Eric PattersonAug 12, 2026

In a bold-predictions column for the 2026 fantasy season, Patterson calls Kenneth Walker III the top-scoring RB in Kansas City, fades De'Von Achane, likes Blake Corum as a top-20 back, predicts Justin Jefferson reclaims WR1 with Kyler Murray, has Jordyn Tyson outscoring Chris Olave and Matthew Golden outscoring Christian Watson, sees Brock Bowers breaking the single-season receptions record, and pegs Brock Purdy as a top-five quarterback.

Published in writingRead the original

1 of 1calls landed1 hit · 24 waiting

100Average accuracyout of 100, across 1 call

0A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

1Games calledeveryone’s picks below

24Waitingnot graded yet

What Eric Patterson said

Walker is one of a few running backs with RB1 upside, but he's being picked in the second round.

Eric Patterson, the lead quote

The piece: Fantasy: 8 bold predictions for the 2026 season
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 12
PlayedSep 13
GradedSep 18

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Hits	Waiting
Depth Chart Calls	1	2
Sleeper Calls	0	6
Player Season Numbers	0	7
Fantasy Bust Calls	0	3
Positional Finishes	0	5
Season Win Totals	0	1
All	1	24

How each call scored

25 checkable claims — 7 player season numbers, 6 sleeper calls, 5 positional finishes, 3 depth chart calls, 3 fantasy bust calls and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 20 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

1 of 25 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.

Of the 13 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 3 and below it on 10.

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

Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season

Eric Patterson — 1the room — 30 calls from 26 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.

Depth Chart Calls1 hit · 2 waitingShow ▸

Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Kirk Cousins, who will likely start Week 1 for the Raiders”
Kirk Cousins Las Vegas Raiders
100Hit
100 − 0 naive = 100 × 2 difficulty = +200 skill
How this was scored
club:
LV
week:
1
skill:
200
player:
Kirk Cousins
season:
2026
claimed:
he starts
accuracy:
100
baseline:
0
position:
quarterback
reported:
named the starter
naive slot:
2
settled by:
a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
difficulty:
2
the naive guess:
he keeps the job he had last season
weeks in the season:
18
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart
“The third-year running back will split time with Kyren Williams to open the season ... Even with a 60-40 split in Williams' favor”
Blake Corum Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart
“And when Fernando Mendoza eventually takes over, there's no better security blanket for a rookie than targeting Bowers.”
Fernando Mendoza Las Vegas Raiders
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Sleeper Calls6 waitingShow ▸

Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (the 13th quarterback off the board)
“Purdy is being picked as the 13th quarterback off the board. That'll go down as one of the season's biggest fantasy-draft steals”
Brock Purdy San Francisco 49ers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Jordyn Tyson to outplay his draft cost (WR33)
“Tyson outscores Olave ... Olave is currently being drafted as WR12 in half-PPR leagues, while Tyson is WR33. That gap is way too big.”
Jordyn Tyson New Orleans Saints
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost (behind Trey McBride at 20th overall)
“Bowers is being picked behind Trey McBride at 20th overall. That's too low for a player who will lead his position in points.”
Brock Bowers Las Vegas Raiders
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (RB36)
“Blake Corum is one injury away from being a league winner and is currently being drafted as RB36.”
Blake Corum Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kenneth Walker III to outplay his draft cost (RB11)
“who's being drafted as RB11 according to FantasyPros' average draft position (ADP) ... Walker is one of a few running backs with RB1 upside, but he's being picked in the second round.”
Kenneth Walker III Kansas City Chiefs
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Matthew Golden to outplay his draft cost (WR51)
“Golden outscores Watson ... Matthew Golden is being drafted as WR51, while Christian Watson is WR29.”
Matthew Golden Green Bay Packers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Player Season Numbers7 waitingShow ▸

Kenneth Walker III to record 60 receptions
“and catch at least 60 passes out of the backfield”
Kenneth Walker III Kansas City Chiefs
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Brock Bowers to record 150 receptions
“Bowers sets single-season receptions record ... The current record is held by Michael Thomas, who caught 149 passes for the Saints in 2019.”
Brock Bowers Las Vegas Raiders
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Justin Jefferson to record 100 receptions
“It's safe to predict Jefferson will turn in his fourth 100-catch season”
Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Blake Corum to record 1,000 rushing yards
“Scoring at least 10 touchdowns and eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards is within Corum's range of outcomes”
Blake Corum Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kenneth Walker III to record 1,400 rushing yards
“He has a path to lead the NFL in touchdowns, surpass 1,400 yards on the ground”
Kenneth Walker III Kansas City Chiefs
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Justin Jefferson to record 1,000 receiving yards
“and surpass 1,000 yards for the seventh straight season”
Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Blake Corum to record 10 rushing tds
“Scoring at least 10 touchdowns and eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards is within Corum's range of outcomes”
Blake Corum Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Fantasy Bust Calls3 waitingShow ▸

Chris Olave to fall short of his draft cost (WR12 in half-PPR leagues)
“There's reason to believe Jordyn Tyson can outscore his Saints teammate ... Olave is currently being drafted as WR12 in half-PPR leagues”
Chris Olave New Orleans Saints
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Christian Watson to fall short of his draft cost (WR29)
“Matthew Golden is being drafted as WR51, while Christian Watson is WR29. That's a huge difference in draft capital, but there may not be much separating the two Packers wideouts when the season ends.”
Christian Watson Green Bay Packers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (the seventh running back off the board)
“Achane finishes outside RB20 ... Achane is being selected as the seventh running back off the board ... Achane comes with way too many risks, especially at his draft slot.”
De'Von Achane Miami Dolphins
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Positional Finishes5 waitingShow ▸

Blake Corum to finish top 20 at his position, by fantasy points
“Corum sneaks inside top-20 RBs”
Blake Corum Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Justin Jefferson to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Jefferson reclaims WR1 status ... there's a chance Kyler Murray ... can lead Jefferson to this year's WR1”
Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Brock Bowers to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“That's too low for a player who will lead his position in points.”
Brock Bowers Las Vegas Raiders
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Brock Purdy to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points
“Purdy finishes as top-5 QB”
Brock Purdy San Francisco 49ers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kenneth Walker III to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points
“Walker takes RB1 crown ... To be the top-scoring running back ... so does Kenneth Walker III”
Kenneth Walker III Kansas City Chiefs
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Season Win Totals1 waitingShow ▸

Los Angeles Rams to finish with 10 wins
“The Rams project to have one of the league's best defenses and are expected to win double-digit games.”
Los Angeles Rams
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

The game in this take

every pundit’s pick on each

Dolphins at RaidersRaiders 27Dolphins 1339 calls →

Others on the same people

Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
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.
Parker Hurley · Roster Spot Calls · Khalid Kareem · Miss 0
Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
Jason Harmon · Roster Spot Calls · Max Brosmer · Miss 0
Harmon expects the Vikings' quarterback room to stay intact while Kyler Murray is hurt, and predicts Max Brosmer will be released and re-signed to the practice squad since Minnesota won't carry four QBs.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere.
Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.

More player season numbers

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

Andrew Erickson · Player Season Numbers · James Cook · Close 67
Erickson is targeting Chase Brown, Javonte Williams, Trey Benson, Ray Davis, MarShawn Lloyd, Will Shipley, Braelon Allen and Rishard Smith while fading Tyrone Tracy, Tank Bigsby and Kyren Williams, and they expect James Cook's touchdown total to settle in the eight-to-ten range.
Chris Broussard · Player Season Numbers · Myles Garrett · Hit 92
Broussard expects Lamar Jackson to play well but not vintage — two touchdown passes and no picks — while Derrick Henry carries the load with over 100 rushing yards. They also take the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record.
Nick Wright · Player Season Numbers · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Wright picks the Steelers to beat the Ravens outright in Pittsburgh, takes Seattle over San Francisco, and thinks the Browns lose to Cincinnati even as Myles Garrett gets the sack record.
Nick Wright · Player Season Numbers · Myles Garrett · Hit 84
Nick Wright says Myles Garrett is playing at an all-time level and might reach 25 sacks this season, and among their weekly picks they expect the Bears to beat the Steelers in an ugly low-margin home win and Seattle to win comfortably at Tennessee.
Joe Marino · Player Season Numbers · Kyle Pitts · Close 67
Marino argued Kyle Pitts deserves more respect after a good season and expects their touchdown total to keep rising, landing on six touchdowns next season (following the pattern of their yearly totals).
Tim Hasselbeck · Player Season Numbers · Isaiah Likely · Miss 0
Hasselbeck expects Kyler Murray to be released by Arizona, believes Malik Willis will sign somewhere as the anointed opening-day starter, and thinks Isaiah Likely can be a true No. 1 tight end who would catch over 75 passes with close to seven touchdowns as a full-season starter.