Pat Fitzmaurice#8 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 22, 2026
Fitzmaurice names Malik Willis, Tyler Shough and Sam Darnold as late-round quarterback targets who should outperform their draft cost, arguing Willis' rushing keeps them fantasy-viable, Shough builds on a QB12 half-season with an easy schedule, and Darnold could benefit from a higher pass rate in Seattle.
Published in writing · FantasyProsRead the original
What Pat Fitzmaurice said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromBut Willis' running ability should make him fantasy-viable even if his passing numbers are mediocre.
- Where it was published
- FantasyPros
- The piece
- Fantasy Football: 5 Late-Round Quarterbacks Experts Draft (2026)
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart“He now enters the 2026 season as the Saints' undisputed starter”
- 2Tyler Shough to outplay his draft cost (late-round)“Tyler Shough (NO) ... He now enters the 2026 season as the Saints' undisputed starter ... Still, it was an impressive half-season for Shough, and the Saints should have an easy schedule again in 2026.”
- 3Sam Darnold to outplay his draft cost (late-round)“Sam Darnold (SEA) ... But it's possible Seattle throws at a higher rate this year, which could potentially boost Darnold's passing numbers.”
- 4Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost (late-round)“Let's dive into a few notable late-round quarterbacks fantasy football experts love to target. ... Malik Willis (MIA) ... But Willis' running ability should make him fantasy-viable even if his passing numbers are mediocre.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tyler Shough to outplay his draft cost (late-round)2 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Sam Darnold to outplay his draft cost (late-round)3 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost (late-round)4 | Sleeper Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 3 sleeper calls and 1 depth chart call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 6 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.
Where this call stands in the room
Tyler Shough · 2026 season5 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 1. Pat Fitzmaurice 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 room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Sleeper CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough to outplay his draft cost (late-round)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Sleeper CallsSam DarnoldSeattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold to outplay his draft cost (late-round)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Sleeper CallsMalik WillisMiami Dolphins
Malik Willis to outplay his draft cost (late-round)
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Rich Eisen · Trade and Signing Calls · Sam Darnold · Miss 0
Eisen expects Sam Darnold to remain in Minnesota rather than leave in free agency, and believes the Browns will trade Myles Garrett out of the conference, to an NFC team.Albert Breer · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup.Tyler Sullivan · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Sullivan picks the Seahawks to win in Week 9.Dave Richard · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Richard picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.John Pluym · Game Outcome Picks · Seattle Seahawks · Hit 100
Pluym picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Derek Brown · Sleeper Calls · Travis Hunter · 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.Joe Pisapia · Sleeper Calls · RJ Harvey · Hit 100
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.