Walt· Aug 1, 2026
In a rolling 'Disaster Ratings' feature covering NFL injuries, retirements and suspensions across multiple seasons, the site grades how damaging each situation is and makes scattered forecasts about replacement starters, individual games and team outlooks.
“The quartet of McCaffrey, Jennings, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle will be enough for the 49ers to make a deep run into the playoffs, but the margin for error has shrunk.”
published in writing · Walter Football · read the original →
19 checkable claims — 11 depth chart calls, 5 game outcome picks, 1 division winner, 1 playoff pick and 1 surprise team call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 20 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
The games in this take
- Texans at Jaguars 5 calls
- Cardinals at Rams 9 calls
19 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.
- Surprise Team CallsArizona CardinalsAug 1, 2026
Arizona Cardinals to beat expectations
“I consider the Cardinals an underrated team that could potentially sneak into the playoffs in a weak NFC.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsCam SmithAug 1, 2026
Cam Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
“Second-round rookie Cam Smith will have to fill the void.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsPatrick PaulAug 1, 2026
Patrick Paul to be 1st on the depth chart
“His replacement will be 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul, who was woeful in four full games last year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJoseph OssaiAug 1, 2026
Joseph Ossai to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Bengals are still OK on the edge because they have Joseph Ossai ready to step into a full-time starting role”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksBuffalo BillsAug 1, 2026
Buffalo Bills to beat Cardinals
“The Bills should be able to handle the Cardinals in Week 1 without Samuel”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBroderick JonesAug 1, 2026
Broderick Jones to be 1st on the depth chart
“Pittsburgh will now have to go back to Jones because Fautanu is dealing with a knee injury.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsAmarius MimsAug 1, 2026
Amarius Mims to be 1st on the depth chart
“it's unclear how well Amarius Mims will play in his place”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu to be 1st on the depth chart
“his injury will allow first-round rookie Olu Fashanu to start”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksDetroit LionsAug 1, 2026
Detroit Lions to beat Rams
“they were expected to lose to the Lions and beat the Cardinals even with him”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsSam DarnoldAug 1, 2026
Sam Darnold to be 1st on the depth chart
“Instead, Sam Darnold will be the starter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsOren BurksAug 1, 2026
Oren Burks to be 1st on the depth chart
“Oren Burks will step in, and he can do an OK job in relief, but he's a clear downgrade from Dean.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksSan Francisco 49ersAug 1, 2026
San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs
“The quartet of McCaffrey, Jennings, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle will be enough for the 49ers to make a deep run into the playoffs”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Division WinnersJacksonville JaguarsAug 1, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars to win the division
“even if the Jaguars get off to a bit of a slow start, they should still be able to win their weak division”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksHouston TexansAug 1, 2026
Houston Texans to beat Jaguars
“Not having Campbell will make defeating the Texans extremely difficult, but this is a game Jacksonville is likely to lose anyway.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTrevor PenningAug 1, 2026
Trevor Penning to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Saints will be forced into starting a rookie and the anemic Trevor Penning at tackle”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksLos Angeles RamsAug 1, 2026
Los Angeles Rams to beat Cardinals
“they were expected to lose to the Lions and beat the Cardinals even with him”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTyleik WilliamsAug 1, 2026
Tyleik Williams to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Lions also have first-round rookie Tyleik Williams to start next to D.J. Reader”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTaliese FuagaAug 1, 2026
Taliese Fuaga to be 1st on the depth chart
“the Saints will be forced into starting a rookie and the anemic Trevor Penning at tackle. The rookie, Tallies Fuaga, may pan out”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Game Outcome PicksKansas City ChiefsAug 1, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs to beat Jaguars
“The other team is the Chiefs, and the Jaguars probably weren't going to win that game anyway.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms 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.
- 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 · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long 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.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Houston TexansMiss · 0Previewing 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 · 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.
- Jake ArthurScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 98Arthur expects a close Chiefs win on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead, predicting a final score of 27-23 for Kansas City.
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.