# Eric Patterson: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Eric Patterson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/eric-patterson **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.thescore.com/news/3574917/fantasy-8-bold-predictions-for-the-2026-season 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. > Walker is one of a few running backs with RB1 upside, but he's being picked in the second round. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (the 13th quarterback off the board)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to record 60 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Chris Olave to fall short of his draft cost (WR12 in half-PPR leagues)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to finish top 20 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Jefferson to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Bowers to record 150 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Bowers to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Jefferson to record 100 receptions** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Christian Watson to fall short of his draft cost (WR29)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Fernando Mendoza to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (the seventh running back off the board)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Purdy to finish top 5 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jordyn Tyson to outplay his draft cost (WR33)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints - Verdict: not settled yet - **Brock Bowers to outplay his draft cost (behind Trey McBride at 20th overall)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to outplay his draft cost (RB36)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to record 1,000 rushing yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to outplay his draft cost (RB11)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to record 1,400 rushing yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kenneth Walker III to finish top 1 at his position, by fantasy points** - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs - Verdict: not settled yet - **Justin Jefferson to record 1,000 receiving yards** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings - Verdict: not settled yet - **Matthew Golden to outplay his draft cost (WR51)** - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Blake Corum to record 10 rushing tds** - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet - **Los Angeles Rams to finish with 10 wins** - Kind: Season Win Totals · About: Los Angeles Rams - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Kirk Cousins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kirk-cousins - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Brock Purdy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brock-purdy - San Francisco 49ers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/49ers - Kenneth Walker III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenneth-walker-iii - Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs - Chris Olave — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chris-olave - New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints - Blake Corum — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/blake-corum - Los Angeles Rams — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/rams - Justin Jefferson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/justin-jefferson - Minnesota Vikings — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/vikings - Brock Bowers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brock-bowers - Christian Watson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/christian-watson - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers - Fernando Mendoza — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/fernando-mendoza - De'Von Achane — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/de-von-achane - Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins - Jordyn Tyson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jordyn-tyson - Matthew Golden — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/matthew-golden ## What others said about the same people - Chris Clark on Nikko Remigio: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99521265-d5c0-4db1-b2a0-fe77908ea0b3 (scored 0) - Parker Hurley on Khalid Kareem: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a729417-69ee-493a-9bec-d905fd1a7082 (scored 0) - Jason Harmon on Max Brosmer: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fa393501-3f38-481e-8e75-48125587e911 (scored 0) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d0fd408a-7dcd-4e50-ac62-6b4510a8a800 (scored 100) - Logan Lazarczyk on Kirk Cousins: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fda03952-2ea6-4919-8114-0ebb127478d1 (scored 100) - Charean Williams on Odell Beckham Jr.: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d4fd8cfb-3c75-4209-9e1a-d60e821f315b (scored 0) ## More player season numbers The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Andrew Erickson on James Cook: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ad6dae7d-05a5-45d1-996c-40e336adfcac (scored 66.67) - Chris Broussard on Myles Garrett: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5a026afc-40fe-4b1f-b209-3ce53ae205d7 (scored 91.67) - Nick Wright on Myles Garrett: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9a8b5cea-9f2f-46f0-9939-72c2a60e4c26 (scored 100) - Nick Wright on Myles Garrett: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/029b0090-8d3f-47de-9fb9-7f0a02320f3a (scored 84) - Joe Marino on Kyle Pitts: 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). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/73dfb52d-5f75-423d-ac98-c593c1f09e76 (scored 66.67) - Tim Hasselbeck on Isaiah Likely: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f427a6b0-2fb5-4887-90e3-a02973258757 (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=eric-patterson