Andrew Erickson· Sep 7, 2025
Erickson reiterated his prediction that Jordan Mason will lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns, backed the Broncos to blow out the Titans in Week 1, called Garrett Wilson a sell and Jacoby Myers a buy-low, expects little from Cooper Kupp, and made several depth-chart calls (Thornton starting in New England, Myers as Vegas' No. 1 receiver, Croskey-Merritt eventually taking the Commanders' 'A back' role).
“So I think they're going to destroy the Tennessee Titans.”
said on air or in an interview · The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast) · read the original →
The page this came from has changed since we captured it on Aug 5, 2026. The quote and evidence above are from our capture, not from what the page says today.
9 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls, 2 player season numbers, 1 fantasy ranking, 1 game outcome pick and 1 positional finishe — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 9 have settled, averaging 63.5 out of 100, against 78 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Their call against what happened
Their call against what actually happened.
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Who this take is about
9 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.
Elic Ayomanor to be 1st on the depth chart
“But I am an Or, and I think he's a starter. I mean he won the job or Van Jefferson”
Hit · 92Scored 91.67a naive guess scored 100-16.67 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- TEN
- skill:
- -16.67
- player:
- Elic Ayomanor
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 91.67
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- WR
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 2
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- receptions
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Player Season NumbersCooper KuppSep 7, 2025
Cooper Kupp to record 400 receiving yards
“What's Cooper Cup's line look like this year? ... Forty four hundred.”
Miss · 35Scored 34.91a naive guess scored 78.71-87.6 skillHow this was scored
- naive:
- 529.87
- skill:
- -87.6
- what happened:
- 593
- player:
- Cooper Kupp
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 34.91
- baseline:
- 78.71
- predicted:
- 400
- statistic:
- receiving_yards
- difficulty:
- 2
- last season:
- 710
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- position average:
- 349.73
- zero at percent out:
- 50
- Fantasy RankingsSep 7, 2025
“So I think that is the way to put the rank for Craft ahead of Tyler Warren... but ultimately the quarterback decides it for me as Craft.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 50-100 skillHow this was scored
- naive:
- a coin-flip ordering scores 50
- skill:
- -100
- placed:
- 2
- season:
- 2025
- players:
- 2
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 50
- by position:
- TE 2: 0
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- could not place:
- 0
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Jordan Mason to finish top 1 at his position, by rushing tds
“"Jordan Mason's going to lead the league in rushing according to Ericson" — "literally in rushing touchdowns."”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 0+0 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jordan Mason
- season:
- 2025
- zero at:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 0
- position:
- RB
- ranked by:
- rushing tds
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 44
- actual finish:
- 26
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- predicted finish:
- 1
- Game Outcome PicksDenver BroncosSep 7, 2025
Denver Broncos to beat Tennessee Titans
“I think that they could win by double digits... So I think they're going to destroy the Tennessee Titans.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- DEN
- score:
- 12-20
- skill:
- 0
- they picked:
- DEN
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- the naive pick:
- DEN
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- Player Season NumbersCooper KuppSep 7, 2025
Cooper Kupp to record 40 receptions
“What's Cooper Cup's line look like this year? ... Forty four hundred.”
Close · 70Scored 70.21a naive guess scored 98.62-56.82 skillHow this was scored
- naive:
- 47.33
- skill:
- -56.82
- what happened:
- 47
- player:
- Cooper Kupp
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 70.21
- baseline:
- 98.62
- predicted:
- 40
- statistic:
- receptions
- difficulty:
- 2
- last season:
- 67
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- position average:
- 27.65
- zero at percent out:
- 50
Dont'e Thornton Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“But yeah, he's going to be a starter. But and the Patriots may not have Christian Zales week one”
Close · 75Scored 75a naive guess scored 83.33-16.67 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- LV
- skill:
- -16.67
- player:
- Dont'e Thornton Jr.
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 75
- baseline:
- 83.33
- position:
- WR
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 4
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- receptions
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Jakobi Meyers to be 1st on the depth chart
“I think that he's clear cut the number one receiver and brock Bauer playing tight end but number two pass catcher on the Raiders”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- JAX
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Jakobi Meyers
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- position:
- WR
- naive slot:
- 1
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- receptions
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
Jacory Croskey-Merritt to be 1st on the depth chart
“if it's not week one, I think it he eventually will take over the a back role and it will be a one to two punch between Crosskey Merrit and Eckler”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+16.67 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- WAS
- skill:
- 16.67
- player:
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt
- season:
- 2025
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- RB
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 1
- difficulty:
- 2
- measured by:
- rushing yards
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 90Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 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.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Denver BroncosHit · 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.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · New England PatriotsHit · 100Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro.
- Carter BahnsRoster Spot Calls · Jeshaun JonesMiss · 0A CBS Sports piece expects suspended Vikings receiver Jeshaun Jones to lose his roster battle and be cut by the Aug. 30 deadline, given Minnesota's established receiver group.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Rashod BatemanMiss · 0In his Week 2 waiver wire column, Fitzmaurice recommends a slate of pickups he expects to outperform their current rostership (Kaelon Black, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Shough, Geno Smith and others), lays out several depth-chart expectations (Black as the 49ers' No. 2 back, Shedeur Sanders eventually taking over in Cleveland, Penix returning for Atlanta), and flags Fool's Gold/drop candidates such as Mike Gesicki, Kendrick Bourne and Rashid Shaheed.