# Eric Moody: Moody names six-plus players positioned to benefit from vacated opportunity in 2026 fantasy drafts, including Kenneth Walker III as an RB2 with RB1 upside, Terry McLaurin as a WR2 bounce-back, Michael Pittman Jr. leading Pittsburgh in targets and receptions, Bhayshul Tuten leading the Jaguars backfield in touches, Chig Okonkwo taking a bigger role in Washington, and Greg Dulcich as a sleeper tight end. He also flags Makai Lemon and Ladd McConkey as ADP-beaters.

**Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026
**Pundit:** Eric Moody — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/eric-moody
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.espn.com/fantasy/football/story/_/id/49401787/espn-nfl-fantasy-football-advice-players-benefit-vacated-targets

11 checkable claims — 6 depth chart calls, 3 sleeper calls and 2 positional finishes — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

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

Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 5.

> Dulcich is a sleeper TE you shouldn't overlook, especially in deeper leagues.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Makai Lemon to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Chris Rodriguez Jr. to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Makai Lemon to outplay his draft cost (a favorable average draft position)**
  - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Ladd McConkey to outplay his draft cost (his ADP)**
  - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Michael Pittman to finish top 1 at his position, by receptions**
  - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Michael Pittman, Pittsburgh Steelers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kenneth Walker III to finish top 24 at his position, by fantasy points**
  - Kind: Positional Finishes · About: Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Bhayshul Tuten to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Greg Dulcich to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Terry McLaurin to outplay his draft cost (his current ADP)**
  - Kind: Sleeper Calls · About: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Terry McLaurin to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Ladd McConkey to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Makai Lemon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/makai-lemon
- Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chris-rodriguez-jr
- Jacksonville Jaguars — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/jaguars
- Ladd McConkey — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ladd-mcconkey
- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Michael Pittman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-pittman
- Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers
- Kenneth Walker III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kenneth-walker-iii
- Kansas City Chiefs — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/chiefs
- Bhayshul Tuten — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bhayshul-tuten
- Greg Dulcich — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/greg-dulcich
- Miami Dolphins — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/dolphins
- Terry McLaurin — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/terry-mclaurin
- Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/commanders

## What others said about the same people

- Chris Simms on Kansas City Chiefs: Simms 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 100)
- Connor Rogers on Kansas City Chiefs: Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 100)
- Nate Tice on Philadelphia Eagles: Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b8378e16-ea5c-4107-a883-28aaf0e71134 (scored 0)
- Steven Ruiz on Philadelphia Eagles: Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a30ff469-4972-4c48-855b-ba984e4de9d0 (scored 0)
- Sam Monson on Los Angeles Chargers: Monson 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0b810ffd-fd93-4ea2-a208-b1353dea5fb0 (scored 0)
- Jake Arthur on Kansas City Chiefs: Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ca7ab74e-ab34-4ed6-a77f-2c7e9f8c8c4d (scored 97.62)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0)
- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)
- Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100)
- Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100)
- Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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