Chris WelshAug 13, 2026
Welsh publishes their 2026 fantasy draft sheet, naming sleepers and busts at every position, value picks by draft range, and rookies to target or avoid.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Chris Welsh said
I am throwing my targets in the mix here for draft day.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- Fantasy Football Draft Cheat Sheet: Rankings & Targets (2026)
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeper Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |
| Fantasy Bust Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
How each call scored
26 checkable claims — 24 sleeper calls and 2 fantasy bust calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 26 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
Sleeper Calls24 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Emeka Egbuka to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): Emeka Egbuka”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Keenan Allen to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Keenan Allen”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Malik Washington to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): Malik Washington”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Braelon Allen to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): Braelon Allen”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): De’Zhaun Stribling”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jaylen Waddle to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): Jaylen Waddle”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Nicholas Singleton to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Nicholas Singleton”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Deebo Samuel Sr. to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): Deebo Samuel Sr.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Antonio Williams to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Antonio Williams”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jake Tonges to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Jake Tonges”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Omarion Hampton to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): Omarion Hampton”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Matthew Golden to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): Matthew Golden”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ted Hurst to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Ted Hurst III”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tank Dell to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Tank Dell”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Stefon Diggs to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): Stefon Diggs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Greg Dulcich to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Greg Dulcich”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Warren to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): Tyler Warren”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Emmett Johnson to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): Emmett Johnson”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Bucky Irving to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): Bucky Irving”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
K.C. Concepcion to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120)
“Late-Round Values (Rounds 11+ | Outside Top 120): KC Concepcion”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Quinshon Judkins to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): Quinshon Judkins”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ja'Kobi Lane to outplay his draft cost (Outside Top 200)
“Deep-League Values (Outside Top 200): Ja’Kobi Lane”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
David Montgomery to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): David Montgomery”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mike Evans to outplay his draft cost (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60)
“Early-Round Values (Rounds 1-5 | Picks 1-60): Mike Evans”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fantasy Bust Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Caleb Williams to fall short of his draft cost (at Top 7 cost)
“Caleb Williams (at Top 7 cost)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Emeka Egbuka, Keenan Allen, Caleb Williams, Malik Washington, Braelon Allen, De'Zhaun Stribling, Jaylen Waddle, Nicholas Singleton, Deebo Samuel Sr., CeeDee Lamb, Antonio Williams, Jake Tonges, Omarion Hampton, Matthew Golden, Ted Hurst, Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs, Greg Dulcich, Tyler Warren, Emmett Johnson, Bucky Irving, K.C. Concepcion, Quinshon Judkins, Ja'Kobi Lane, David Montgomery, Mike Evans
Others on the same people
Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.Mike Fanelli · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Fanelli suggested Keenan Allen may be dealt away from Indianapolis, with Week 9 potentially their final appearance for the Colts.John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Brandon Carney · Trade and Signing Calls · Mike Evans · Miss 0
Carney predicts Geno Smith signs with the Vikings and starts for them, that at least four of the fringe veteran quarterbacks (Tua, Kyler, Cousins, Fields, Geno) will be starters next season, and that Mike Evans stays with Tampa Bay. They also rank their top fantasy wide receivers and comments on running back landing spots and trade values.Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.Jared Koch · Roster Spot Calls · Tank Dell · Hit 100
Koch argues Kayshon Boutte is a winner in the trade to Houston, likely to see many more snaps and potentially post a career season, while Xavier Hutchinson's path to a breakout gets harder. They also see Kamari Ramsey stepping up as the primary backup safety behind a top three of Bullock, Pitre and Blankenship, and views Jared Wayne as a fringe roster player squeezed by receivers they call virtual locks.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Derek Brown · Sleeper Calls · Travis Hunter · Hit 100
Derek 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 their own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.Pat Fitzmaurice · Sleeper Calls · Rashee Rice · Miss 0
Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (their WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (their QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields.Joe Pisapia · Sleeper Calls · Tyreek Hill · Miss 0
Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: they 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.