Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 20, 2026
Fitzmaurice lists his favorite 2026 fantasy draft targets, arguing each will outperform their current draft cost: Trevor Lawrence and Brock Purdy at QB, Kenneth Walker III, Jeremiyah Love, Bucky Irving, Blake Corum and Jonathon Brooks at RB, Emeka Egbuka, Christian Watson and Makai Lemon at WR, and Brock Bowers, Colston Loveland and Kyle Pitts at TE.
“There's a good chance we get a full Egbuka breakout in 2026.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 8 sleeper calls, 4 depth chart calls and 1 positional finishe — 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 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
Chuba Hubbard · 2026 season8 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 2. Pat Fitzmaurice 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jeremiyah Love
- Arizona Cardinals
- Brock Bowers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Blake Corum
- Los Angeles Rams
- Jonathon Brooks
- Carolina Panthers
- Kenneth Walker III
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Brock Purdy
- San Francisco 49ers
- Chuba Hubbard
- Colston Loveland
- Chicago Bears
- Kyle Pitts
- Atlanta Falcons
- Christian Watson
- Green Bay Packers
13 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.
- Sleeper CallsTrevor LawrenceJacksonville JaguarsAug 20, 2026
Trevor Lawrence to outplay his draft cost (being drafted as a low-end QB1)
“There's high-end QB1 potential here — as we saw late last season — and yet Lawrence is being drafted as a low-end QB1, according to average draft position (ADP).”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJeremiyah LoveArizona CardinalsAug 20, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to outplay his draft cost (expert consensus ranking (ECR) as of this writing is RB13)
“Drafting Love is a great way to capitalize on an irrational fear... I still expect a big season from the explosive rookie.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock BowersLas Vegas RaidersAug 20, 2026
Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost (anywhere in the back half of the second round in 12-team drafts)
“I'm willing to take Brock Bowers anywhere in the back half of the second round in 12-team drafts... The Raiders have an anemic wide receiver corps, so Bowers should be awash in targets this season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 20, 2026
Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart
“At worst, Blake Corum will be the backup to Kyren Williams all season in what should be an outstanding Rams offense.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJonathon BrooksCarolina PanthersAug 20, 2026
Jonathon Brooks to outplay his draft cost (likely to be inexpensive in drafts)
“Brooks is likely to be inexpensive in drafts because of that terrifying injury history. But the potential payoff could be sweet if the talented Brooks stays healthy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trevor Lawrence to finish top 10 at his position, by passing yards
“the splendidly long-haired quarterback has finally become a top-10 quarterback”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
Kenneth Walker III to be 1st on the depth chart
“Walker should get a chance to be a workhorse for Andy Reid's Chiefs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles RamsAug 20, 2026
Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (his ADP as of this writing is RB34 (96th overall))
“You'd have hit big on a mid-round pick. This is a bet worth making.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock PurdySan Francisco 49ersAug 20, 2026
Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds)
“Purdy is a fine value for those who wait until the middle rounds to draft a quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsChuba HubbardCarolina PanthersAug 20, 2026
Chuba Hubbard to be 1st on the depth chart
“The projected starter is Chuba Hubbard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsColston LovelandChicago BearsAug 20, 2026
Colston Loveland to outplay his draft cost (the fourth round)
“If you miss out on Bowers in the second round, target Loveland in the fourth round.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKyle PittsAtlanta FalconsAug 20, 2026
Kyle Pitts to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Kyle Pitts could very well be Atlanta's No. 2 target-earner this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsChristian WatsonGreen Bay PackersAug 20, 2026
Christian Watson to outplay his draft cost (his current cost assumes he'll miss a few games)
“With a season of good health, Watson investors could reap handsome rewards.”
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 · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 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 · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 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.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Green Bay PackersMiss · 10Simms picked the Packers to beat the Falcons in the Thursday night game by a low score, expecting a defensive struggle.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Derek BrownSleeper Calls · DeVonta SmithHit · 100Derek Brown ("Debro") laid out a slate of wide receiver breakouts — Ricky Pearsall, Jalen Coker, Egbuka, Jalen Waddle, Joshua Palmer, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Travis Hunter — while fading Xavier Worthy, Tyreek Hill and the cheap Cleveland/late-round types, and gave his own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.
- 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.
- Joe PisapiaSleeper Calls · Tyreek HillMiss · 0Joey 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.
- Derek BrownSleeper Calls · George PickensHit · 100Brown's five-to-one breakout list was Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tucker Kraft, Ricky Pearsall, George Pickens and Tetairoa McMillan; he forecasts Brian Robinson Jr. being cut or traded, Kraft finishing as a top-five/six tight end, Pickens as a top-15 receiver and McMillan spiking for double-digit touchdowns.
- Jake CielySleeper Calls · Braelon AllenMiss · 0Counting down his top-five middle/late-round breakout candidates, Seely picked Bryce Young, Cedric Tillman, Braelon Allen, Marvin Mims and Rome Odunze, arguing Young can be a fringe QB1 with added rushing, Tillman and Mims are their teams' No. 2 receivers, and Caleb Williams will post a huge statistical season that lifts Odunze.
- Ryan WormeliSleeper Calls · Cedric TillmanMiss · 0Hosting 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.