Pat Fitzmaurice· Aug 11, 2026
Fitzmaurice names five quarterbacks he loves to target in the middle rounds of 2026 fantasy drafts — Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford — arguing each will outproduce his mid-round cost, with Purdy specifically pegged as a low-end QB1.
“Consider him a low-end QB1 in 2026 fantasy drafts.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 5 sleeper calls and 1 positional finishe — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 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 above the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Brock Purdy · 2026 season · positional finish5 calls from 5 pundits between 8 positional finish and 12 positional finish. Pat Fitzmaurice said 12 positional finish. the room's median is 10 positional finish. 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.
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Who this take is about
6 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 CallsJustin HerbertLos Angeles ChargersAug 11, 2026
Justin Herbert to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds)
“Pat Fitzmaurice shares quarterbacks he loves to target in the middle rounds of fantasy football drafts. Justin Herbert (LAC) ... Herbert could have a banner season in tandem with new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsBrock PurdySan Francisco 49ersAug 11, 2026
Brock Purdy to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds)
“quarterbacks he loves to target in the middle rounds ... Brock Purdy (SF) ... Consider him a low-end QB1 in 2026 fantasy drafts.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsMatthew StaffordLos Angeles RamsAug 11, 2026
Matthew Stafford to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds)
“Stafford seems well positioned for another big season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsDak PrescottDallas CowboysAug 11, 2026
Dak Prescott to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds)
“Dak Prescott seems primed for another big season ... quarterbacks he loves to target in the middle rounds of fantasy football drafts”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brock Purdy to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“Consider him a low-end QB1 in 2026 fantasy drafts.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsTrevor LawrenceAug 11, 2026
Trevor Lawrence to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds)
“quarterbacks he loves to target in the middle rounds ... Trevor Lawrence (JAC) ... Now, we'll see if T-Law can pick up where he left off.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 88Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Matt HarmonGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. He took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro.
- David DroegemeierTrade and Signing Calls · Mekhi BectonHit · 100Drogemeier says the Chargers cutting Mekhi Becton is a foregone conclusion, freeing nearly $9 million in cap space, and only a matter of when.
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 · Jalen CokerHit · 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.
- 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.
- Jake CielySleeper Calls · Braelon AllenMiss · 0Counting down his top-five middle/late-round breakout candidates, Seely picked Bryce Young, Cedric Tillman, Braelon Allen, Marvin Mims and Rome Odunze, arguing Young can be a fringe QB1 with added rushing, Tillman and Mims are their teams' No. 2 receivers, and Caleb Williams will post a huge statistical season that lifts Odunze.