# Andrew Erickson: Erickson laid out their own early 2026 quarterback and tight end ranks — Justin Herbert QB6, Jalen Hurts QB9, Jordan Love QB13, Baker Mayfield QB14, Kyler Murray QB19, Sam Darnold QB23; Tucker Kraft TE8, Isaiah Likely TE12, Ronde Gadsden TE13 — and predicted Kyler Murray starts somewhere in 2026 and Mike Evans stays in Tampa Bay.

**Claimed:** Feb 22, 2026
**Pundit:** Andrew Erickson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/andrew-erickson
**Outlet:** FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros-fantasy-football-podcast-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air or in an interview
**Original:** https://omny.fm/shows/fantasypros-fantasy-football-podcast/2026-fantasy-football-quarterback-and-tight-end-rankings-tiers-ep-1968

4 checkable claims — 2 fantasy rankings, 1 depth chart call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

3 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 83.2 out of 100, against 63.9 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> That's why I have Jalen Hurts ranked as QB nine.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- “his tight end ten in the ECR, but you've got him all the way at thirteen [Gadsden]... expert concetsus asm at five. But Andrew, you got him only at eight [Kraft]... So Andrew, you've got him a tight end twelve [Likely]”
  - Kind: Fantasy Rankings
  - Verdict: scored 75 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kyler Murray
  - Verdict: scored 91.67 out of 100, against 91.67 for a naive guess
- “So that's why I have Jalen Hurts ranked as QB nine... So that's why I have him QB six [Herbert]... you've got him at QB thirteen [Love]... he is ECR of eighteen, but you've got him at fourteen [Mayfield]... you've got him at nineteen [Murray]... Andrew, you have him at twenty three [Darnold]”
  - Kind: Fantasy Rankings
  - Verdict: scored 82.86 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess
- **Mike Evans to move to Tampa Bay Buccaneers**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Kyler Murray — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyler-murray
- Mike Evans — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/mike-evans
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/buccaneers

## What others said about the same people

- Brandon Carney on Mike Evans: 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c228a7e7-4915-4bc7-bacc-8c9b3298c2c1 (scored 0)
- Dalton Feely on Chris Godwin Jr.: Feenie predicted Chris Godwin stays in Tampa Bay, Josh Sweat reunites with Jonathan Gannon in Arizona, Ronnie Stanley signs with New England, Jevon Holland lands in Indianapolis, Khalil Mack joins Washington, Asante Samuel Jr. goes to San Francisco, Najee Harris to the Raiders and Bobby Wagner to Dallas. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5456472e-edf1-49c5-9f6b-bd59183fcea7 (scored 100)
- Eric Mangini on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as their upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated their Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/af0819c3-4662-44a2-a451-a08fa3b7e59a (scored 0)
- Nick Wright on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Wright 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. They 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 their Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/878403ae-b780-41f0-b38a-200b1a3e36ff (scored 0)
- Donte Johnson on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The former NFL safety picked the Buccaneers to upset the Bears in their Week 9 matchup, arguing Todd Bowles' defense would frustrate Caleb Williams. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1731194b-2ff9-4142-b4ca-45a4097101ae (scored 0)
- Zac Cornelius on Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach projected the Buccaneers to beat the Bears 24-12. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/40f76aa6-2c17-45b9-bdcb-6c582ec9897f (scored 28.57)

## More fantasy rankings

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Rich Hribar: Hribar published their post-NFL Draft top-60 rookie fantasy rankings for the 2020 season, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire vaulting to No. 1 ahead of Jonathan Taylor and J.K. Dobbins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/12b6771e-a504-44e1-a213-c7fba69c971e (scored 76.67)
- Mike Harmon: Harmon gave his Week 18 fantasy rankings — top five quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers — plus lists of 'hot plays,' 'cold sores' (players to avoid) and 'ninjas' (sneaky plays), and said Trevor Lawrence would land around a top-four fantasy quarterback finish for the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e2e20c82-d482-48e6-90f3-929d0862fc0d (scored 80)
- Marcas Grant: Grant says De'Von Achane deserves to be a top-three pick in fantasy drafts next season, keeps Breece Hall as the Jets' clear RB1 over Isaiah Davis, and lists their five league winners for the fantasy semifinals with Saquon Barkley on top. They also pick Josh Allen as the week's top quarterback and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the top wide receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/982ad405-d984-4470-bf9e-fee5151562e6 (scored 25)
- Jake Ciely: Sealey gave their early 2026 quarterback ranks — Allen, Lamar, May and Daniels as their top four, Joe Burrow sixth, Daniel Jones 17th, Justin Herbert 10th, C.J. Stroud 25th and Sam Darnold 26th — plus tight ends with Isaiah Likely 13th and Dalton Kincaid down at 16. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f0bd19b0-da37-47d6-b81f-8863be80fbe2 (scored 62.5)
- Jake Ciely: Seely gives his own early 2026 running back board — Bijan and Gibbs on top, McCaffrey third (seventh overall), Kyren Williams tenth, Jeanty 11th and Chase Brown 12th — while ranking Skattebo, Dowdle, Pollard, Hubbard and Tucker below consensus. He also insists Kyren Williams remains a top-ten back, expects Skattebo to lead the Giants backfield and expects Rico Dowdle to leave Carolina. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/11e7d74c-dd01-406b-a815-e91c9df6699e (scored 93.26)
- Joe Pisapia: Joe Pisapia's 2026 first round is receiver-heavy, starting with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ja'Marr Chase, insisting Amon-Ra St. Brown belongs in the top five, keeping Justin Jefferson in round one, and dropping Christian McCaffrey to 12. They also see Omarion Hampton as a value who will be a top-10 pick a year later. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/830a3414-41f0-4e58-9f3b-b1a5f9e10c3c (scored 70.83)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=andrew-erickson
