Bryan DeArdo#4 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 6, 2026
After watching Steelers camp practices, DeArdo says Rico Dowdle is the frontrunner to start at running back and Roman Wilson has locked down the No. 3 receiver job, while suggesting veteran Mason Rudolph could be squeezed off the roster if Drew Allar and Will Howard perform in the preseason.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Bryan DeArdo said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromDespite rotating first-team reps with Jaylen Warren, it's clear that Dowdle is the front-runner to be Pittsburgh's starting running back when the regular season starts.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- Steelers training camp overreactions: Drew Allar outplaying Will Howard? Is Rico Dowdle the new RB1?
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 6
- GradedSep 25
- 1Mason Rudolph to make the roster“One can also assume that McCarthy would rather keep two young quarterbacks on the roster, which could very well lead to Rudolph being the odd man out.”
- 2Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart“it's clear that Dowdle is the front-runner to be Pittsburgh's starting running back when the regular season starts.”
- 3Roman Wilson to be 3rd on the depth chart“Roman Wilson has established himself as the No. 3 WR — Overreaction or reality: Reality”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Rudolph to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Roman Wilson to be 3rd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 hit · 2 waiting | 100 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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
Rico Dowdle · 2026 season15 calls from 10 pundits between 1 and 2. Bryan DeArdo 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.
1Roster Spot CallsMason RudolphPittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- PIT
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Mason Rudolph
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
2Depth Chart CallsRico DowdlePittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsRoman WilsonPittsburgh Steelers
Roman Wilson to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Greg Jennings · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 74
Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request.James Harrison · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Harrison picked the Steelers to beat the Browns in their Sunday meeting, saying Pittsburgh would even the season series at 1-1 after losing the first matchup.Garrett Podell · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
In five bold predictions for Week 8, Podell forecasts Jared Goff shredding Minnesota's undefeated defense for 250-plus yards and three-plus touchdowns as Detroit hands the Vikings their first loss, Tony Pollard topping 120 rushing yards with multiple scores at Cincinnati, Jaylen Warren helping Pittsburgh beat Cleveland, a clean multi-touchdown game from Justin Herbert, and Garrett Wilson going over 100 receiving yards with a touchdown.
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.