Play “Picks”

Blaine GrisakAug 12, 2026

Reviewing the Rams' first depth chart, Grisak argues Xavier Smith has won the punt return job over Kyren Williams and that this should help Smith earn a spot on the final roster as a special teams contributor.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

1 of 1calls landed1 hit · 1 waiting

100Average accuracyout of 100, across 1 call

100A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

1 of 2Settled1 still waiting

1Waitingnot graded yet

What Blaine Grisak said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

That should bode well for Smith making the final roster as a special teams contributor.

Blaine Grisak, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: Sports Illustrated
The piece: Rams Release Initial Depth Chart Ahead of Preseason Opene
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

SaidAug 12
GradedSep 25

1Xavier Smith to make the roster“That should bode well for Smith making the final roster as a special teams contributor.”
2Xavier Smith to be 1st on the depth chart“after Xavier Smith competed with Kyren Williams at punt returner, it seems he may have that spot locked up. Williams isn't even listed as Smith's backup at that spot.”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Verdict	Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
	Xavier Smith to make the roster¹	Roster Spot Calls	3 weeks on a 53	100	100	0
	Xavier Smith to be 1st on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
	2 calls · 1 hit · 1 waiting			100	100

How each call scored

a naive guessbetter than naive

2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

1 of 2 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 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 Calls Xavier Smith Los Angeles Rams
Xavier Smith to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53
100Hit · naive 100
100this call100a naive guess0better than naive2difficulty0skill
How this was scored
club:
LAR
skill:
0
player:
Xavier Smith
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
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Xavier Smith Los Angeles Rams
Xavier Smith to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

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 · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
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.
Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
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.
Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Rams · 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.
Jordan Dajani · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
Dajani picked all seven featured Week 9 games with final scores, including a blowout Jaguars win in Baltimore, an Atlanta upset of Cincinnati in Madrid, and a narrow Bills win in Minneapolis.

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.

Discussed alongside these