Nathan Jahnke#72 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 27, 2026
A PFF fantasy piece names five running backs going in the 11th round or later as late-round values with paths to weekly starter status in 2026: Jordan Mason, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Keaton Mitchell, Najee Harris and Tyjae Spears. It also says Mitchell is clearly the Chargers' second back on the depth chart.
Published in writing · Pro Football FocusRead the original
What Nathan Jahnke said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBelow are five running backs currently being drafted in the 11th round or later who have the potential to become weekly must-start fantasy options in 2026.
- Where it was published
- Pro Football Focus
- The piece
- Fantasy Football: Running back sleepers for drafts
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Keaton Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart“That usage suggests Mitchell is the clear second option on the depth chart.”
- 2Keaton Mitchell to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 16.01)“Keaton Mitchell , Los Angeles Chargers (ADP: 16.01) ... If Mitchell approaches Achane's level of production, he offers top-10 upside at the position.”
- 3Chris Rodriguez Jr. to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 13.12)“Chris Rodriguez Jr. , Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 13.12) ... That makes Rodriguez an intriguing late-round option.”
- 4Najee Harris to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 20.10)“Najee Harris , New York Giants (ADP: 20.10) ... he has a clearer path than most handcuffs to standalone flex value.”
- 5Tyjae Spears to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 14.10)“Spears is a worthwhile late-round option because he doesn’t necessarily need a Pollard injury to gain fantasy value.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keaton Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Keaton Mitchell to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 16.01)2 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 13.12)3 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Najee Harris to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 20.10)4 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tyjae Spears to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 14.10)5 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 4 sleeper calls and 1 depth chart call — 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 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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.
1Depth Chart CallsKeaton MitchellLos Angeles Chargers
Keaton Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Sleeper CallsKeaton MitchellLos Angeles Chargers
Keaton Mitchell to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 16.01)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Sleeper CallsChris Rodriguez Jr.Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Rodriguez Jr. to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 13.12)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Sleeper CallsNajee HarrisNew York Giants
Najee Harris to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 20.10)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Sleeper CallsTyjae SpearsTennessee Titans
Tyjae Spears to outplay his draft cost (ADP: 14.10)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
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.Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Derek Brown · Sleeper Calls · Jalen Coker · Hit 100
Derek Brown ("Debro") laid out a slate of wide receiver breakouts — Ricky Pearsall, Jalen Coker, Egbuka, Jalen Waddle, Joshua Palmer, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Travis Hunter — while fading Xavier Worthy, Tyreek Hill and the cheap Cleveland/late-round types, and gave their own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.Chris Welsh · Sleeper Calls · Tyler Warren · Hit 100
Welsh drafted Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan, Travis Hunter, the Rams and Saints receivers, Justin Fields (a top-10 QB), Drake Maye (QB10-14), Travis Kelce and Tyler Warren, while passing on Joe Mixon, the Commanders backfield, Tyreek Hill, Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.Pat Fitzmaurice · Sleeper Calls · Rashee Rice · Miss 0
Pat Fitzmaurice gave draft-or-pass calls: reluctant drafts on Christian McCaffrey, RJ Harvey, Tetairoa McMillan (their WR16), Rashee Rice at a ninth-round price, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Chris Olave, Drake Maye (their QB8) and Tyler Warren, with passes on Breece Hall, Joe Mixon, Croskey-Merritt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Hunter, the Rams receivers and Justin Fields.Joe Pisapia · Sleeper Calls · Tyreek Hill · Miss 0
Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: they passed on Christian McCaffrey at pick 7, Breece Hall, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Travis Hunter and Chris Olave, while drafting RJ Harvey, Tyreek Hill, Tetairoa McMillan, Puka Nacua, Tyler Warren and a late-round Joe Mixon.