Tom Pelissero#5 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 5, 2025

Pelissero said Matthew Stafford will start Sunday against the Texans despite back concerns, and that Nick Chubb will be Houston's lead back to open the season with Damien Pierce spelling them while Joe Mixon is out.

Said on air, transcribed by us · The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)Hear the original

3 of 3calls landed3 hits · all settled

91.7Average accuracyout of 100, across 3 calls

94.4A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

3 of 3Settlednone still waiting

#5Tom Pelissero’s rankof 87 ranked NFL pundits

What Tom Pelissero said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

I don't think there's any question right now. Matty Stafford is starting on Sunday against the Texans.

Tom Pelissero, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was said: The Rich Eisen Show (podcast)
The episode: Hour 3: NFL Insider Tom Pelissero on McCaffrey & More + Rich’s Top 5 WK1 Games
The original: Hear the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidSep 5, 2025
GradedAug 13, 2026

1Matthew Stafford to be 1st on the depth chart“I don't think there's any question right now. Matty Stafford is starting on Sunday against the Texans.”
2Dameon Pierce to be 2nd on the depth chart“It seems like he's gonna be the guy with Damien Pierce spelling him”
3Nick Chubb to be 1st on the depth chart“it seems like Nick Chubb is gonna be the bell cow back at least going into the season... It seems like he's gonna be the guy with Damien Pierce spelling him”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Matthew Stafford to be 1st on the depth chart¹	Depth Chart Calls	No. 1	100	100	0
Dameon Pierce to be 2nd on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	No. 4	83.33	83.33	0
Nick Chubb to be 1st on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	No. 2	91.67	100	−16.67
3 calls · 3 hits · all settled			91.7	94.4

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive

3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

All 3 have settled, averaging 91.7 out of 100, against 94.4 for a naive guess at the same calls.

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.

Their call against what happened

1They said

1What happened

Their call against what actually happened.

1Depth Chart Calls Matthew Stafford Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 1called No. 1 · by passing yards
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
LAR
skill:
0
player:
Matthew Stafford
season:
2025
accuracy:
100
baseline:
100
position:
QB
naive slot:
1
actual slot:
1
difficulty:
2
measured by:
passing yards
the naive guess:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Dameon Pierce Houston Texans
Dameon Pierce to be 2nd on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 4called No. 2 · by rushing yards
83.33Hit · naive 83.33
83.33this call83.33a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
KC
skill:
0
player:
Dameon Pierce
season:
2025
accuracy:
83.33
baseline:
83.33
position:
RB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
4
difficulty:
2
measured by:
rushing yards
the naive guess:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
2
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls Nick Chubb Houston Texans
Nick Chubb to be 1st on the depth chart
What happenedNo. 2called No. 1 · by rushing yards
91.67Hit · naive 100
91.67this call100a naive guess−8.33worse than naive2difficulty−16.67skill
How this was scored
club:
HOU
skill:
−16.67
player:
Nick Chubb
season:
2025
accuracy:
91.67
baseline:
100
position:
RB
naive slot:
2
actual slot:
2
difficulty:
2
measured by:
rushing yards
the naive guess:
where he sat last season
weeks in the season:
18
predicted slot:
1
weeks left when called:
18
Think this is wrong?
All
The take as a whole
the average of 3 settled calls, each counted once
91.7naive 94.4

Who this take is about

Make your own calls.Pick every open claim on Picks →

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Bobby Skinner · Trade and Signing Calls · Stefon Diggs · Miss 0
Skinner predicted Daniel Jones signs with and wins the starting job in Indianapolis, Milton Williams to New England, Lavonte David back to Tampa, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to the Giants, DJ Reid to Arizona, Hassan Reddick to Washington and Justin Fields staying in Pittsburgh, plus alternates they had listed.
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.
Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · Houston Texans · Close 55
Prisco 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.
Jared Koch · Game Outcome Picks · Houston Texans · Hit 100
Koch predicts the Texans will beat the winless Chargers on the road in Week 9 by at least 10 points, with Houston's defense forcing a couple of turnovers to set up a multiple-score win.
Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Houston Texans · Hit 81
Simms 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 they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.

More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Lock · Hit 100
Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback.
Jeremy Brener · Depth Chart Calls · Jalen Milroe · Miss 0
Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury.
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.
Zachary Pereles · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
Pereles 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 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.
Garrett Podell · Depth Chart Calls · Carson Beck · Miss 0
Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut.