Bradley LockerSep 2, 2026
A PFF piece naming 10 players who take on outsized importance due to injuries and absences, projecting several of them into starting roles for 2026 (Brandon Coleman at left tackle in Washington, Woods at safety in Chicago, Ebukam on Atlanta's edge, Scruggs at center in Detroit and Lloyd in Green Bay's backfield).
Published in writing · Pro Football FocusRead the original
What Bradley Locker said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromThe young tackle pencils in as Washington's blindside protector with Laremy Tunsil out.
- Where it was published
- Pro Football Focus
- The piece
- 10 NFL players set to step up amid absences in 2026
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Samson Ebukam to be 1st on the depth chart“joined the franchise on a one-year deal this offseason as projected depth but could see a lion's share of starting snaps”
- 2Brandon Coleman to be 1st on the depth chart“The young tackle pencils in as Washington's blindside protector with Laremy Tunsil out.”
- 3Xavier Woods to be 1st on the depth chart“the Bears signed Woods, who is poised to step into a starting role next to first-round pick Dillon Thieneman”
- 4Juice Scruggs to be 1st on the depth chart“With Mays out for at least the first four weeks of the year, Scruggs could step up to fill his absence.”
- 5MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart“With Jacobs' status up in the air, the Packers figure to turn to Lloyd in their backfield.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samson Ebukam to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Brandon Coleman to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Xavier Woods to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Juice Scruggs to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 10 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 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
MarShawn Lloyd · 2026 season10 calls from 8 pundits between 1 and 1. Bradley Locker 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.
1Depth Chart CallsSamson EbukamAtlanta Falcons
Samson Ebukam to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsBrandon ColemanWashington Commanders
Brandon Coleman to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsXavier WoodsChicago Bears
Xavier Woods to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsJuice ScruggsDetroit Lions
Juice Scruggs to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsMarShawn LloydGreen Bay Packers
MarShawn Lloyd to be 1st 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
Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picks the Commanders to edge the Giants 21-20 on Thursday and the Chiefs to beat the Falcons 26-20 in Week 10.Tyler Sullivan · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Sullivan takes the Commanders 24-21 over the Giants on Thursday night and calls for a Steelers upset of the Bengals, 27-24, in Week 10.John Breech · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 90
Breech picks the Commanders to upset the Giants on Thursday night, 24-17, and takes the Texans to beat the Browns 24-16 in Week 10 behind a pass rush that should batter Deshaun Watson.Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Washington Commanders · Hit 95
Dajani picked seven Week 10 games with final scores, including a Commanders upset of the Giants, Lions over the Patriots in Munich, Chiefs over the Falcons, Packers edging the Vikings, 49ers over the Cowboys, Bengals over the Steelers and Ravens over the Chargers. They also suggested Joe Burrow could win MVP this season.Eva Geitheim · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Geitheim picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Texans, Vikings, Jaguars, Colts, Panthers, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.Gilberto Manzano · Game Outcome Picks · Washington Commanders · Hit 100
Manzano picked the Commanders, Lions, Chiefs, Browns, Packers, Jaguars, Dolphins, Saints, Bills, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens in Week 10.
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.