Mike Clay· Aug 12, 2026
Clay names the 2026 fantasy players positioned to break out in the mold of last season's breakouts: Jaxson Dart, Carnell Tate, Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiyah Love, Kenyon Sadiq, Justin Herbert, Kenneth Walker III, Jaylen Waddle, Terrance Ferguson and Jack Bech. He also projects roles for several of them (Egbuka as Tampa Bay's top target, Walker as the Chiefs' feature back, Waddle leading Denver in targets and catches).
“Dart is one of my favorite targets in 2026 fantasy drafts”
published in writing · read the original →
10 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls, 3 sleeper calls and 2 positional finishes — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 4.
Where this call stands in the room
Kenneth Walker III · 2026 season17 calls from 14 pundits between 1 and 1. Mike Clay 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 room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
10 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.
Terrance Ferguson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“it's very possible Ferguson settles in as the No. 3 target behind Puka Nacua and 33-year-old Davante Adams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesJaylen WaddleDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Jaylen Waddle to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“Similar to Pickens last season, Waddle very well could deliver solid WR2 numbers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTerrance FergusonLos Angeles RamsAug 12, 2026
Terrance Ferguson to outplay his draft cost (late-round availability on draft day)
“This season's Harold Fannin Jr./Oronde Gadsden II: Terrance Ferguson ... he fits our description due to his late-round availability on draft day.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKenyon SadiqAug 12, 2026
Kenyon Sadiq to be 3rd on the depth chart
“it's very possible he emerges as Geno Smith's No. 2 or 3 target this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to be 1st on the depth chart
“Walker signed with the Chiefs during free agency and has a very clear path to feature back duties in a good offense.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesJeremiyah LoveAug 12, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to finish top ? at his position, by fantasy points
“he still finished sixth among backs in touches and 11th in fantasy points. He was the worst finisher among the aforementioned nine backs, and odds are Love will be better.”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
- Sleeper CallsKenyon SadiqAug 12, 2026
Kenyon Sadiq to outplay his draft cost (the later rounds)
“This season's Tyler Warren: Kenyon Sadiq ... should be on your radar in the later rounds.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart
“with Mike Evans gone, Egbuka has a real shot to operate as Tampa Bay's top target in 2026”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJack BechAug 12, 2026
Jack Bech to outplay his draft cost (the late rounds)
“This season's Michael Wilson/Parker Washington: Jack Bech ... The player out of TCU is an interesting Hail Mary flier in the late rounds.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJaylen WaddleDenver BroncosAug 12, 2026
Jaylen Waddle to be 1st on the depth chart
“he very well could lead the Sean Payton and Bo Nix-led Denver offense in targets and catches”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms 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.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Rogers 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.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long 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 · Denver BroncosHit · 100Previewing 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.
- Jake ArthurScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In 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.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The 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.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano 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.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.