Jacob Herlin· Oct 20, 2026
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. He also expects 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.
“I would be shocked if this wasn’t Cleveland’s 4th consecutive top-10 fantasy DST result.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 fantasy defense call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
2 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 91.7 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Jalon Daniels · 2026 season10 calls from 9 pundits between 1 and 2. Jacob Herlin 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 what happened
Their call against what actually happened.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Giants at Texans 13 calls
3 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.
- Fantasy Defense CallsCleveland BrownsOct 20, 2026
Cleveland Browns defense to finish 10th among fantasy defenses in Week 7
“I would be shocked if this wasn’t Cleveland’s 4th consecutive top-10 fantasy DST result. (Week 7)”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 83.33+27.83 skillHow this was scored
- team:
- CLE
- naive:
- finishes where it finished last season (8)
- scope:
- week 7
- skill:
- 27.83
- season:
- 2026
- scoring:
- standard D/ST
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 83.33
- actual rank:
- 10
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted rank:
- 10
- defenses ranked:
- 28
- weeks left when called:
- 12
- Depth Chart CallsJ.J. McCarthyNew York GiantsOct 20, 2026
J.J. McCarthy to be 1st on the depth chart
“There’s no news on who will start in Week 7, but I’m assuming they’ll go with the hot hand and play McCarthy.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- NYG
- week:
- 7
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- J.J. McCarthy
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- QB
- reported:
- named the starter
- naive slot:
- 1
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 1.67
- the naive guess:
- he keeps the job he had last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 12
Jalon Daniels to be 1st on the depth chart
“My current guess is that we will see one more week of Jalon Daniels.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Eric ManginiGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0Mangini picked New England to beat Green Bay by more than a field goal, flagged Tampa Bay as his upset alert over Chicago, expects Kansas City to handle the Jets, took Buffalo over Minnesota, backed Cincinnati over Atlanta in Madrid, and updated his Super Bowl to Rams–Bengals.
- Nick WrightGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0Wright argued the Jaguars are the AFC's most complete team, calling them the considerable favorite for the No. 1 seed and the only club essentially locked into the playoffs. He also picked Tampa Bay to upset Chicago, had Kansas City sweeping its next three games, liked New England over Green Bay by about a field goal, and updated his Super Bowl matchup to Chiefs–49ers.
- Donte JohnsonGame Outcome Picks · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 0The former NFL safety picked the Buccaneers to upset the Bears in their Week 9 matchup, arguing Todd Bowles' defense would frustrate Caleb Williams.
- Zac CorneliusScore Predictions · Tampa Bay BuccaneersMiss · 29Zach projected the Buccaneers to beat the Bears 24-12.
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · New York GiantsHit · 86Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
- Doug JoubertScore Predictions · Cleveland BrownsMiss · 26Joubert picks the Browns to win 28-17, saying the Saints haven't improved over the first half of the season despite Cleveland starting Shedeur Sanders.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeremy BrenerDepth Chart Calls · Jalen MilroeMiss · 0Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for his first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
- Nic BodifordDepth Chart Calls · Joe FagnanoHit · 100Previewing 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. He also views Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.
- Garrett PodellDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace him as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.
- Donnie DruinDepth Chart Calls · Jacoby BrissettHit · 100Following the Cardinals' decision not to make staff or lineup changes, Druin states that Jacoby Brissett will remain Arizona's starting quarterback for another week, with rookie Carson Beck staying behind him.
- Jordan DajaniDepth Chart Calls · Drew KendallMiss · 0Dajani 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.
- Donnie DruinDepth Chart Calls · Jacoby BrissettHit · 100Druin writes that despite the 1-3 start and a three-interception game, Jacoby Brissett will stay Arizona's starting quarterback heading into the Week 5 game against Detroit, with Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck remaining behind him.