals: Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3df9ea25-e57f-4fd7-b20c-c910a1c3633a (scored 0) - Steven Ruiz on Las Vegas Raiders: 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 100) - 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) - Chris Simms on Green Bay Packers: Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b12420c5-837c-4a24-8a8e-c74b10cc697c (scored 9.52) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Rashod Bateman: In his Week 2 waiver wire column, Fitzmaurice recommends a slate of pickups he expects to outperform their current rostership (Kaelon Black, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Shough, Geno Smith and others), lays out several depth-chart expectations (Black as the 49ers' No. 2 back, Shedeur Sanders eventually taking over in Cleveland, Penix returning for Atlanta), and flags Fool's Gold/drop candidates such as Mike Gesicki, Kendrick Bourne and Rashid Shaheed. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6218d3c2-61e7-4ace-9976-b51eeefdf22c (scored 0) - Tyler Sullivan on Deshaun Watson: An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/054d7c3e-baca-4414-b3dd-72c4eced2725 (scored 100) - Ryan Wilson on Deshaun Watson: A CBS Sports piece states Deshaun Watson has won Cleveland's starting quarterback job for Week 1 with Shedeur Sanders next in line, while arguing Watson will not play like even an average NFL quarterback and that none of the Browns' current young passers should stop them from drafting a first-round quarterback next April. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ff870e69-9992-4166-aa81-9b49d6f77f55 (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano argues the Browns do not have a franchise quarterback and that it's unlikely Watson or Sanders is their long-term answer. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/80cb396b-8dbf-4e39-bd65-6d25df403db1 (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=mike-fanelli