Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 22, 2026
FantasyPros' Fitz lays out his 2026 draft board: Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs at the top (with a slight lean to Bijan), followed by the 'Big Three' receivers Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua and Jaxson Smith-Njigba as his third through fifth picks. He fades Josh Allen, Trey McBride, Samaje Perine and Jerry Jeudy at their draft costs while touting mid-round values at QB and TE.
“I slightly prefer Bijan.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
9 checkable claims — 5 sleeper calls, 3 fantasy bust calls and 1 fantasy ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
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.
- Sleeper CallsHarold Fannin Jr.Cleveland BrownsAug 22, 2026
Harold Fannin Jr. to outplay his draft cost (coming off the board around the sixth-round/seventh-round turn)
“Harold Fannin is coming off the board around the sixth-round/seventh-round turn... there are some gems to be mined at tight end in the middle rounds.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsKyle PittsAtlanta FalconsAug 22, 2026
Kyle Pitts to outplay his draft cost (being drafted in the seventh round)
“The much-maligned Kyle Pitts is being drafted in the seventh round... Kevin Stefanski is the Falcons' new head coach, and the tight ends in Stefanski's Cleveland offenses averaged 164.3 targets over the last three seasons.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTrevor LawrenceAug 22, 2026
Trevor Lawrence to outplay his draft cost (an ADP of QB10 and is coming off the board around the seventh-round/eighth-round turn)
“Trevor Lawrence has an ADP of QB10 and is coming off the board around the seventh-round/eighth-round turn... The middle rounds, not the early rounds, are where you should do your QB shopping.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy RankingsAug 22, 2026
“if I draw either the 1.01 or 1.02 spot, I'm drafting Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs... I slightly prefer Bijan... Picks 1.03, 1.04, and 1.05 are where the Big Three at wide receiver dwell: Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Those three are my third, fourth, and fifth picks in start-3WR leagues.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsJosh AllenAug 22, 2026
Josh Allen to fall short of his draft cost (a late-third-round ADP)
“The talent pool is so deep that it's not worth sacrificing the chance to draft a top-20 running back or receiver for the chance to take Josh Allen, the consensus QB1. Allen has a late-third-round ADP.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsJerry JeudyCleveland BrownsAug 22, 2026
Jerry Jeudy to fall short of his draft cost (the late rounds)
“But there is no reason to draft Jeudy in 2026. The Browns just spent early-round draft picks on WRs KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock PurdyAug 22, 2026
Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (a late-eighth-round ADP)
“Brock Purdy has a late-eighth-round ADP... I would rather have a Brock Purdy/Ladd McConkey combo than a Josh Allen/Michael Wilson combo.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsJustin HerbertAug 22, 2026
Justin Herbert to outplay his draft cost (an ADP of QB9 and is going in the back half of the seventh round)
“His offensive line should be healthier and better, and the arrival of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel could help unlock the sort of big passing numbers that Herbert produced in his first three seasons.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy Bust CallsTrey McBrideAug 22, 2026
Trey McBride to fall short of his draft cost (the first four rounds)
“There are three tight ends guaranteed to land in the first four rounds: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and Colston Loveland. I'm willing to draft Bowers and Loveland at cost, but not McBride.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Cleveland BrownsHit · 100Prisco picks every Week 3 game with exact scores, highlighting upsets by Tampa Bay over Minnesota and Cleveland over Carolina, and expects the Giants to rally behind Jameis Winston.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- Nick PedoneRoster Spot Calls · Isaiah BondHit · 100Previewing the Browns' preseason finale, Pedone says five receivers — Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond and Tylan Wallace — are very likely to make Cleveland's 53-man roster, leaving one final spot open for Luke Floriea and others.
- Nick PedoneRoster Spot Calls · K.C. ConcepcionHit · 100Reading the Browns' first depth chart, Pedone projects Deshaun Watson as the Week 1 starting quarterback, lays out the full projected starting offensive line with Parker Brailsford as backup center, expects KT Leveston to make the roster as guard depth, and names Jeudy, Concepcion, Boston and Bond as roster locks with Tylan Wallace as the fifth receiver.
- Scott KennedyRoster Spot Calls · Tua TagovailoaHit · 100Kennedy reports that Atlanta is expected to keep three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Carsen RyanHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
More sleeper calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Derek BrownSleeper Calls · Travis HunterHit · 100Derek 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 his own rankings well ahead of ADP for several of them.
- Tom StrachanSleeper Calls · Ricky PearsallHit · 100Tom Strachan backed Xavier Worthy, Jalen Coker, Egbuka, Jalen Waddle, Darnell Mooney, Zay Flowers, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith and Travis Hunter as values at their draft costs, while avoiding Jerry Jeudy and the Cleveland receivers.
- Ryan WormeliSleeper Calls · Ricky PearsallHit · 100Host Ryan Warmley endorsed Ricky Pearsall as a bet worth making and put his rookie-receiver capital in Tetairoa McMillan, while fading Zay Flowers at his cost and opting out of Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Chris WelshSleeper Calls · Tyler WarrenHit · 100Welsh 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 PisapiaSleeper Calls · Tyreek HillMiss · 0Joey P (Joe Pisapia) played draft-or-pass on 2025 fantasy values: he 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.
- Ryan WormeliSleeper Calls · Tetairoa McMillanHit · 100Hosting the segment, Warmley backed Bryce Young to finish better than his QB22 consensus ranking, endorsed Cedric Tillman as a late-round target, and said Tetairoa McMillan will be a top-15 fantasy receiver this season.