Pat Fitzmaurice#8 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 23, 2026

Fitzmaurice names Rico Dowdle a running back to avoid, expecting Jaylen Warren to be Pittsburgh's primary back because of their superior pass-catching and pass-blocking with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original

Waiting3 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 3Settled3 still waiting

#8Pat Fitzmaurice’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Pat Fitzmaurice said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year, and it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.

Pat Fitzmaurice, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: FantasyPros
The piece: Fantasy Football Do Not Draft List: Running Backs to Avoid (2026)
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Rico Dowdle to fall short of his draft cost (RB32, 86th overall)“Dowdle was at RB32, 86th overall. ... it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.”
2Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart“My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year, and it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect.”
3Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart“My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Rico Dowdle to fall short of his draft cost (RB32, 86th overall)¹	Fantasy Bust Calls	—	—	—	—
Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
3 calls · 3 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 fantasy bust call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.

Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.

Where this call stands in the room

Rico Dowdle · 2026 season

Pat Fitzmaurice — 2the room — 13 calls from 10 punditsmedian 1

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.

1Fantasy Bust Calls Rico Dowdle Pittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle to fall short of his draft cost (RB32, 86th overall)
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Rico Dowdle Pittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls Jaylen Warren Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.
Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 60
DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Browns at home in Week 8, citing Pittsburgh's quarterback edge and a running game that should exploit Cleveland's weak run defense.
Greg Jennings · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver.
Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 74
Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request.
Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners across the Week 8 slate, siding with the Bills over the Ravens, the Lions, Steelers, Jaguars, Bengals, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, Rams, Patriots, Commanders and the Bears in Seattle.
James Harrison · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Harrison picked the Steelers to beat the Browns in their Sunday meeting, saying Pittsburgh would even the season series at 1-1 after losing the first matchup.

More depth chart calls

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

Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Lock · Hit 100
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.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
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.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
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.
Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
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.
Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
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.
Garrett Podell · Depth Chart Calls · Carson Beck · Miss 0
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.