Ralph VacchianoAug 17, 2026
Vacchiano expects veteran Mason Rudolph to serve as Aaron Rodgers' backup in Pittsburgh rather than rookie Drew Allar. On the Giants, they lay out a receiver depth chart with Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields holding the top three spots, and Darius Slayton and Calvin Austin also likely to stick.
Published in writing · Fox SportsRead the original
What Ralph Vacchiano said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromHe's not even likely to be Rodgers' backup, an honor that probably will go to veteran Mason Rudolph.
- Where it was published
- Fox Sports
- The piece
- Which Rookies Are Standing Out? 7 Takeaways From Week 1 Of The Preseason
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart“He's not even likely to be Rodgers' backup, an honor that probably will go to veteran Mason Rudolph.”
- 2Malik Nabers to be 1st on the depth chart“Assuming Malik Nabers is healthy, the top three spots are likely going to him, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields.”
- 3Calvin Austin III to make the roster“And Darius Slayton and Calvin Austin seem likely to be two more.”
- 4Malachi Fields to be 3rd on the depth chart“the top three spots are likely going to him, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields”
- 5Darnell Mooney to be 2nd on the depth chart“the top three spots are likely going to him, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields”
- 6Darius Slayton to make the roster“And Darius Slayton and Calvin Austin seem likely to be two more.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Malik Nabers to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Calvin Austin III to make the roster3 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Malachi Fields to be 3rd on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Darnell Mooney to be 2nd on the depth chart5 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Darius Slayton to make the roster6 | Roster Spot Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 6 calls · 6 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
6 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 2 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 8 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
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
Malik Nabers · 2026 season9 calls from 9 pundits between 1 and 1. Ralph Vacchiano 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.
1Depth Chart CallsMason RudolphPittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsMalik NabersNew York Giants
Malik Nabers to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Roster Spot CallsCalvin Austin IIINew York Giants
Calvin Austin III to make the roster
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsMalachi FieldsNew York Giants
Malachi Fields to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
5Depth Chart CallsDarnell MooneyNew York Giants
Darnell Mooney to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
6Roster Spot CallsDarius SlaytonNew York Giants
Darius Slayton to make the roster
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Sam Monson · Game Outcome Picks · New York Giants · Miss 0
Monson picked every Week 10 game, taking the Giants, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Colts, Texans, Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, Seahawks, Rams, Cowboys, Bengals and Ravens, and also suggested the Chargers' only likely wins the rest of the way come against the Jets and Dolphins.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 23-14 on Thursday night and the Lions to beat the Patriots 30-24 in Munich.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders 20-14 on Thursday night and takes the Packers over the Vikings 17-14 in a low-scoring Week 10 game.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin picks the Giants to beat the Commanders at home on Thursday night, projecting a 20-14 final score.Pete Prisco · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Miss 36
Prisco picked the Giants to beat the Commanders at home in the Thursday night Week 10 game, 23-14, citing New York's dominant front seven containing Jayden Daniels.Jared Dubin · Score Predictions · New York Giants · Close 43
Dubin predicted final scores for seven Week 10 games, taking the Giants over the Commanders, the Lions, Chiefs, Packers, 49ers, Bengals and Ravens to win their respective matchups.
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.