Mike FanelliAug 17, 2026
Fanelli advises against drafting Christian McCaffrey or De'Von Achane as a 'hero' running back, calling them the only top-12 ADP backs he would avoid due to McCaffrey's injury risk and Achane's dependence on the passing game and on Tua Tagovailoa. He also describes Kyle Monangai and Blake Corum as their teams' No. 2 running backs behind D'Andre Swift and Kyren Williams.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Mike Fanelli said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromThey are the only two backs in the top 12 I don’t want to draft when using a Hero RB strategy.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- Hero RB Fantasy Football Draft Strategy & Targets (2026)
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (11.2 ADP/RB7)“De’Von Achane (11.2 ADP/RB7) are missing. They are the only two backs in the top 12 I don’t want to draft... over 50% of Achane’s fantasy production during the past two years has come in the passing game.”
- 2Kyle Monangai to be 2nd on the depth chart“While Kyle Monangai and Blake Corum have some FLEX appeal as their team’s No. 2 running back... If D’Andre Swift or Kyren Williams misses significant time”
- 3Christian McCaffrey to fall short of his draft cost (5.6 ADP/RB3)“Christian McCaffrey (5.6 ADP/RB3) and De’Von Achane (11.2 ADP/RB7) are missing. They are the only two backs in the top 12 I don’t want to draft when using a Hero RB strategy... Unfortunately, McCaffrey carries a high risk of injury.”
- 4Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart“While Kyle Monangai and Blake Corum have some FLEX appeal as their team’s No. 2 running back... If D’Andre Swift or Kyren Williams misses significant time”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (11.2 ADP/RB7)1 | Fantasy Bust Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kyle Monangai to be 2nd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Christian McCaffrey to fall short of his draft cost (5.6 ADP/RB3)3 | Fantasy Bust Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Blake Corum to be 2nd on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 2 fantasy bust calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 7 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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
Blake Corum · 2026 season10 calls from 7 pundits between 2 and 2. Mike Fanelli said 2. 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.
1Fantasy Bust CallsDe'Von AchaneMiami Dolphins
De'Von Achane to fall short of his draft cost (11.2 ADP/RB7)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsKyle MonangaiChicago Bears
Kyle Monangai to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Fantasy Bust CallsChristian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey to fall short of his draft cost (5.6 ADP/RB3)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsBlake CorumLos Angeles Rams
Blake Corum 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
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.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.Danny Parkins · Game Outcome Picks · Chicago Bears · Hit 100
Parkins named the seven AFC teams they believe are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as their Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.
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.