Henry McKenna· Sep 1, 2026
In a set of 12 bold predictions for the 2026 NFL season, McKenna forecasts A.J. Brown leading the league in receptions, Caleb Williams topping 4,000 yards with a Bears playoff berth, the Lions going worst-to-first in the NFC North, Tyler Shough cracking the top 10 in passing, Aaron Donald reaching 14 sacks, Maxx Crosby leading the league in sacks, a Seahawks rookie back winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Dak Prescott winning MVP as Dallas makes the playoffs.
“They’re going to make the playoffs. And when that happens, Prescott’s numbers and win totals will put him in the MVP race.”
published in writing · Fox Sports · read the original →
12 checkable claims — 3 positional finishes, 2 award picks, 2 player season numbers, 2 playoff picks, 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 16 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Caleb Williams · 2026 season · passing yards4 calls from 3 pundits between 4,000 passing yards and 4,500 passing yards. Henry McKenna said 4,000 passing yards. the room's median is 4,000 passing yards. 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
12 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.
- Trade and Signing CallsMaxx CrosbySep 1, 2026
Maxx Crosby to move — “gets traded again before the deadline”
“He might even get traded again before the deadline.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to record 4,000 passing yards
“And it would make him the first Chicago Bears quarterback to top 4,000 passing yards. Ever.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersDetroit LionsSep 1, 2026
Detroit Lions to win the division
“The Lions are angry and hungry. And they’re simply way, way too talented to stay in the basement of the NFC North. (article headline: "Goes Worst To First")”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to finish top 10 at his position, by passing yards
“I think he can jump into the top 10 in passing stats.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Javonte Williams to be 1st on the depth chart
“second-year Cowboys back Williams, who will likely be the uncontested RB1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Maxx Crosby to finish top 1 at his position, by sacks
“Crosby should be able to tee off on quarterbacks and land at the top of the leaderboard for sacks”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksDak PrescottDallas CowboysSep 1, 2026
Dak Prescott to win MVP
“Prescott’s numbers and win totals will put him in the MVP race (article headline: "Who Wins MVP")”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksDallas CowboysSep 1, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs
“They’re going to make the playoffs.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Award PicksRay RiceSeattle SeahawksSep 1, 2026
Ray Rice to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“That should be enough for him to edge any of the receivers and/or No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Sam Darnold to record 14 sacks
“It’s reasonable to think he could get 14 sacks this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
A.J. Brown to finish top 1 at his position, by receptions
“which is all the more reason to get him to the top of the receptions category in 2026”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksChicago BearsSep 1, 2026
Chicago Bears to make the playoffs
“the Bears will see Caleb’s stats go crazy — and Chicago will make the playoffs again”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · New Orleans SaintsClose · 48Simms 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 · Detroit LionsHit · 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 · Detroit LionsHit · 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.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Seattle SeahawksMiss · 0Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaHit · 100Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.
- Ryan TracyPositional Finishes · Bryan CookMiss · 0Tracy argues the Chiefs should address edge rusher and defensive tackle via the draft and use free agency on running back and wide receiver; he names Brian Robinson as his target, expects Kenneth Walker III to re-sign with Seattle, thinks Nick Bolton-style veterans like Jerry Tillery, Derek Nnadi and Mike Pennel shouldn't return, believes Bryan Cook is a top-10 safety the Chiefs can't afford, and predicts a quarterback (Trinidad Chambliss) will rocket up boards so more than one QB goes in the top 10.
- Pat GustavsonPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out his own coaching landing spots.
- JP AcostaPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster.
- Chris BrockmanPositional Finishes · Josh AllenMiss · 17Brockman opened with a series of week-one overreactions: Josh Allen repeats as MVP with Buffalo as the AFC's No. 1 seed, Bills-Ravens is both the game of the year and an AFC title game preview, Aaron Rodgers mirrors his 2021 MVP season with 40 TDs, the NFC Championship is played at Lambeau, the Colts are AFC South front runners, Cincinnati's slow start dooms them, Christian McCaffrey has a top-five MVP season, and the Chargers are the team to beat in the AFC West.
- Ndamukong SuhPositional Finishes · Nnamdi MadubuikeMiss · 0Asked who is the best at his position in the league today, Suh named Justin Madubuike, saying Jalen Carter is still too raw.