Zachary Pereles· Aug 13, 2026
In a training-camp overreaction column, CBS Sports argues Kyler Murray can get the Vikings back to the playoffs, that Kirk Cousins should open the season as the Colts' starter ahead of Fernando Mendoza, that Parker Washington will again lead Jacksonville in receiving yards as part of a breakout year, that the Browns, Cardinals and Falcons will each start multiple quarterbacks, and that Stefon Diggs slots in as Washington's WR2.
“He quietly led Jacksonville in receiving yards last year and will loudly repeat that this year.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 10 depth chart calls and 1 playoff pick — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 17 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 9 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Deshaun Watson · 2026 season22 calls from 18 pundits between 1 and 2. Zachary Pereles 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
11 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
- Depth Chart CallsCarson BeckArizona CardinalsAug 13, 2026
Carson Beck to be 1st on the depth chart
“Same for Jacoby Brissett and Beck in Arizona.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDeshaun WatsonCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart
“I expect to see several starts from Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson ... this season in Cleveland.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart
“The same goes for the Falcons starting both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacoby Brissett to be 1st on the depth chart
“Same for Jacoby Brissett and Beck in Arizona.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Stefon Diggs to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Stefon Diggs is a massive (and necessary) upgrade as a WR2 alongside Terry McLaurin.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsIndianapolis ColtsAug 13, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Cousins may no longer be a upper-middle or even middle-tier starter, but he can still play. And he should play Week 1 over Fernando Mendoza.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta FalconsAug 13, 2026
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
“The same goes for the Falcons starting both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsChase BisontisArizona CardinalsAug 13, 2026
Chase Bisontis to be 1st on the depth chart
“second-round pick Chase Bisontis should start right away at guard”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Parker Washington to be 1st on the depth chart
“He quietly led Jacksonville in receiving yards last year and will loudly repeat that this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland BrownsAug 13, 2026
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
“I expect to see several starts from Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson ... this season in Cleveland.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksMinnesota VikingsAug 13, 2026
Minnesota Vikings to make the playoffs
“But if he can be average, the Vikings, who went 9-8 last year despite awful quarterback play, could get back to the postseason.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Minnesota VikingsHit · 90Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsHit · 100Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns.
- Sam MonsonGame Outcome Picks · Minnesota VikingsHit · 100Monson picked the Chargers to beat the Bills outright (jokingly crediting Buffalo's gray 'Nickel City' jerseys), took the Vikings to win outright in Tampa, and said Seattle would destroy Washington. He also reiterated his Super Bowl pick of Denver over the Rams, called the Dolphins destined for the No. 1 overall pick, and said the Saints are a worst-to-first candidate in the NFC South.
- Matt HarmonGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsMiss · 0Harmon picked the Bengals to beat the Texans in Week 2, expecting Nico Collins to miss the game with a hamstring injury, and also predicted the Titans would be shut out by the Eagles. He took the Rams over the Giants, the Bears over the Vikings, and the Jaguars at Denver.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Jacksonville JaguarsMiss · 0Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Jonah ColemanMiss · 0In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Rashod BatemanMiss · 0In his Week 2 waiver wire column, Fitzmaurice recommends a slate of pickups he expects to outperform their current rostership (Kaelon Black, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Shough, Geno Smith and others), lays out several depth-chart expectations (Black as the 49ers' No. 2 back, Shedeur Sanders eventually taking over in Cleveland, Penix returning for Atlanta), and flags Fool's Gold/drop candidates such as Mike Gesicki, Kendrick Bourne and Rashid Shaheed.
- Bill HuberDepth Chart Calls · Chris McClellanMiss · 0Huber's first Packers rookie progress report projects second-round cornerback Brandon Cisse to hold onto his spot with the No. 1 defense, third-round defensive tackle Chris McClellan to start in Week 1, and fifth-round lineman Jager Burton to be the team's top interior backup rather than a starter.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams.
- Randy GurziDepth Chart Calls · Jadarian PriceHit · 100Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.