FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode 1969: 2026 NFL Draft Special: Combine Predictions | 40 Times, Freak Athletes, & Who Will Rise
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Seth Wilcott
Expert Guest: Derrick Brown ("DBro")

Overview

This special episode dives deep into the 2026 NFL Combine, focusing on athletes poised to make headlines with their athletic prowess, especially in events like the 40-yard dash. The hosts provide sharp predictions, debate the relevance of certain drills, unpack the odds for positional speedsters, and identify both breakout and potentially overlooked players. The episode is essential listening for fantasy football players, dynasty managers, and NFL bettors looking to get ahead of the draft hype.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Matters at the NFL Combine?

• QB Throwing Drills Are Overrated
  • Derrick Brown dismisses the importance of quarterbacks throwing at the combine, emphasizing that performance in an unfamiliar, non-game environment is irrelevant to NFL evaluators.
  • Quote (Derrick, 01:03):
    "Throwing at the NFL combine is not going to change that. And if it does, in any scout's estimation, they suck. I'll just straight up say it."
• On-Field Drills That Matter
  • Dbro values short-area quickness drills (10-yard splits, shuttle, 3-cone) over flashy drills like the gauntlet or straight-line 40s for skill positions—especially for evaluating realistic football skills.
  • Dbro: "You can miss me with the Gauntlet drill. I do not care. It does not matter." (03:45)

2. Episode Structure

• Dbro "Freak List": Top 3 elite athletes to watch at the combine.
• Flag Plant Predictions: Key picks for position group winners in the 40-yard dash.
• Who Will Rise: Predicting breakout performers and players who shouldn't be downgraded by mediocre testing.

The Freak List – Top Athletes to Watch

Quarterback: Taylen Green (Arkansas)

• Attributes: 6’6”, 220 lbs, former triple jumper, reportedly hit 23 mph in training, 36” vertical, potential 4.5 40-yard dash.
• Draft Projection: Currently 174th overall; combine could boost him into late 4th round consideration.
• Highlights:
  • Rushed for over 1,500 yards in the last two seasons.
  • Compared to “Anthony Richardson of this class.” (09:05)
• Quote (Seth, 09:05):
  "He is kind of the Anthony Richardson of this class. When you just look at 6’6”, 220…"

Running Back: Demon Claiborne (Wake Forest)

• Attributes: 5’9”, 192 lbs, 22.3 mph in-game, rumored 500 lbs squat, patient runner with high burst.
• Combine Expectation: Projected to be the favorite for fastest RB 40; likely top-3 odds.
• Quote (Derrick, 10:29):
  "This dude can clean 300 freaking pounds… I think he’s going to be up there as far as odds [for fastest 40]."

Wide Receiver: Brennan Thompson (Mississippi State)

• Attributes: Blazing speed, Texas 3A 200m champion (21.2 sec), clocked at 23.7 mph, benches 305 lbs.
• Draft Value: Likely 3rd/4th round due to lack of size, but a likely chalk pick for fastest 40.
• Quote (Derrick, 14:10):
  "I think this is going to be the chalk pick to run the fastest 40 at the combine… blazing fast, but incredibly tiny."

Flag Plant Predictions – 40-Yard Dash Bets

RB & WR Favorites:

• Demon Claiborne (RB) and Brennan Thompson (WR) are considered chalk picks for fastest times, but both hosts advise conservative betting due to line movement and variability at the combine.
• Longshot Bets:
  • Desmond Reid (RB, Pittsburgh): Explosive returner with track background, “worth a sprinkle” at long odds. (22:40)
  • Barion Brown (WR, LSU): Multiple All-SEC return TD leader; 10.49 100m; projected to be overlooked by oddsmakers—potentially great value bet.
    • Quote (Seth, 22:59): "Barion Brown… led the SEC in return touchdowns for three straight seasons… when this guy gets the ball in his hands on a return, you better watch out."

WR Market Odds Discussion

• Barryon Brown vs. Zachariah Branch (Georgia)
  • Odds could favor Branch due to greater “buzz” and program clout, possibly leaving Brown undervalued.
  • Quote (Derrick, 25:16):
    "I think Barryon Brown and Branch might open with very similar odds. But I think… Branch could get more steam… that could leave Barryon Brown as one of the better values on the board."

Defensive Standouts

• Zane Durant (DT, Penn State)
  • “Feldman Freak List” regular; 6’1”, 290 lbs, rumored 4.66 40-yard dash at 290 lbs.
  • Quote (Derrick, 28:15):
    "Zane Durant’s a freak, man… has reportedly run a 4.66, 40 at that size. A wide-receiver 40 at almost 300 pounds…"
• Cornerback: D'Angelo Ponds (Indiana)
  • 5’9”, 170 lbs, state sprint champion, “could elevate his draft stock starting this week… possibly has the fastest 40.” (31:30)

Under-the-Radar & Value Plays

• Haynes King (QB, Georgia Tech)

  • Could set the pace if a “fastest QB 40” market appears; 4.45 40 in high school, Texas state athlete, leads ACC in rushing TDs.
  • Quote (Seth, 35:45): "Haynes King, he's worth a look… a freak athlete all the way around."

• Tight Ends to Watch:

  • Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)
    • Track star: 6A Texas high jump champ, rumored 39” vert, 21.4 mph top speed.
    • Must test as an elite athlete to go in the first two rounds.
    • Quote (Derrick, 36:55): "If he doesn't test as a top-shelf [athlete], I don't think he goes in round one…"
  • John Michael Jonesborg (Wyoming) & Khalil Dinkins (Penn State)
    • Deep sleepers with size and rare athleticism, not currently among consensus top-5 TEs.

Breakout Candidates & Small-School Risers

• Ted Hurst (WR, Georgia State)
  • "Sleeper" WR with previously laser-timed 4.51 40, excellent 3-cone, could move into late Day 2 conversation with a big combine.
  • Quote (Derrick, 45:06): "Ted Hurst… he’s going to put the numbers up next to the name and really start to build some more hype, dude. Now that might not mean that he gets drafted higher than the third round of the NFL draft…"

Players Who Shouldn’t Be Faded for Low Test Scores ("Do Not Overreact" List)

• Omar Cooper & Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
  • Both players are strong on film but not “freak” athletes; combine testing unlikely to wow, but production and tape matter more.
    • Quote (Derrick, 49:11): "To me, the benchmark of what is usable and feasible [at WR]: run a 4.6 or lower. That’s all I give a crap about, dude. I don’t care…"
  • Sarratt: “One of the most pro-ready wide receivers in this class.” – Seth (51:43)
  • Cooper: Could surprise slightly with athleticism but not a “burner.” Both are contending for WR6/7 in positional rankings. (54:41-54:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On QB Combine Throwing (Derrick, 01:03):

  "Throwing at the NFL combine is not going to change that. And if it does, in any scout's estimation, they suck. I'll just straight up say it."

• On the Gauntlet Drill (Derrick, 03:45):

  "You can miss me with the Gauntlet drill. I do not care. It does not matter."

• On Betting the Combine (Seth, 17:30):

  "I took Arian Smith… on Tuesday when lines dropped last year and he was even money and by the time we got to the combine it was like minus 140... you have to bet him early if you're going to bet him."

• Durant’s Athleticism (Derrick, 28:15):

  "Zane Durant’s a freak, man… reportedly run a 4.66 40 at almost 300 pounds…"

• WR 40s Overrated (Derrick, 49:11):

  "One of the most over dramatized and over-inflated crap for wide receivers is the 40 time... Are you a 4.5 guy? Are you a 4.6 guy? Oh, a low 4.6. Cool. I do not care..."

Key Timestamps for Segments

• 00:48 – Combine preview & initial thoughts on combine drills
• 04:15 – What combine measurements/testing actually matters
• 07:04 – Start of the Freak List (Top “combine freaks” at QB/RB/WR)
• 10:29 – RB Freak Pick: Demon Claiborne
• 14:10 – WR Freak Pick: Brennan Thompson
• 20:00 – Start of Flag Plant Picks for 40-yd dash (favorite and value plays)
• 22:59 – WR Value Pick: Barion Brown
• 28:15 – Defensive “Freak”: Zane Durant (Penn State DT)
• 31:30 – Defensive value: D'Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana)
• 35:45 – Fastest QB play: Haynes King (Georgia Tech)
• 36:55 – Tight End Freak Trio: Eli Stowers, John Michael Jonesborg, Khalil Dinkins
• 45:06 – Small school riser: Ted Hurst (Georgia State WR)
• 49:11 – Overreaction warning: Receivers whose tape > combine
• 54:41–54:53 – Cooper & Sarratt as WR6/7 in early rankings

Style & Tone

• Direct, conversational, and playful—hosts mix sharp analysis with casual banter.
• Betting advice is pragmatic yet enthusiastic; they emphasize value hunting and hedging in combine markets.
• Realistic about the limitations of combine testing and resist the typical draft hype narratives.

Summary

This episode delivers high-value, actionable combine predictions and deep-cut insights for both fantasy and betting audiences. By focusing on truly predictive metrics, naming top athletes by position, and warning against overreactions to raw speed scores, Seth Wilcott and Dbro provide an expert’s roadmap to draft week—and fantasy football’s next rising stars.