Logan LazarczykAug 16, 2026
After the Raiders' preseason opener, Lazarczyk says Kirk Cousins will open as the starting quarterback, sixth-rounder Malik Benson could become a starting receiver during 2026, and Klint Kubiak will pair Mike Washington Jr. with Ashton Jeanty in a two-back committee.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Logan Lazarczyk said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromKirk Cousins will be the starter, as head coach Klint Kubiak stated after the game that it's Cousins' "job to lose."
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 3 Most Impressive Rookie Performances in Raiders’ First Preseason Game
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart“Now, as the Raiders' head coach, Kubiak will implement the same approach with Jeanty and Washington Jr., a tantalizing tandem”
- 2Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart“Kirk Cousins will be the starter, as head coach Klint Kubiak stated after the game that it's Cousins' "job to lose."”
- 3Malik Benson to be 1st on the depth chart“Benson has quickly emerged as a legitimate pass-catching option on this roster, and there's a chance he is an eventual starter at some point in 2026.”
- 4Ashton Jeanty to be 1st on the depth chart“Kubiak will implement the same approach with Jeanty and Washington Jr., a tantalizing tandem to alleviate the pressure off the quarterback's shoulders.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Malik Benson to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Ashton Jeanty to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 4 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
4 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 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
Kirk Cousins · 2026 season63 calls from 48 pundits between 1 and 2. Logan Lazarczyk said 1. the room's median is 1. 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 CallsMike WashingtonLas Vegas Raiders
Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsMalik BensonLas Vegas Raiders
Malik Benson to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsAshton JeantyLas Vegas Raiders
Ashton Jeanty to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.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.Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero predicts Malik Willis will land a deal worth $20-30 million per year, most likely with Miami or Arizona, and that Mac Jones will eventually be moved by the 49ers.JP Acosta · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
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.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.