Garrett Podell#78 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 23, 2026
Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. They also expect Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Garrett Podell said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromNo reason to remove Allen from the top spot this week.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- Week 3 NFL QB Power Rankings: Dak Prescott into top five; Aaron Rodgers continues to tank
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidSep 23
- PlayedSep 28
- GradedSep 30
- 1Case Keenum to be 1st on the depth chart“Case Keenum may find himself as the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback on "Monday Night Football" against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.”
- 2Availability Calls“Michael Penix Jr. will make his 2026 season debut under the bright lights at Lambeau Field on "Thursday Night Football."”
- 3Availability Calls“Kyler Murray returns from his concussion in Week 3 with the Vikings out to a 2-0 start to 2026. ... He'll have a chance to bounce back against the 0-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Keenum to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | 100 | 0 | +189 | |
| “Michael Penix Jr. will make his 2026 season debut under the…”2 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “Kyler Murray returns from his concussion in Week 3 with the…”3 | Availability Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 hit · 2 waiting | 100 | 0 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 2 availability calls and 1 depth chart call — 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.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
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.
1Depth Chart CallsCase KeenumChicago Bears
Case Keenum to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictHit100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×1.89difficulty=+189skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- CHI
- week:
- 3
- skill:
- 189
- player:
- Case Keenum
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- QB
- reported:
- named the starter
- settled by:
- a confirmed report from the crawl (reported outcomes)
- difficulty:
- 1.89
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 16
2Availability CallsMichael Penix Jr.Atlanta Falcons
“Michael Penix Jr. will make his 2026 season debut under the bright lights at Lambeau Field on "Thursday Night Football.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Availability CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota Vikings
“Kyler Murray returns from his concussion in Week 3 with the Vikings out to a 2-0 start to 2026. ... He'll have a chance to bounce back against the 0-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The game in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Others on the same people
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick and land with the Raiders, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta.
More availability calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Jose Sanchez · Availability Calls · Keenan Allen · Waiting
Sanchez expects Keenan Allen to play in the 49ers' game against Dallas in a limited role on passing downs, and argues an injury is more likely than not given age and injury history, meaning Allen will end up being more of the same at receiver for San Francisco.Ralph Ventre · Availability Calls · Alec Anderson · Waiting
Ventre projects Buffalo's Week 10 offensive line at the Jets to feature Dawkins, Anderson, McGovern and Torrence back in place, with Tylan Grable making a third straight start at right tackle in place of Spencer Brown, who appears headed for the inactive list.Shanna McCarriston · Availability Calls · Drew Lock · Waiting
Previewing three Week 10 games, McCarriston expects the Steelers-Bengals rematch to be a close, exciting contest, with one team's four-game win streak ending. Notes that Deshaun Watson is set to return for Cleveland against Houston, and that Fernando Mendoza will make a first NFL start for the Raiders against Seattle.Ian Rapoport · Availability Calls · Spencer Brown · Waiting
Rapoport expected Spencer Brown to be available for Buffalo on Sunday despite the missed practice time, saw Lamar Jackson returning from thumb surgery around Week 16 or 17 if Baltimore stays alive, said the Chargers have no intention of moving on from Justin Herbert, and expected George Pickens to play for Dallas.Jared Koch · Availability Calls · Keylan Rutledge · Waiting
Koch wrote that rookie left guard Keylan Rutledge is likely to miss the Week 10 game against the Browns, with fellow rookie Febechi Nwaiwu expected to make a first NFL start at left guard in place of Rutledge, ahead of the more experienced Wyatt Teller. Koch also expects the stinger absence to be brief.