Nathan Jahnke· Aug 29, 2026
PFF's preseason fantasy recap projects Colts roles: Keenan Allen as the starting Z receiver with Josh Downs in the slot, Laquon Treadwell as the backup X, and seventh-round rookie Seth McGowan as the favorite to be Jonathan Taylor's backup ahead of DJ Giddens. On the Lions, Tom Kennedy appears to have locked up a roster spot with Greg Dortch next most likely.
“This suggests that Allen will be a Z receiver this season, leaving Downs in the slot in 11 personnel.”
published in writing · Pro Football Focus · read the original →
7 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 2 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 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.
Where this call stands in the room
Josh Downs · 2026 season10 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 2. Nathan Jahnke 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.
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Who this take is about
7 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Depth Chart CallsKeenan AllenIndianapolis ColtsAug 29, 2026
Keenan Allen to be 1st on the depth chart
“This suggests that Allen will be a Z receiver this season, leaving Downs in the slot in 11 personnel.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsTom KennedyDetroit LionsAug 29, 2026
Tom Kennedy to make the roster
“Tom Kennedy is the next man up among the outside receivers, and appears to have secured a roster spot.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSeth McGowanIndianapolis ColtsAug 29, 2026
Seth McGowan to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Seth McGowan plays ahead of DJ Giddens : McGowan appears to be the current favorite for the backup job behind Jonathan Taylor.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJosh DownsIndianapolis ColtsAug 29, 2026
Josh Downs to be 1st on the depth chart
“This suggests that Allen will be a Z receiver this season, leaving Downs in the slot in 11 personnel.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Laquon Treadwell to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Further down the depth chart, it appears Treadwell is the backup X receiver, even though Ashton Dulin was the backup X at times last season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDJ GiddensIndianapolis ColtsAug 29, 2026
DJ Giddens to be 3rd on the depth chart
“This suggests McGowan is currently ahead of Giddens.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsGreg DortchDetroit LionsAug 29, 2026
Greg Dortch to make the roster
“Greg Dortch appears to be the next man most likely to make the roster after only playing in the first half last week.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Rogers 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.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Tice 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.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Previewing 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.
- Richard ShermanScore Predictions · Detroit LionsHit · 90Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP.
- Colin CowherdScore Predictions · Detroit LionsClose · 60The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In 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.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Aaron JonesHit · 100In 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.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The 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.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano 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.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar 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.