Derek Brown#12 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 15, 2026
Brown names six running backs they want in 2026 fantasy drafts, projecting Chase Brown, Javonte Williams, Omarion Hampton and Kenneth Walker III as RB1s, David Montgomery as a strong RB2 with RB1 upside, and Tony Pollard as an RB2 value being drafted as an RB3.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Derek Brown said
Brown is a solid RB1 with top-five upside this season.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- Fantasy Football: 6 Must-Have Running Backs (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positional Finishes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 6 positional finishes and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 9 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 5 and below it on 4.
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
Kenneth Walker III · 2026 season · positional finish4 calls from 4 pundits between 1 positional finish and 12 positional finish. Derek Brown said 12 positional finish. the room's median is 5 positional finish. 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.
Their call against the room
positional finishTheir call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Positional Finishes6 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Chase Brown to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“Brown is a solid RB1 with top-five upside this season.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Omarion Hampton to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“Hampton should be a rock-solid RB1 with massive upside in 2026.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tony Pollard to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“Pollard will be lingering in the RB3 range in plenty of drafts, but I think he returns strong RB2 value and production this season.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“With his salivating mix of talent and efficiency, Walker should be an explosive RB1 in 2026.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
David Montgomery to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points
“he'll be a strong volume-driven RB2 that could flirt with RB1 production.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Javonte Williams to finish top 15 at his position, by fantasy points
“he is a locked-in top ten back with top-five upside. At his floor, he looks like a low-end RB1 or top 15 fantasy back.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
“David Montgomery now finds himself as the Texans' do it all workhorse for 2026. ... Montgomery is the superior back”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tony Pollard remains the clear leadback for the Titans entering the 2026 season.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kenneth Walker III to be 1st on the depth chart
“Kenneth Walker arrives in Kansas City as the Chiefs' new lead back.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.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.Jordan Dajani · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
After reporting that Colts receiver Josh Downs requested a trade, they identify five clubs as plausible landing spots for them: the Rams, Patriots, Falcons, Chiefs and Raiders, and suggests Las Vegas could also give them a long-term extension.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nick Wright · Positional Finishes · Puka Nacua · Close 75
Nick Wright picked the Ravens to beat Houston this weekend even with Lamar Jackson possibly out (leaning on Derrick Henry and Cooper Rush), the Chiefs to win in Jacksonville, and the Rams to beat the 49ers on Thursday night. They also laid out an AFC playoff field of Bills, Steelers, Chiefs, Chargers and Colts, projected the Chiefs' receiver pecking order once Rashee Rice returns, and called Justin Jefferson the best receiver in football with Puka Nacua a top-five receiver.Rich Hribar · Positional Finishes · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Hribar published their 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how they prioritize drafting the position, with Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes in the top tier as the trio most likely to finish as the overall QB1.Chris Brockman · Positional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-Njigba · Hit 100
Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called their shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.Pat Gustavson · Positional Finishes · Bijan Robinson · Close 75
Gustafson picks the Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Bears in the divisional round with a Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl, predicts Mike Tomlin and Matt LaFleur stay, Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh, and lays out their own coaching landing spots.Chad Ochocinco Johnson · Positional Finishes · Christian Gonzalez · Miss 0
Ochocinco says Christian Gonzalez belongs in the top-five DB conversation, believes Kyler Murray will be elsewhere next year, expects Chase to get a one-game suspension, backs Sam Darnold to bounce back, and floats Jaxon Smith-Njigba reaching 2,000 receiving yards. They also remind listeners they called the Bears and Panthers as teams to watch before the season.