Derek Brown· Jul 20, 2026
Derek Brown built a round-by-round fantasy draft blueprint, headlined by James Cook as the best value at the back of round one and a top-three running back finish, AJ Brown as a top-five receiver in New England, Colston Loveland as a league-defining tight end, and a series of mid-to-late round values (Waddle, Montgomery, Tuten, Pollard, Washington, Johnston, Likely, Willis, Ward, Diggs, Brooks).
“I think James Cook is the best value on the board. Looking at eleventh overall.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
26 checkable claims — 14 sleeper calls, 7 positional finishes and 5 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 21 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 11 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 3 and below it on 8.
Where this call stands in the room
Jaylen Waddle · 2026 season6 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. 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.
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Who this take is about
26 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Quentin Johnston to outplay his draft cost (ninth round)
“I'm all in on Quentin Johnston this year... If you want Lad McConkie production, but you don't want to pay the Ladd mconkee price tag, this year, draft Quentin Johnston”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJames CookBuffalo BillsJul 20, 2026
James Cook to outplay his draft cost (eleventh overall)
“I think James Cook is the best value on the board. Looking at eleventh overall, he's being valued basically based off of what he did last year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsStefon DiggsJul 20, 2026
Stefon Diggs to outplay his draft cost (Round fourteen)
“the last guy that I'm bringing up Stefan Diggs in Round fourteen... a player that's going to be a wide receiver three in ranks that has wide receiver two upside”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesIsaiah LikelyJul 20, 2026
Isaiah Likely to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“I've got him as a top twelve tight end to my rankings at tight end eight”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsA.J. BrownNew England PatriotsJul 20, 2026
A.J. Brown to outplay his draft cost (second round)
“AJ Brown, He's my guy... I think we get a career season from AJ Brown in a limited volume passing offense.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJonathon BrooksJul 20, 2026
Jonathon Brooks to outplay his draft cost (eleventh round)
“Yeah, Jonathan Brooks... So it's just free access, free upside.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quentin Johnston to be 1st on the depth chart
“I don't think you're getting the real wide receiver one for the Chargers if you're paying up for Ladd McConkey... He was their clear wide receiver one”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesBhayshul TutenJul 20, 2026
Bhayshul Tuten to finish top 22 at his position, by fantasy points
“Facial Twoton my RB twenty two in my rankings, and I think he's gonna have a fantastic season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesJames CookBuffalo BillsJul 20, 2026
James Cook to finish top 3 at his position, by fantasy points
“I think James Cook can take a step into rarefied air and I'm not saying RB one overall, but I think he could be top three this year”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsIsaiah LikelyJul 20, 2026
Isaiah Likely to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Isaiah Likely. I think he's gonna be the clear number two on this passing attack.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJaylen WaddleDenver BroncosJul 20, 2026
Jaylen Waddle to outplay his draft cost (fourth round)
“I'm just not going to shut up talking about Jayleen Wattle... He's going from a run heavy offense to a pass heavy offense”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTony PollardTennessee TitansJul 20, 2026
Tony Pollard to outplay his draft cost (seventh round)
“ECR seventy seven is where you're gonna be going with your seventh round pick... Tony Pollard, I just it's just free money for me”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
A.J. Brown to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points
“Because I've got AJ Brown at wide receiver five.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesTony PollardTennessee TitansJul 20, 2026
Tony Pollard to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“He's going to produce as an RB two this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesJaylen WaddleDenver BroncosJul 20, 2026
Jaylen Waddle to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“I think Waddle is going to put up a wide receiver one season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJaylen WaddleDenver BroncosJul 20, 2026
Jaylen Waddle to be 1st on the depth chart
“That passing attack is going to condense around Jalen Wattle and Courtland Sutton. Wattle is going to be the clear number one”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsIsaiah LikelyJul 20, 2026
Isaiah Likely to outplay his draft cost (tenth round)
“tenth round... you need to be draft in. Isaiah Likely... you get free access to a tight end one in the later rounds”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMalik WillisMiami DolphinsJul 20, 2026
Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost (round twelve)
“My guy in round twelve is Malik Willis... Malik Willis is going to freaking run this year, and if he runs this year, you're getting a QB two that has top twelve upside”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
David Montgomery to finish top 20 at his position, by fantasy points
“Dave Montgomery's a top twenty back and he's got RB one upside.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston TexansJul 20, 2026
David Montgomery to outplay his draft cost (fifth round)
“fifth round... David Montgomery... he's gonna be the engine of that offense”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTony PollardTennessee TitansJul 20, 2026
Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart
“It's not Tajay Spears. So Tony Poward is going to get the bulk of the work.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBhayshul TutenJul 20, 2026
Bhayshul Tuten to outplay his draft cost (sixth round)
“So in the sixth round ECR sixty four, your perfect pick... BA Suton is gonna explode in his second season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsCam WardJul 20, 2026
Cam Ward to outplay his draft cost (thirteenth round)
“I'd like thirteenth round cam Ward Again. If I'm waiting on quarterbacks, I want an upside shot at like who could be this year is Caleb Williams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsColston LovelandJul 20, 2026
Colston Loveland to outplay his draft cost (third round)
“Coleston Loveland, I'm bringing him up in the third round... I think that Colston Loveland is going to be a league defining player”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsParker WashingtonJul 20, 2026
Parker Washington to outplay his draft cost (eighth round)
“It's Parker Washington. If he could replicate what he did on the back half of last year, he could be one of those league winning type of players... you're paying for it in the eighth round”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsA.J. BrownNew England PatriotsJul 20, 2026
A.J. Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“aj Brown is going to be their go to guy in the red zone... when they've had a true alpha level wide receiver, they get fed”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Denver BroncosHit · 98Simms 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.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Buffalo BillsHit · 100Long 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.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Previewing 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.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 100Tice 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.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tom StrachanSleeper Calls · Ricky PearsallHit · 100Tom Strachan backed Xavier Worthy, Jalen Coker, Egbuka, Jalen Waddle, Darnell Mooney, Zay Flowers, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Travis Hunter as values at their draft costs, while avoiding Jerry Jeudy and the Cleveland receivers.
- Ryan WormeliSleeper Calls · Ricky PearsallHit · 100Host Ryan Warmley endorsed Ricky Pearsall as a bet worth making and put his rookie-receiver capital in Tetairoa McMillan, while fading Zay Flowers at his cost and opting out of Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Chris WelshSleeper Calls · Tyler WarrenHit · 100Welsh 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 FitzmauriceSleeper Calls · Rashee RiceMiss · 0Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (his WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (his QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields.
- Joe PisapiaSleeper Calls · Tetairoa McMillanHit · 100Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: he 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.
- Ryan WormeliSleeper Calls · Tetairoa McMillanHit · 100Hosting the segment, Warmley backed Bryce Young to finish better than his QB22 consensus ranking, endorsed Cedric Tillman as a late-round target, and said Tetairoa McMillan will be a top-15 fantasy receiver this season.