Jerry MarkarianSep 9, 2026
Markarian projects statistical lines for every major Chicago Bears offensive contributor in 2026, headlined by Caleb Williams shattering 4,000 passing yards and Colston Loveland leading the team with a 90-catch, 1,100-yard season.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Jerry Markarian said
As long as he stays healthy, Williams will not only break the elusive 4,000-yard mark; He'll shatter it.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Projecting the Stat Lines of the Bears' Key Offensive Players For the 2026 NFL Season
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player Season Numbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
How each call scored
33 checkable claims — 33 player season numbers — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 13 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 4 and below it on 9.
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
Caleb Williams · 2026 season · passing yards5 calls from 5 pundits between 4,000 passing yards and 4,350 passing yards. Jerry Markarian said 4,350 passing yards. the room's median is 4,000 passing yards. 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.
Player Season Numbers33 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to record 4,350 passing yards
“Caleb Williams 4,350 passing yards, 33 passing TDs, 9 INTs, 350 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jahdae Walker to record 150–200 receiving yards
“he'll be battling with Jahdae Walker (who should also put up around 150-200 yards)”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zavion Thomas to record 475 receiving yards
“34 catches, 475 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Colston Loveland to record 8 receiving tds
“Colston Loveland 90 catches, 1,100 yards, 8 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kyle Monangai to record 900 rushing yards
“Kyle Monangai 900 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs, 75 receiving yards”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Cole Kmet to record 275 receiving yards
“Cole Kmet 20 catches, 275 yards, 3 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to record 33 passing tds
“4,350 passing yards, 33 passing TDs, 9 INTs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kalif Raymond to record 20 receptions
“Kalif Raymond 20 catches, 225 yards, 1 TD”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kalif Raymond to record 225 receiving yards
“Kalif Raymond 20 catches, 225 yards, 1 TD”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
D'Andre Swift to record 1,050 rushing yards
“D'Andre Swift 1,050 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 200 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rome Odunze to record 8 receiving tds
“60 catches, 850 receiving yards, 8 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kyle Monangai to record 75 receiving yards
“900 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs, 75 receiving yards”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Sam Roush to record 150 receiving yards
“I could see the rookie putting up 150 yards of his own.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Colston Loveland to record 90 receptions
“Colston Loveland 90 catches, 1,100 yards, 8 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Luther Burden III to record 925 receiving yards
“70 catches, 925 receiving yards, 5 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to record 350 rushing yards
“350 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Caleb Williams to record 9 passing interceptions
“4,350 passing yards, 33 passing TDs, 9 INTs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Luther Burden III to record 5 receiving tds
“70 catches, 925 receiving yards, 5 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- —Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kalif Raymond to record 1 receiving tds
“Kalif Raymond 20 catches, 225 yards, 1 TD”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rome Odunze to record 850 receiving yards
“60 catches, 850 receiving yards, 8 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
D'Andre Swift to record 1 receiving tds
“200 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
D'Andre Swift to record 200 receiving yards
“200 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zavion Thomas to record 4 receiving tds
“34 catches, 475 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
D'Andre Swift to record 10 rushing tds
“1,050 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Luther Burden III to record 70 receptions
“Luther Burden III 70 catches, 925 receiving yards, 5 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zavion Thomas to record 34 receptions
“Zavion Thomas 34 catches, 475 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs, 30 attempts, 180 rushing yards”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rome Odunze to record 60 receptions
“Rome Odunze 60 catches, 850 receiving yards, 8 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Colston Loveland to record 1,100 receiving yards
“Colston Loveland 90 catches, 1,100 yards, 8 TDs”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
John Middlekauff · Draft Bust Calls · Caleb Williams · Miss 0
Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. They are pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying they'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. They also see Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
DeArdo picks the Bears to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night in a defensive game, predicting a 20-16 final score.Danny Parkins · Game Outcome Picks · Chicago Bears · Hit 100
Parkins named the seven AFC teams they believe are already set as the playoff field, expects Chicago, Buffalo and Kansas City to win this week, took Green Bay over New England and Atlanta over Cincinnati outright, and kept Bills–Bears as their Super Bowl matchup with the Giants still winning the NFC East.“Stanford Steve” Coughlin · Game Outcome Picks · Chicago Bears · Hit 100
Stanford Steve said the Bears would beat the Buccaneers on Sunday night, and called a player they referred to as "Yakis" their Rookie of the Year.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Chicago Bears · Hit 98
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.
More player season numbers
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Andrew Erickson · Player Season Numbers · James Cook · Close 67
Erickson is targeting Chase Brown, Javonte Williams, Trey Benson, Ray Davis, MarShawn Lloyd, Will Shipley, Braelon Allen and Rishard Smith while fading Tyrone Tracy, Tank Bigsby and Kyren Williams, and they expect James Cook's touchdown total to settle in the eight-to-ten range.Ross Jackson · Player Season Numbers · Tyler Shough · Miss 4
Jackson projects a big sophomore jump for Saints QB Tyler Shuck, laying out a Drake May-style stat line (17 starts, 72% completions, ~4,601 passing yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs) or a Bo Nix-style consistency line (over 4,000 yards, over 20 TDs, ~10 INTs), and says either path means a playoff season for New Orleans in 2026.Chris Broussard · Player Season Numbers · Myles Garrett · Hit 92
Broussard expects Lamar Jackson to play well but not vintage — two touchdown passes and no picks — while Derrick Henry carries the load with over 100 rushing yards. They also take the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record.Nick Wright · Player Season Numbers · Myles Garrett · Hit 100
Wright picks the Steelers to beat the Ravens outright in Pittsburgh, takes Seattle over San Francisco, and thinks the Browns lose to Cincinnati even as Myles Garrett gets the sack record.Nick Wright · Player Season Numbers · Myles Garrett · Hit 84
Nick Wright says Myles Garrett is playing at an all-time level and might reach 25 sacks this season, and among their weekly picks they expect the Bears to beat the Steelers in an ugly low-margin home win and Seattle to win comfortably at Tennessee.Rich Eisen · Player Season Numbers · Micah Parsons · Close 56
Eisen made a series of picks: Micah Parsons will out-sack any two Cowboys combined (after initially leaning the other way), the NFC North is more likely to produce a Super Bowl team than the NFC East, Eagles wins will outnumber Cowboys losses, Bo Nix/Courtland Sutton will out-touchdown Cam Ward/Calvin Ridley, and Marvin Harrison Jr./James Conner will beat Kamara/Olave in yards and TDs. They also picked the AFC West order and said Deion Sanders is more likely than Bill Belichick to have a winning record.