John Green· Aug 9, 2026
Green names four Bills trending upward in training camp, predicting tight end Jackson Hawes will exceed his rookie receiving totals (16 catches, 187 yards, three TDs) and that fullback Ben VanSumeren is on track to make the 53-man roster.
“Don’t be shocked to see the 25-year-old Salt Lake City, Utah, native top his receiving stat line from his rookie campaign in 2025, which consisted of 16 receptions for 187 yards and three receiving touchdowns.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
2 checkable claims — 1 player season number and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Their call against the record
receiving tdsTheir call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
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Who this take is about
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.
Jackson Hawes to record 3 receiving tds
“while somehow managing to find the end zone a few times throughout the season... top his receiving stat line from his rookie campaign in 2025, which consisted of 16 receptions for 187 yards and three receiving touchdowns”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsBen VanSumerenBuffalo BillsAug 9, 2026
Ben VanSumeren to make the roster
“He’s still battling it out with rookie Jackson Acker, but VanSumeren looks like he could be in line for a roster spot in September.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
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- Randy GurziRoster Spot Calls · Kani WalkerHit · 100In a preseason winners-and-losers piece, Gurzi says UDFA cornerback Kani Walker likely secured a 53-man roster spot, and that Spencer Brown will again be a consistent starting offensive tackle for Buffalo in 2026.
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More player season numbers
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Ross JacksonPlayer Season Numbers · Tyler ShoughMiss · 4Jackson 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 BroussardPlayer Season Numbers · Lamar JacksonMiss · 0Broussard 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. He also takes the Browns to upset the Bengals and believes Myles Garrett gets at least two sacks to break the single-season record.
- Nick WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 100Wright 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 WrightPlayer Season Numbers · Myles GarrettHit · 84Nick Wright says Myles Garrett is playing at an all-time level and might reach 25 sacks this season, and among his weekly picks he expects the Bears to beat the Steelers in an ugly low-margin home win and Seattle to win comfortably at Tennessee.
- Shannon SharpePlayer Season Numbers · T.J. WattMiss · 0On a Bengals-Steelers matchup, Sharpe took the over on several player props: Ja'Marr Chase over 74.5 receiving yards, Joe Flacco over 36.5 pass attempts, and T.J. Watt over 3.5 tackles+assists, adding that Watt will get two sacks. He also predicted Rico Dowdle would make the Pro Bowl this season.
- Rich EisenPlayer Season Numbers · Micah ParsonsClose · 56Eisen 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. He also picked the AFC West order and said Deion Sanders is more likely than Bill Belichick to have a winning record.