Pat Fitzmaurice· Sep 14, 2026
In his Week 2 waiver wire column, Fitzmaurice recommends a slate of pickups he expects to outperform their current rostership (Kaelon Black, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Shough, Geno Smith and others), lays out several depth-chart expectations (Black as the 49ers' No. 2 back, Shedeur Sanders eventually taking over in Cleveland, Penix returning for Atlanta), and flags Fool's Gold/drop candidates such as Mike Gesicki, Kendrick Bourne and Rashid Shaheed.
“Black is still clearly the No. 2 running back in San Francisco (sorry, Jordan James truthers) and quite possibly the most indispensable handcuff in fantasy football.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
10 checkable claims — 10 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 19 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 10 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 9 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
Michael Penix Jr. · 2026 season15 calls from 15 pundits between 1 and 1. Pat Fitzmaurice said 1. the room's median is 1. 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
The game in this take
- Saints at Ravens 15 calls
10 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.
- Depth Chart CallsRashod BatemanBaltimore RavensSep 14, 2026
Rashod Bateman to be 1st on the depth chart
“Rashod Bateman could be the Ravens' de facto No. 1 WR when the Ravens host the Saints in Week 2.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- BAL
- week:
- 2
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- Rashod Bateman
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- WR
- reported:
- a different starter was named
- naive slot:
- 3
- 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
- reported starter:
- Devontez Walker
Emmett Johnson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Emmett Johnson impressed the Chiefs' brass in training camp and the preseason and has become the clear handcuff to Kenneth Walker III.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCaleb DouglasMiami DolphinsSep 14, 2026
Caleb Douglas to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Dolphins' season opener made it look as if Douglas might be the team's No. 1 receiver”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Falcons need Penix to attempt a resuscitation of their offense, and I suspect we might see Penix this week in Atlanta when the Falcons host the Panthers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brenton Strange to be 1st on the depth chart
“Strange remains the team's top pass-catching tight end.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland BrownsSep 14, 2026
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
“It's only a matter of time before the Browns pull the plug on franchise albatross Deshaun Watson and insert second-year passer Shedeur Sanders”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJeremiyah LoveArizona CardinalsSep 14, 2026
Jeremiyah Love to be 1st on the depth chart
“Most likely, it will be only a week or two before Love relegates Allgeier to a much smaller role.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsRaheim SandersCleveland BrownsSep 14, 2026
Raheim Sanders to be 2nd on the depth chart
“With Dylan Sampson injuring his knee on Sunday, Raheim Sanders is the clear handcuff to Quinshon Judkins in Cleveland.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKaelon BlackSan Francisco 49ersSep 14, 2026
Kaelon Black to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Black is still clearly the No. 2 running back in San Francisco (sorry, Jordan James truthers)”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBraelon AllenNew York JetsSep 14, 2026
Braelon Allen to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Allen played 40.3% of the Jets' offensive snaps in Week 1 and is the handcuff to Breece Hall.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms 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 · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 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.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 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.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 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.
- Jake ArthurScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City.
- Zach HicksScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Hicks predicts a lower-scoring, field-goal-heavy game with the Chiefs beating the Colts 23-19, citing Indianapolis' red-zone success against Kansas City historically.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.
- Bill HuberDepth Chart Calls · Chris McClellanMiss · 0Huber's first Packers rookie progress report projects second-round cornerback Brandon Cisse to hold onto his spot with the No. 1 defense, third-round defensive tackle Chris McClellan to start in Week 1, and fifth-round lineman Jager Burton to be the team's top interior backup rather than a starter.
- Randy GurziDepth Chart Calls · Jadarian PriceHit · 100Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles.
- Warren SharpDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100Sharp argues Raiders rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is not ready to play, predicting he won't start Week 1 or Week 2 and that Kirk Cousins will be the Week 1 starter, with Mendoza sitting behind him for a long stretch.
- Carter BahnsDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100The newsletter says Shedeur Sanders' preseason Week 2 start may have won him the Browns' starting quarterback job over Deshaun Watson, and that Kirk Cousins will lead the Raiders' offense in Week 1. It also asserts Florida is the best college basketball team heading into 2026-27.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Kirk CousinsHit · 100A preseason overreaction piece: Kirk Cousins, not rookie Fernando Mendoza, will start Week 1 for the Raiders; 49ers second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling could be the most productive rookie receiver in 2026 and the team's top target; Cam Ward's rough preseason isn't a real problem; Drew Allar isn't yet Pittsburgh's 2027 starter; and D.J. Moore will boost Buffalo's offense.