Noah StrackbeinOct 15, 2026
Strackbein reports the Steelers' receiver situation ahead of Week 6 and predicts Germie Bernard and DK Metcalf start against Tampa Bay, with practice squad receiver Brandon Smith likely to be signed to the 53-man roster if Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. are out long-term.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Noah Strackbein said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromIf Wilson and Pittman Jr. are both out long-term, Smith is likely to be signed to the 53-man roster after his three practice squad elevations.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Source: Steelers Hosting WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidOct 15
- GradedOct 16
- 1Brandon Smith to land on the practice squad“If Wilson and Pittman Jr. are both out long-term, Smith is likely to be signed to the 53-man roster after his three practice squad elevations.”
- 2Germie Bernard to be 1st on the depth chart“Germie Bernard and DK Metcalf are expected to start”
- 3DK Metcalf to be 1st on the depth chart“Germie Bernard and DK Metcalf are expected to start, with practice squaders Brandon Smith, Brandon Johnson and Isaiah Hodgins potentially getting the call-up to play against the Buccaneers.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Smith to land on the practice squad1 | Roster Spot Calls | 1 week on a 53 | 0 | 100 | −172 | |
| Germie Bernard to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| DK Metcalf to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 1 miss · 2 waiting | 0 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — 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.
1 of 3 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
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
DK Metcalf · 2026 season7 calls from 6 pundits between 1 and 2. Noah Strackbein 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.
1Roster Spot CallsBrandon SmithPittsburgh Steelers
Brandon Smith to land on the practice squad
What happened1 week on a 530Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×1.72difficulty=−172skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- PIT
- skill:
- −172
- player:
- Brandon Smith
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he lands on the practice squad
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 1.72
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 13
- first week on the53:
- 5
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 5
2Depth Chart CallsGermie BernardPittsburgh Steelers
Germie Bernard to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsDK MetcalfPittsburgh Steelers
DK Metcalf to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Bryan DeArdo · Trade and Signing Calls · Joey Porter Jr. · Miss 0
The piece predicts Joey Porter Jr. most likely stays with the Steelers through 2026, while listing possible trade destinations if they were moved.Bryan DeArdo · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 60
DeArdo picks the Steelers to beat the Browns at home in Week 8, citing Pittsburgh's quarterback edge and a running game that should exploit Cleveland's weak run defense.Greg Jennings · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Jennings backed the Vikings to upset the Lions in Detroit, put chips on the Steelers over the Browns, and took the Chiefs to win in Denver.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Pittsburgh Steelers · Close 74
Simms gave straight-up winners with predicted final scores for every Week 8 game, including upset calls on the Ravens in Buffalo, the Broncos over the Chiefs, the Jets over the Raiders and the Seahawks over the Bears, and they expected Josh Downs to play for the Colts despite their trade request.James Harrison · Game Outcome Picks · Pittsburgh Steelers · Hit 100
Harrison picked the Steelers to beat the Browns in their Sunday meeting, saying Pittsburgh would even the season series at 1-1 after losing the first matchup.
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.