# Mike Clay: 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. They also project 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). **Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Mike Clay — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-clay **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.espn.com/fantasy/football/story/_/id/49309338/fantasy-football-2026-version-2025-breakouts-nfl-sleepers 10 claims — 5 depth chart calls, 3 sleeper calls and 2 positional finishes — the 9 we can check each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call. It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of the 9 calls we can check have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. The other one was too vague to check, so it is not graded. 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. > Dart is one of my favorite targets in 2026 fantasy drafts *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Kenyon Sadiq to outplay his draft cost (the later rounds)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Kenyon Sadiq - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jaylen Waddle to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos - 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 - **Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Verdict: not settled yet - “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.” - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Jeremiyah Love - Verdict: too vague to check - **Terrance Ferguson to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenyon Sadiq to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kenyon Sadiq - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jack Bech to outplay his draft cost (the late rounds)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jack Bech - 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 - **Terrance Ferguson to outplay his draft cost (late-round availability on draft day)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Kenyon Sadiq — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenyon-sadiq - Jaylen Waddle — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaylen-waddle - 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 - Jeremiyah Love — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jeremiyah-love - Terrance Ferguson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/terrance-ferguson - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Jack Bech — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jack-bech - Kenneth Walker III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenneth-walker-iii - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs ## What others said about the same people - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman expects Sean Fresch Jr. to clear waivers and return to the Broncos' practice squad, sees Riley Moss back from concussion for the Week 11 game at Las Vegas, and projects newly acquired Daiyan Henley to begin as the third inside linebacker behind Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before likely moving into a starting role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/978f775c-5611-4514-ad2f-b35a6eac0402 (scored 0) - Zack Kelberman on Sean Fresch Jr.: Kelberman writes that Riley Moss may sit out the preseason finale against Minnesota but should be available for the Week 1 opener at Kansas City; they also suggest undrafted corners Sean Fresch Jr. and Brent Austin are being evaluated for practice squad spots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3c8c47b8-6041-4282-8d21-d21741d8f11b (scored 0) - Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0) - Chad Jensen on Jordan Turner: Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a84d2c6e-5554-46aa-95b1-620858d31e0f (scored 0) - Gilberto Manzano on Josh Downs: Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/67d5af78-94ea-4ee2-a277-5e68347022de (scored 100) - Joshua Poniatowski on Josh Downs: Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d1752582-a799-48b9-984b-39bf7cb8b709 (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) - Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42d1bd81-5e19-456e-9f68-b3b135170ec0 (scored 0) - Michael Moore on Shedeur Sanders: In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e26319a3-10aa-49a6-a24d-a257521363f0 (scored 100) - Zachary Pereles on Shedeur Sanders: Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6dad75dd-1818-4a6a-91ea-832f491c2530 (scored 100) - Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100) - Garrett Podell on Carson Beck: Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2f499498-ebbe-41f8-8ea3-41fe96f79432 (scored 0) --- 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-clay