Eric WilliamsOct 1, 2026

Heading into Week 4 of the 2026 season, Williams submitted a top-three ballot for each major NFL award, headlining Brock Purdy as their MVP leader, Kenneth Walker III for Offensive Player of the Year, Greg Rousseau for Defensive Player of the Year and Kevin O'Connell for Coach of the Year.

Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original

Waiting18 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 18Settled18 still waiting

18Waitingnot graded yet

What Eric Williams said

But Brock Purdy's numbers largely stand alone to start the season.

Eric Williams, the lead quote

Where it was published: Fox Sports
The piece: NFL Awards Ballot: In Bijan Robinson We Trust; Brock Purdy MVP Frontrunner?
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Hits	Close	Misses	Waiting	Calls
Award Picks	0	0	0	15
Coach Award Picks	0	0	0	3
All	0	0	0	18

How each call scored

18 checkable claims — 15 award picks and 3 coach award picks — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 29 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

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.

Award Picks15 waitingShow ▸

Genesis Smith — Defensive Rookie of the Year: 3rd on ballot
“Defensive Rookie Of The Year ... 3. Genesis Smith, Los Angeles Chargers”
Genesis Smith Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Patrick Mahomes — MVP: 3rd on ballot
“MVP ... 3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs”
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Brock Purdy to win MVP
“MVP ... 1. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers”
Brock Purdy San Francisco 49ers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Josiah Trotter — Defensive Rookie of the Year: 2nd on ballot
“Defensive Rookie Of The Year ... 2. Josiah Trotter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers”
Josiah Trotter Tampa Bay Buccaneers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
T.J. Watt — Defensive Player of the Year: 3rd on ballot
“Defensive Player Of The Year ... 3. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers”
T.J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kenneth Walker III to win Offensive Player of the Year
“Offensive Player Of The Year ... 1. Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs”
Kenneth Walker III Kansas City Chiefs
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Will Anderson Jr. — Defensive Player of the Year: 2nd on ballot
“Defensive Player Of The Year ... 2. Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans”
Will Anderson Jr.Houston Texans
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Jeremiyah Love to win Offensive Rookie of the Year
“Offensive Rookie Of The Year ... 1. Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals”
Jeremiyah Love Arizona Cardinals
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Kenyon Sadiq — Offensive Rookie of the Year: 3rd on ballot
“Offensive Rookie Of The Year ... 3. Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets”
Kenyon Sadiq New York Jets
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Jared Goff — MVP: 2nd on ballot
“MVP ... 2. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions”
Jared Goff Detroit Lions
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba — Offensive Player of the Year: 3rd on ballot
“Offensive Player Of The Year ... 3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks”
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Denzel Boston — Offensive Rookie of the Year: 2nd on ballot
“Offensive Rookie Of The Year ... 2. Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns”
Denzel Boston Cleveland Browns
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Hezekiah Masses to win Defensive Rookie of the Year
“Defensive Rookie Of The Year ... Hezekiah Masses, Las Vegas Raiders”
Hezekiah Masses Las Vegas Raiders
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Greg Rousseau to win Defensive Player of the Year
“Defensive Player Of The Year ... 1. Greg Rousseau, Buffalo Bills”
Greg Rousseau Buffalo Bills
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Bijan Robinson — Offensive Player of the Year: 2nd on ballot
“Offensive Player Of The Year ... 2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons”
Bijan Robinson Atlanta Falcons
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Coach Award Picks3 waitingShow ▸

Kevin O'Connell to win Coach of the Year
“Coach Of The Year ... 1. Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings”
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Klint Kubiak to win Coach of the Year
“Coach Of The Year ... 3. Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders”
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Todd Monken to win Coach of the Year
“Coach Of The Year ... 2. Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns”
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

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.
Parker Hurley · Roster Spot Calls · Khalid Kareem · Miss 0
Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
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.
Andrew Erickson · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Erickson floated Kansas City as the landing spot for Josh Downs and said a trade there would make them at least a WR3 rest of season; they also expect Rashee Rice to leave the Chiefs after this season as a free agent.
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.

More award picks

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Eric Mangini · Award Picks · Drake Maye · Miss 0
Mangini picked the Patriots 23-20 with Drake May as Super Bowl MVP, and earlier named Kayshon Boutte ("Kaeshawn Booty") as their dark horse MVP.
Chris Broussard · Award Picks · Drake Maye · Miss 0
Broussard picked New England to beat Seattle 24-21, with Drake May winning Super Bowl MVP, and named Cooper Kupp as their dark horse MVP.
Willie Colon · Award Picks · Hunter Henry · Miss 0
Willie (Kyle Brandt's colleague, the panelist who argued Hunter Henry would be the key) predicted a 28-21 result and floated Hunter Henry as a possible Super Bowl MVP with two or three touchdowns.
Manti Te'o · Award Picks · Lamar Jackson · Miss 0
Picked a Rams–Ravens Super Bowl with Baltimore winning, and Lamar Jackson taking both season MVP and Super Bowl MVP. They also picked Jalen Carter as Defensive Player of the Year.
Chris Brockman · Award Picks · Saquon Barkley · Miss 0
Brockman picked the Eagles to beat the Chiefs 31-23 with Saquon Barkley as Super Bowl MVP, and said Barkley has a chance to reach 3,000 total yards of offense.
Seton O'Connor · Award Picks · Jalen Hurts · Hit 100
Picked the Eagles over the Chiefs in a close game, 31-28, with Jalen Hurts as MVP.