Evan TarraccianoAug 28, 2026
Tarracciano names four running backs they are fading in 2026 drafts: Javonte Williams (too pricey at RB14), Bucky Irving (overdrafted at RB21 with injury and role concerns), David Montgomery (upside capped by a near 50-50 split with Woody Marks) and Bhayshul Tuten (won't deliver the breakout others expect).
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Evan Tarracciano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHere are four running backs I’m actively passing on in drafts this season
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- 4 Fantasy Football Busts to Avoid: Running Backs (2026)
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Javonte Williams to fall short of his draft cost (his current RB14 ranking)“I’ve long been a supporter of his physical traits, but with his current RB14 ranking, I can’t envision a scenario where he returns value at his current cost.”
- 2Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (the RB21)“Like Williams above, I feel that Irving is currently being overdrafted as the RB21, and it is difficult to trust him to stay healthy for an entire season.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javonte Williams to fall short of his draft cost (his current RB14 ranking)1 | Fantasy Bust Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (the RB21)2 | Fantasy Bust Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 2 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
2 checkable claims — 2 fantasy bust calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
1Fantasy Bust CallsJavonte WilliamsDallas Cowboys
Javonte Williams to fall short of his draft cost (his current RB14 ranking)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Fantasy Bust CallsBucky IrvingTampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (the RB21)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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Eisen expects Myles Garrett to be traded before the draft and says the Browns will then take Abdul Carter with their early first-round pick; they also predict Buffalo will end up paying James Cook and that Micah Parsons will remain a Cowboy and get their money from Dallas, likely late in the process.Eric Mangini · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
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Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. They also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated their Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.Donte Johnson · Game Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Miss 0
The former NFL safety picked the Buccaneers to upset the Bears in their Week 9 matchup, arguing Todd Bowles' defense would frustrate Caleb Williams.
More fantasy bust calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Derek Brown · Fantasy Bust Calls · Zay Flowers · Miss 0
Derek 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 their own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.Chris Welsh · Fantasy Bust Calls · Austin Ekeler · Hit 100
Welsh 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 Pisapia · Fantasy Bust Calls · Rashee Rice · Miss 0
Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: they 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.Pat Fitzmaurice · Fantasy Bust Calls · Breece Hall · Miss 0
Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (their WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (their QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields.