Blaine GrisakAug 12, 2026

Previewing the Rams' initial preseason depth chart, Grisak expects Stetson Bennett to be listed as the backup quarterback ahead of rookie Ty Simpson, rookie CJ Daniels to be listed behind three other receivers, Emmanuel Forbes to be the CB3, and Xavier Smith to be listed as the punt returner.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

Waiting5 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 5Settled5 still waiting

5Waitingnot graded yet

What Blaine Grisak said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

When the Rams release their initial depth chart, it seems almost inevitable that Stetson Bennett will end up ahead of Ty Simpson.

Blaine Grisak, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: Sports Illustrated
The piece: 5 Things to Watch When Rams Release Initial Depth Chart
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Stetson Bennett to be 2nd on the depth chart“it seems almost inevitable that Stetson Bennett will end up ahead of Ty Simpson... Bennett has certainly earned the backup quarterback role”
2Xavier Smith to be 1st on the depth chart“It wouldn’t be surprising to see Smith listed as the starter”
3Ty Simpson to be 3rd on the depth chart“it seems almost inevitable that Stetson Bennett will end up ahead of Ty Simpson”
4Emmanuel Forbes to be 3rd on the depth chart“Emmanuel Forbes is likely the CB3 behind Watson.”
5C.J. Daniels to be a starter“it wouldn’t be surprising, and probably should be expected for Daniels to be behind Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, and Konata Mumpfield”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Stetson Bennett to be 2nd on the depth chart¹	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Xavier Smith to be 1st on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Ty Simpson to be 3rd on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Emmanuel Forbes to be 3rd on the depth chart⁴	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
C.J. Daniels to be a starter⁵	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
5 calls · 5 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

5 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

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

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.

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

Ty Simpson · 2026 season

Blaine Grisak — 3the room — 10 calls from 9 punditsmedian 2

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

2They said

2The room (5 pundits)

Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.

1Depth Chart Calls Stetson Bennett Los Angeles Rams
Stetson Bennett to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Xavier Smith Los Angeles Rams
Xavier Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls Ty Simpson Los Angeles Rams
Ty Simpson to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
4Depth Chart Calls Emmanuel Forbes Los Angeles Rams
Emmanuel Forbes to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
5Depth Chart Calls C.J. Daniels Los Angeles Rams
C.J. Daniels to be a starter
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.
Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
Dajani picked all seven featured Week 9 games with final scores, including a blowout Jaguars win in Baltimore, an Atlanta upset of Cincinnati in Madrid, and a narrow Bills win in Minneapolis.

More depth chart calls

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

Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Lock · Hit 100
Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.
Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
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.
Garrett Podell · Depth Chart Calls · Carson Beck · Miss 0
Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.