Ralph VacchianoAug 5, 2026
Vacchiano names one breakout candidate for each of the 16 AFC teams in 2026, predicting players like Laiatu Latu will reach double-digit sacks, Jayden Higgins will be Houston's No. 2 receiver, Chris Rodriguez Jr. will become Jacksonville's workhorse back, and Ashton Jeanty, Ladd McConkey and Cam Ward will bounce back into stars.
Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original
What Ralph Vacchiano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromDouble-digit sacks seem like a lock for the 2024 first-round pick, especially with Arden Key now on the opposite end to take some of the pressure off.
- Where it was published
- Fox Sports
- The piece
- Breakout Candidates: One Player From Each AFC Team Poised for a Star Turn
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Will Campbell to be 1st on the depth chart“He's entrenched at left tackle in New England”
- 2Laiatu Latu to record 10 sacks“Double-digit sacks seem like a lock for the 2024 first-round pick”
- 3Adonai Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart“show he can be, at least, a good No. 2.”
- 4Jayden Higgins to be 2nd on the depth chart“He should clearly be C.J. Stroud's No. 2 option behind Nico Collins.”
- 5Harold Fannin Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart“Fannin might just be the Browns' best weapon in the passing game... Harold Fannin is primed to become the team's top receiver.”
- 6Chris Rodriguez Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart“he could get the majority of the carries, especially when it comes to the tougher, shorter yards.”
- 7Nohl Williams to be 1st on the depth chart“He'll likely start alongside Delane on the outside.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Campbell to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Laiatu Latu to record 10 sacks2 | Player Season Numbers | — | — | — | — | |
| Adonai Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jayden Higgins to be 2nd on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Harold Fannin Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart6 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Nohl Williams to be 1st on the depth chart7 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 7 calls · 7 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
7 checkable claims — 6 depth chart calls and 1 player season number — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 14 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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
Adonai Mitchell · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 2 and 3. Ralph Vacchiano said 2. the room's median is 2. 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 the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsWill CampbellNew England Patriots
Will Campbell to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Player Season NumbersLaiatu LatuIndianapolis Colts
Laiatu Latu to record 10 sacks
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsAdonai MitchellNew York Jets
Adonai Mitchell to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsJayden HigginsHouston Texans
Jayden Higgins to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsHarold Fannin Jr.Cleveland Browns
Harold Fannin Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Depth Chart CallsChris Rodriguez Jr.Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Rodriguez Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Depth Chart CallsNohl WilliamsKansas City Chiefs
Nohl Williams to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Will Campbell, New England Patriots, Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts, Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets, Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans, Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars, Nohl Williams, Kansas City Chiefs
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.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.