Derek Brown· Aug 15, 2026
Brown names six running backs he wants 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.
“Brown is a solid RB1 with top-five upside this season.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 6 positional finishes and 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
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.
Where this call stands in the room
Kenneth Walker III · 2026 season7 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 1. Derek Brown said 1. the room's median is 1. 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 record
positional finishTheir call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
9 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Omarion Hampton to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“Hampton should be a rock-solid RB1 with massive upside in 2026.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesTony PollardTennessee TitansAug 15, 2026
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.”
Not 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.”
Not 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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDavid MontgomeryHouston TexansAug 15, 2026
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”
Not 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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Positional FinishesChase BrownCincinnati BengalsAug 15, 2026
Chase Brown to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“Brown is a solid RB1 with top-five upside this season.”
Not 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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTony PollardTennessee TitansAug 15, 2026
Tony Pollard to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tony Pollard remains the clear leadback for the Titans entering the 2026 season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Cincinnati BengalsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Jake ArthurScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City.
More positional finishes
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Rich HribarPositional Finishes · Matthew StaffordHit · 100Hribar published his 2023 fantasy football quarterback tiers, ordering 41 quarterbacks into eight tiers that reflect how he prioritizes 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 BrockmanPositional Finishes · Jaxon Smith-NjigbaHit · 100Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his 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 GustavsonPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75Gustafson 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 his own coaching landing spots.
- JP AcostaPositional Finishes · Bijan RobinsonClose · 75JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster.
- Chad Ochocinco JohnsonPositional Finishes · Christian GonzalezMiss · 0Ochocinco 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. He also reminds listeners he called the Bears and Panthers as teams to watch before the season.
- Rich EisenPositional Finishes · Puka NacuaHit · 92Eisen defended his preseason call of the Packers reaching the Super Bowl, said the Chiefs will win the AFC West, called the Ravens the favorites in the AFC North, said the Colts are a playoff team, expected Denver to handle Cincinnati and the Giants to beat the winless Saints, and endorsed Puka Nacua as the league's best receiver.