Jared Koch· Nov 3, 2026
Koch expects David Montgomery to likely miss more time, leaving Woody Marks as Houston's lead back with a heavy workload and a strong performance against a weak Chargers run defense, and he favors the Texans to win the Week 9 game.
“If the Texans offense can get ahead early and lean on Marks to keep the chains moving offensively, they've got a good shot at winning this while also allowing their second-year runner to have a pretty big day in the process.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call and 1 game outcome pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 2 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Woody Marks · 2026 season8 calls from 7 pundits between 1 and 2. Jared Koch 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
The game in this take
- Texans at Chargers 22 calls
2 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. Game calls show that game’s closing betting line under their grade: a dated fact from nflverse, for context and never part of a grade. MissedTakes takes no bets and earns nothing from any sportsbook.
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansNov 3, 2026
Houston Texans to beat Los Angeles Chargers
“they've got a good shot at winning this... helps them avoid becoming the Chargers' first victory on an otherwise dreary season.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+156 skillHow this was scored
- won:
- HOU
- score:
- 44-22
- skill:
- 156
- they picked:
- HOU
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- the naive pick:
- LAC
- difficulty:
- 1.56
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 10
Closing line (Nov 8): Texans by 5.5 · favorite pick, Texans about 2 in 3 (67%).
- Depth Chart CallsWoody MarksHouston TexansNov 3, 2026
Woody Marks to be 1st on the depth chart
“And in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers, there's a decent chance that trend could continue within the Texans' backfield, knowing that Montgomery could be set to miss more time.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoScore Predictions · Houston TexansClose · 55Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Houston TexansHit · 81Simms 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 he wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
- Nick WrightScore Predictions · Houston TexansHit · 83Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside his spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12.
- John ShipleyGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Shipley expects Jacksonville to keep Brian Thomas Jr. at the trade deadline while adding two defenders, most likely Derrick Brown, and he thinks the winless Chargers will again come up short against Houston in Week 9.
- Steve PalazzoloGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansHit · 100Palazzolo expects Kansas City to beat the Jets, Cardinals and Falcons in a three-week stretch and sit at 8-2 before Thanksgiving, says Houston's winning streak begins against the Chargers and that the Texans will be 8-5 by their December 20 meeting with Jacksonville, and pegs the Raiders for seven to eight wins.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Jeremy BrenerDepth Chart Calls · Jalen MilroeMiss · 0Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for his first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
- Michael MooreDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersHit · 100In 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. He also expects Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.
- Zachary PerelesDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersHit · 100Pereles writes that if Deshaun Watson can't clear concussion protocol in time, the Browns would likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders to start Week 9 against the Saints.
- Nic BodifordDepth Chart Calls · Joe FagnanoHit · 100Previewing 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. He also views Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.
- Garrett PodellDepth Chart Calls · Carson BeckMiss · 0Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace him as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.
- Jacob HerlinDepth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. He also expects Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.