# Pat Fitzmaurice: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.

**Claimed:** Sep 17, 2026
**Pundit:** Pat Fitzmaurice — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pat-fitzmaurice
**Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/09/10-most-intriguing-fantasy-football-players-of-week-2-2026/

5 checkable claims — 3 availability calls and 2 depth chart 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.

1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.

> At the very least, Black is the most indispensable handcuff in fantasy football as the clear backup to McCaffrey.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Aaron Jones to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- “The Falcons’ fine young slot corner, Billy Bowman Jr., who tore his Achilles early last season, missed Week 1 but has been practicing this week and could return to help check Coker.”
  - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Billy Bowman Jr., Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- “The QB problems won’t be solved in Week 2. Tua Tagovailoa is unlikely to play due to an oblique injury”
  - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- “Michael Penix Jr.,Atlanta’s one true hope at quarterback, isn’t quite ready to come back from his third ACL tear.”
  - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Aaron Jones — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/aaron-jones
- Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings
- Billy Bowman Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/billy-bowman-jr
- Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons
- Kaelon Black — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kaelon-black
- San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers
- Tua Tagovailoa — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tua-tagovailoa
- Michael Penix Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-penix-jr

## What others said about the same people

- Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0)
- Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0)
- Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100)
- Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100)
- Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0)
- Alex Curry on Kirk Cousins: Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c6097f9-30ad-42dc-863f-e507225b7edc (scored 100)

## More availability calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Ralph Ventre on Alec Anderson: Ventre projects Buffalo's Week 10 offensive line at the Jets to feature Dawkins, Anderson, McGovern and Torrence back in place, with Tylan Grable making a third straight start at right tackle in place of Spencer Brown, who appears headed for the inactive list. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/502dbcca-dbd3-4dd4-8651-90eb81186894 (not settled)
- Gene Chamberlain on Dayo Odeyingbo: Chamberlain expects defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo to return from a quad injury either in the Bears' next home game against New Orleans or at Detroit on Thanksgiving, and sees the defensive line getting a boost upon that return. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fc4db675-4292-4503-abc6-81abca8723c7 (not settled)
- Derek Brown on David Montgomery: Brown picked Green Bay to beat Minnesota in the Week 10 meeting, and raised doubt that Garrett Wilson would play for the Jets coming out of concussion protocol, while also not expecting David Montgomery back this week. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99b66682-dd11-4ee3-af45-70c74b6fad8a (not settled)
- Shanna McCarriston on Drew Lock: Previewing three Week 10 games, McCarriston expects the Steelers-Bengals rematch to be a close, exciting contest, with one team's four-game win streak ending. Notes that Deshaun Watson is set to return for Cleveland against Houston, and that Fernando Mendoza will make a first NFL start for the Raiders against Seattle. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0901b3fc-310e-4e0d-bf03-f27d67b600ee (not settled)
- Ian Rapoport on Spencer Brown: Rapoport expected Spencer Brown to be available for Buffalo on Sunday despite the missed practice time, saw Lamar Jackson returning from thumb surgery around Week 16 or 17 if Baltimore stays alive, said the Chargers have no intention of moving on from Justin Herbert, and expected George Pickens to play for Dallas. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/76335ec2-fa1c-49bc-839c-6be609176806 (not settled)
- Jared Koch on Keylan Rutledge: Koch wrote that rookie left guard Keylan Rutledge is likely to miss the Week 10 game against the Browns, with fellow rookie Febechi Nwaiwu expected to make a first NFL start at left guard in place of Rutledge, ahead of the more experienced Wyatt Teller. Koch also expects the stinger absence to be brief. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/39edf825-af06-440e-a4e4-9fa612d73052 (not settled)

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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:
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