Scott Kennedy· Sep 6, 2026
Kennedy lays out five things that must go right for Atlanta in 2026, including a healthy Bijan Robinson carrying the offense with Brian Robinson Jr. handling short-yardage work, and a receiver room he views as Drake London plus a group of complementary No. 3-caliber options.
“On paper, it looks like the Falcons have Drake London and three No. 3 receivers.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 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 2 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Zachariah Branch · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 4. Scott Kennedy said 3. the room's median is 2. 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.
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Who this take is about
4 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 CallsJahan DotsonAtlanta FalconsSep 6, 2026
Jahan Dotson to be 3rd on the depth chart
“On paper, it looks like the Falcons have Drake London and three No. 3 receivers. ... But Branch and Dotson have an opportunity to prove they can be more this year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDrake LondonAtlanta FalconsSep 6, 2026
Drake London to be 1st on the depth chart
“On paper, it looks like the Falcons have Drake London and three No. 3 receivers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Zachariah Branch to be 3rd on the depth chart
“On paper, it looks like the Falcons have Drake London and three No. 3 receivers.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Brian Robinson to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Brian Robinson Jr. will still likely take the brunt of the short-yardage carries, saving wear-and-tear on Robinson, but make no mistake, the Falcons' offense runs through Bijan Robinson.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Jaime EisnerMock Draft Picks · Darrell JacksonMiss · 35A seven-round Falcons mock draft projecting Atlanta's five 2026 picks: CB Brandon Cisse at No. 48, IDL Darrell Jackson Jr. at No. 79, WR Brenen Thompson at No. 112, EDGE Mason Reiger at No. 215, and LB Shad Banks Jr. at No. 231. It also expects Cisse to go inside the top 50 and Jackson to be an immediate early-down contributor.
- Keith SanchezMock Draft Picks · Malachi LawrenceMiss · 34In his final 2026 NFL mock draft, Sanchez projects the full first round plus several second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Raiders.
- Jaime EisnerMock Draft Picks · Zachariah BranchMiss · 26In a "What I Would Do" 2026 NFL mock draft, Eisner assigns first-round selections for all 32 picks plus several early second-round picks, starting with Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1.
- Bucky BrooksMock Draft Picks · Zachariah BranchMiss · 8Bucky Brooks walked through his full first-round mock draft (NFL.com), pick by pick from the Raiders at No. 1 through Seattle at No. 32, including Fernando Mendoza first overall, Ty Simpson to the Rams at 29, and Keldric Faulk to Dallas at 20. He also graded Faulk as a fringe first-rounder outside the top 20, and predicted the Titans would move on from Calvin Ridley.
- Ross JacksonMock Draft Picks · Zachariah BranchClose · 77In a seven-round Saints mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft, Ross Jackson has Ohio State safety Caleb Downs falling to New Orleans at No. 8 overall after two quarterbacks go 1-2, then lays out picks at 42, 73, round four, 137, 148, 170 and 189.
- Kyle CrabbsMock Draft Picks · Walter NolenHit · 96In his final 2025 NFL mock draft, Crabbs projects all 32 first-round picks, starting with Cam Ward to the Titans at No. 1 and Travis Hunter to the Browns at No. 2, and including projected trades involving the Bears/Jaguars and a Giants move back into the late first round for Jaxson Dart.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Garrett PodellDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Case KeenumHit · 100With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3.
- 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 · Aaron JonesHit · 100In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco.
- Matt SeveranceDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2.