Ralph VacchianoAug 6, 2026
Vacchiano names one breakout candidate for each of the 16 NFC teams for 2026, including Abdul Carter reaching double-digit sacks, Colston Loveland becoming the NFL's best tight end, and Zach Charbonnet taking over as Seattle's unquestioned lead back.
Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original
What Ralph Vacchiano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromDouble digits in sacks wouldn't be a shock for Carter.
- Where it was published
- Fox Sports
- The piece
- Breakout Candidates: One Player From Each NFC Team Poised For A Star Turn
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Colston Loveland to finish top 1 at his position, by receiving yards“If he even comes close to replicating that over a full season, he might be the NFL's top receiver at his position.”
- 2Dallas Turner to be 1st on the depth chart“The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia, clearing the way for the speedy Turner to be the top edge rusher in Brian Flores’ blitzing scheme.”
- 3Makai Lemon to be 2nd on the depth chart“first-rounder Makai Lemon is the favorite to be No. 2”
- 4Abdul Carter to record 10 sacks“Double digits in sacks wouldn’t be a shock for Carter.”
- 5Colston Loveland to be 1st on the depth chart“Loveland is firmly established as Chicago’s No. 1 tight end”
- 6Zach Charbonnet to be 1st on the depth chart“the 25-year-old Charbonnet is in prime position to be a bell-cow back ... Seattle's unquestioned No. 1 back”
- 7Jalen Coker to be 3rd on the depth chart“The 6-3, 213-pounder likely opens the season as Carolina’s third receiver”
- 8DeVonta Smith to be 1st on the depth chart“Yes, DeVonta Smith is the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colston Loveland to finish top 1 at his position, by receiving yards1 | Positional Finishes | — | — | — | — | |
| Dallas Turner to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Makai Lemon to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Abdul Carter to record 10 sacks4 | Player Season Numbers | — | — | — | — | |
| Colston Loveland to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Zach Charbonnet to be 1st on the depth chart6 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jalen Coker to be 3rd on the depth chart7 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| DeVonta Smith to be 1st on the depth chart8 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 8 calls · 8 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
8 checkable claims — 6 depth chart calls, 1 player season number and 1 positional finish — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 13 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 8 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 6.
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
Zach Charbonnet · 2026 season6 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 1. Ralph Vacchiano 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 record
positional finishTheir call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
1Positional FinishesColston LovelandChicago Bears
Colston Loveland to finish top 1 at his position, by receiving yards
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsDallas TurnerMinnesota Vikings
Dallas Turner to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsMakai LemonPhiladelphia Eagles
Makai Lemon to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Player Season NumbersAbdul CarterNew York Giants
Abdul Carter to record 10 sacks
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsColston LovelandChicago Bears
Colston Loveland to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Depth Chart CallsZach CharbonnetSeattle Seahawks
Zach Charbonnet to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
7Depth Chart CallsJalen CokerCarolina Panthers
Jalen Coker to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
8Depth Chart CallsDeVonta SmithPhiladelphia Eagles
DeVonta Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears, Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings, Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles, Abdul Carter, New York Giants, Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks, Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers, DeVonta Smith
Others on the same people
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin predicted final scores for seven Week 10 games, taking the Giants over the Commanders, the Lions, Chiefs, Packers, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens to win their respective matchups.
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.Donnie Druin · Depth Chart Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Druin writes that despite the 1-3 start and a three-interception game, Jacoby Brissett will stay Arizona's starting quarterback heading into the Week 5 game against Detroit, with Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck remaining behind them.