Evan Tarracciano· Aug 13, 2026
Tarracciano names several running backs he's avoiding at their current draft cost: Travis Etienne Jr. (whose upside he says Alvin Kamara will cap), Bucky Irving (who he expects to split carries with Kenneth Gainwell), Jaylen Warren (who he says stays a change-of-pace back behind breakout Rico Dowdle), and the entire Denver backfield of J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman.
“Yep, I said all of them.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 5 fantasy bust calls, 1 depth chart call and 1 sleeper call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Rico Dowdle · 2026 season8 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 2. Evan Tarracciano 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
7 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.
Jaylen Warren to fall short of his draft cost (being drafted ahead of Dowdle)
“Considering that Warren is being drafted ahead of Dowdle, I'm happy to take the discount.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsRico DowdlePittsburgh SteelersAug 13, 2026
Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart
“pegging Rico Dowdle as one of my breakout players at the running back position ... Warren should remain in his current role rather than ascend to being the featured back for Pittsburgh.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsJ.K. DobbinsDenver BroncosAug 13, 2026
J.K. Dobbins to fall short of his draft cost (being drafted in near-identical positions)
“J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey are being drafted in near-identical positions ... I'll just pass on this situation completely”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Travis Etienne to fall short of his draft cost (Currently ranked as the RB18 atop the fourth tier at the position)
“Currently ranked as the RB18 atop the fourth tier at the position, I'd pivot elsewhere for upside.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsRJ HarveyDenver BroncosAug 13, 2026
RJ Harvey to fall short of his draft cost (being drafted in near-identical positions)
“If Dobbins is on the field, Harvey's upside is dramatically lowered ... I'll just pass on this situation completely”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (currently ranked as the RB21)
“Considering that Irving is currently ranked as the RB21 and Gainwell the RB36 in our expert consensus rankings (ECR), I'd honestly rather wait and take the value.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsRico DowdlePittsburgh SteelersAug 13, 2026
Rico Dowdle to outplay his draft cost (being drafted behind Warren)
“pegging Rico Dowdle as one of my breakout players at the running back position”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Eric ManginiGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as his upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated his Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0Wright 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. He 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 his Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.
- Donte JohnsonGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0The former NFL safety picked the Buccaneers to upset the Bears in their Week 9 matchup, arguing Todd Bowles' defense would frustrate Caleb Williams.
- Zac CorneliusScore Predictions · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 29Zach projected the Buccaneers to beat the Bears 24-12.
- Ross JacksonRoster Spot Calls · Zamir WhiteMiss · 0Ross Jackson gives his final preseason 53-man roster projection for the New Orleans Saints, naming who makes the initial roster at every position group, who starts on injured reserve or the practice squad, and who the five starting offensive linemen and kicker will be.
- Doug JoubertRoster Spot Calls · Charlie SmythHit · 100Joubert projects the Saints' 53-man roster ahead of the cutdown deadline, naming every player he expects to make the team by position group, plus several players he expects to receive PUP/IR designations, and predicting Torricelli Simpkins will later be moved to the practice squad.
More fantasy bust calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ryan WormeliFantasy Bust Calls · Zay FlowersMiss · 0Host Ryan Warmley endorsed Ricky Pearsall as a bet worth making and put his rookie-receiver capital in Tetairoa McMillan, while fading Zay Flowers at his cost and opting out of Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Derek BrownFantasy Bust Calls · Zay FlowersMiss · 0Derek 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 his own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.
- Chris WelshFantasy Bust Calls · Austin EkelerHit · 100Welsh 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 PisapiaFantasy Bust Calls · Rashee RiceMiss · 0Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: he 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 FitzmauriceFantasy Bust Calls · Breece HallMiss · 0Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (his WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (his QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields.
- Derek BrownFantasy Bust Calls · Chuba HubbardHit · 100Derek Brown ("Deebro") names three busts to avoid in 2025 fantasy drafts: Kyren Williams at an RB1 price, Chuba Hubbard as a top-20 RB, and Xavier Worthy as his ultimate bust, arguing Rashee Rice is the clear No. 1 receiver in Kansas City.