Nathan Jahnke#72 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 3, 2026
A PFF fantasy article names five late-round wide receivers as sleepers/breakout candidates: Josh Downs (top-36 fantasy finish, second on the Colts' depth chart), Xavier Worthy (possible Chiefs receiving-yards leader with top-10 upside), Jayden Higgins, Rashid Shaheed (second passing-game option in Seattle) and Adonai Mitchell (Jets starting X receiver).
Published in writing · Pro Football FocusRead the original
What Nathan Jahnke said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromDowns finished 44th in fantasy points last season, but the bump in snaps and targets should be enough to make him a top-36 option.
- Where it was published
- Pro Football Focus
- The piece
- Fantasy Football: Wide receiver sleepers for 2026 drafts
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Xavier Worthy to be 1st on the depth chart“it is entirely possible Worthy leads the Chiefs in receiving yards”
- 2Adonai Mitchell to be 1st on the depth chart“New York plans to keep Mitchell as its X receiver, alongside a healthy Wilson and first-round rookie Omar Cooper Jr.”
- 3Xavier Worthy to finish top 10 at his position, by fantasy points“Worthy is a flex option in drafts, with the upside of a top-10 finish if he becomes the top weapon in Kansas City's offense.”
- 4Josh Downs to finish top 36 at his position, by fantasy points“the bump in snaps and targets should be enough to make him a top-36 option”
- 5Josh Downs to be 2nd on the depth chart“Indianapolis traded Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, finally moving Downs to second on the depth chart.”
- 6Rashid Shaheed to be 2nd on the depth chart“presumably passing Cooper Kupp on the depth chart to become the second option in the passing game behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier Worthy to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Adonai Mitchell to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Xavier Worthy to finish top 10 at his position, by fantasy points3 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Josh Downs to finish top 36 at his position, by fantasy points4 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Josh Downs to be 2nd on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Rashid Shaheed to be 2nd on the depth chart6 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 6 calls · 6 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
6 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 2 positional finishes — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 5.
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
Adonai Mitchell · 2026 season8 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 3. Nathan Jahnke said 1. the room's median is 2. 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.
1Depth Chart CallsXavier WorthyKansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsAdonai MitchellNew York Jets
Adonai Mitchell to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Positional FinishesXavier WorthyKansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy to finish top 10 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Positional FinishesJosh DownsIndianapolis Colts
Josh Downs to finish top 36 at his position, by fantasy points
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsJosh DownsIndianapolis Colts
Josh Downs to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Depth Chart CallsRashid ShaheedSeattle Seahawks
Rashid Shaheed to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Noah Compton · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Compton expects the rebuilding Colts to keep dealing veterans before the November 10 deadline, naming Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart as the likeliest remaining trade candidates, and believes Indianapolis should and likely will move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, while Shane Steichen keeps starting Jones in the meantime.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.Joshua Poniatowski · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Poniatowski names several trade targets, predicting Malik Willis underperforms this week against New England, that Omarion Hampton could become a viable RB2 if Adam Gase takes over play-calling, that Josh Downs gets traded (ideally to Kansas City, where they'd be a top-24 WR), that Brian Thomas Jr. could be dealt to the Rams or 49ers, and that Travis Kelce remains a consistent weekly TE.Adam Schefter · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Schefter, as relayed on the show, said they expect Josh Downs to be traded.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.