Brandon CarneyAug 19, 2026
Carney ran through preseason takeaways and injury news before a mock draft, calling out a batch of rookies and veterans they're targeting or avoiding in fantasy drafts, and staking out several depth-chart calls (Jeremiah Love as Arizona's workhorse, David Montgomery getting the bulk of carries, Juwan Johnson as a borderline top-10 tight end).
Said on air, transcribed by us · Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)Hear the original
What Brandon Carney said
To me, it's really about Olave being a really elite high end receiver draft pick and Juwan Johnson being, like, borderline top 10 tight end to me now.
- Where it was said
- Bran Coverage with BenchwarmerBran (podcast)
- The episode
- Mock Draft Episode + Injuries EVERYWHERE - Podcast for 8/19
- The original
- Hear the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| Sleeper Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Fantasy Bust Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Positional Finishes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
How each call scored
15 checkable claims — 9 depth chart calls, 3 fantasy bust calls, 2 sleeper calls and 1 positional finish — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 20 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 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
Caleb Douglas · 2026 season11 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 1. Brandon Carney 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.
Depth Chart Calls9 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Jacory Croskey-Merritt to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's gonna be their starter... I think Jakori Kroskey Merritt, good old Bill is gonna have a big workload... he is seemingly the early down back”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
J.K. Dobbins to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think JK Dobbins is gonna open the season with a lot of carries.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Douglas to be 1st on the depth chart
“Caleb Douglas, clear starter with Malik Washington, funny enough, with the Dolphins.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeremiyah Love to be 1st on the depth chart
“He was the absolute workhorse for this team with the starters in this preseason game... know confidently that he's gonna be the guy there in Arizona”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
David Montgomery to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think David Montgomery is gonna get the lion's share of carries.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Malik Washington to be 1st on the depth chart
“Caleb Douglas, clear starter with Malik Washington... Washington's gonna be a starter.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Allgeier to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Tyler Allgeier just absolute clear backup and very much best case scenario from a workload perspective from Jeremiah Love.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Denzel Boston to be 1st on the depth chart
“Denzel Boston, we've already established as a starter for the Browns.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Sleeper Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Chris Olave to outplay his draft cost (second round pick)
“Chris Olave becomes a great second round pick to me... now the targets are gonna be even more funneled through him in a really good offense.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cyrus Allen to outplay his draft cost (last round pick)
“Cyrus Allen is just, like, the most fun last round pick you can make... If there's anybody that has a remote chance of being as impactful as, like, a Puka Nacua his rookie year... it's Cyrus Allen.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fantasy Bust Calls3 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Christian McCaffrey to fall short of his draft cost (at six)
“I'm not taking Christian McCaffrey at six. No. I'm not taking him at five.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Harold Fannin Jr. to fall short of his draft cost (tight end eight)
“Pretty out on Fannin. Given where he's going... Sleepers got him down at tight end eight”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Alec Pierce to fall short of his draft cost (at ADP)
“I'm not taking Alec Pierce under almost any circumstances at at ADP. Not in a redraft league, certainly.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Positional Finishes1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Juwan Johnson to finish top 10 at his position, by fantasy points
“Jawan Johnson being, like, borderline top 10 tight end to me now”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, J.K. Dobbins, Chris Olave, Christian McCaffrey, Cyrus Allen, Kansas City Chiefs, Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns, Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins, Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts, Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals, David Montgomery, Malik Washington, Juwan Johnson, Tyler Allgeier, Denzel Boston, DJ Moore
Others on the same people
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.Mike Kadlick · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Kadlick names the Chiefs, Patriots and 49ers as the three best trade landing spots for Colts wide receiver Josh Downs ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.Jordan Dajani · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Kendall · Miss 0
Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.Mike Moraitis · Depth Chart Calls · Tyson Bagent · Miss 0
Previewing the Bears-Packers Week 5 matchup, they state Tyson Bagent will again start at quarterback for Chicago, while framing Green Bay's receivers, pass defense and return game as threats. The rest of the piece is descriptive analysis of season-to-date statistics rather than forecasts of outcomes.