Zack KelbermanAug 18, 2026
Kelberman expects Denver to keep only three running backs on the initial 53-man roster, with JK Dobbins, Jonah Coleman and RJ Harvey all locks to make it.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Zack Kelberman said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromDenver may only end up keeping three RBs on their final, 53-man roster when it's finalized at the end of the month — Dobbins, Coleman, and Harvey being locks.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- RJ Harvey's Bold Decree Benefits Entire Broncos' RB Room
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 18
- GradedSep 25
- 1Jonah Coleman to make the roster“Denver may only end up keeping three RBs on their final, 53-man roster when it's finalized at the end of the month — Dobbins, Coleman, and Harvey being locks.”
- 2J.K. Dobbins to make the roster“Denver may only end up keeping three RBs on their final, 53-man roster when it's finalized at the end of the month — Dobbins, Coleman, and Harvey being locks.”
- 3RJ Harvey to make the roster“Denver may only end up keeping three RBs on their final, 53-man roster when it's finalized at the end of the month — Dobbins, Coleman, and Harvey being locks.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonah Coleman to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 0 | +200 | |
| J.K. Dobbins to make the roster2 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| RJ Harvey to make the roster3 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| 3 calls · 3 hits · all settled | 100 | 66.7 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive3 checkable claims — 3 roster spot calls — 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.
All 3 have settled, averaging 100 out of 100, against 66.7 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.
1Roster Spot CallsJonah ColemanDenver Broncos
Jonah Coleman to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 0100this call−0a naive guess=100better than naive×2difficulty=+200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- DEN
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- Jonah Coleman
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- 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
2Roster Spot CallsJ.K. DobbinsDenver Broncos
J.K. Dobbins 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:
- DEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- J.K. Dobbins
- 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
3Roster Spot CallsRJ HarveyDenver Broncos
RJ Harvey 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:
- DEN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- RJ Harvey
- 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
- All
The take as a whole
the average of 3 settled calls, each counted once
100naive 66.7
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Chad Jensen · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Turner · Miss 0
Jensen predicts Daiyan Henley's arrival will cut into Justin Strnad's snaps while Alex Singleton keeps playing virtually every down, and that Denver will return to a three-linebacker rotation after the Week 10 bye. They also expect one of Jordan Turner or Karene Reid — most likely Turner — to be waived to clear a roster spot.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Denver Broncos · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Denver Broncos · Hit 98
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.Nate Tice · Game Outcome Picks · Denver Broncos · Hit 100
Tice picked the Patriots to beat the Packers and also took the Bears, Bills, 49ers and Broncos in their Week 9 matchups.
More roster spot calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.Christian Booher · Roster Spot Calls · Anthony Lucas · Miss 0
Booher previews the Lions' Week 9 trip to Miami, predicting Derrick Barnes takes over as the green-dot linebacker in Jack Campbell's absence, Juice Scruggs starts at center, and boldly forecasting Detroit's first defensive touchdown of the season on an Aidan Hutchinson strip-sack recovered and returned by Barnes.Randy Gurzi · Roster Spot Calls · Jordan Hudson · Miss 0
Gurzi predicts the Cowboys' 17-man practice squad, naming each player they expect Dallas to sign, including a surprise addition of released Giants tackle Evan Neal. They also predict Jaydon Blue will be claimed off waivers by another team and that Sam Williams will land elsewhere.David Harrison · Roster Spot Calls · Jaden Bradley · Miss 0
Harrison gives their initial 53-man roster projection for the Washington Commanders: three quarterbacks including Ethan Kalyak Manus, three running backs, four tight ends, six receivers (leaving off De'Ami Brown and Jaden Bradley), nine offensive linemen with Matt Goldman at center, and a defense of six linebackers but only four cornerbacks. They also project Tunstall and Newton going to IR on Monday with De'Ami Brown and Dietrich Wise re-signed, plus a corner-heavy practice squad.