Thomas MartinezOct 11, 2026

Martinez projects the Chargers' Week 5 starting lineups on offense and defense against the Broncos, with a patchwork offensive line of backups and recent additions and a cornerback group thinned by injuries.

Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original

Waiting24 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 24Settled24 still waiting

24Waitingnot graded yet

What Thomas Martinez said

The Chargers will be sending out a makeshift offensive unit of backups and new roster additions to face off against the Denver Broncos.

Thomas Martinez, the lead quote

Where it was published: Sports Illustrated
The piece: Predicting Chargers' Starters vs Broncos for NFL Week 5: Is There Anyone Left Alive?
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

Box score, by kind

HitCloseMissWaiting

Group	Hits	Close	Misses	Waiting	Calls
Availability Calls	0	0	0	2
Depth Chart Calls	0	0	0	22
All	0	0	0	24

How each call scored

24 checkable claims — 22 depth chart calls and 2 availability calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

It names 24 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 11 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

Jake Slaughter · 2026 season

Thomas Martinez — 1the room — 18 calls from 16 punditsmedian 1

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.

Availability Calls2 waitingShow ▸

“Second-year offensive lineman Branson Taylor will make his 2026 debut against Denver (Week 5)”
Branson Taylor Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
“Cam Hart and Deane Leonard both logged a full practice on Friday and are set to play (Week 5 vs Broncos)”
Deane Leonard Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Depth Chart Calls22 waitingShow ▸

Jamaree Caldwell to be 1st on the depth chart
“Defensive tackle: Jamaree Caldwell”
Jamaree Caldwell Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Branson Taylor to be 1st on the depth chart
“Left tackle: Branson Taylor”
Branson Taylor Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Tony Jefferson to be 1st on the depth chart
“Safety: Tony Jefferson”
Tony Jefferson Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling to be 1st on the depth chart
“Wide receiver: Marquez Valdez-Scantling”
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart
“Running back: Omarion Hampton”
Omarion Hampton Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Del'Shawn Phillips to be 1st on the depth chart
“Linebacker: Del'Shawn Phillips”
Del'Shawn Phillips Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Tuli Tuipulotu to be 1st on the depth chart
“Edge rusher: Tuli Tuipulotu”
Tuli Tuipulotu Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Jake Slaughter to be 1st on the depth chart
“Center: Jake Slaughter (R)”
Jake Slaughter Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Logan Taylor to be 1st on the depth chart
“Left guard: Logan Taylor (R)”
Logan Taylor Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Khalil Mack to be 1st on the depth chart
“Edge rusher: Khalil Mack”
Khalil Mack Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Cole Strange to be 1st on the depth chart
“Right guard: Cole Strange”
Cole Strange Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Oronde Gadsden II to be 1st on the depth chart
“Tight end: Oronde Gadsden II”
Oronde Gadsden II Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
R.J. Mickens to be 1st on the depth chart
“Safety: RJ Mickens”
R.J. Mickens Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Cam Hart to be 1st on the depth chart
“Cornerback: Cam Hart”
Cam Hart Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Tre Harris to be 1st on the depth chart
“Wide receiver: Tre' Harris”
Tre Harris Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Elijah Molden to be 1st on the depth chart
“Nickelback: Elijah Molden”
Elijah Molden Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Teair Tart to be 1st on the depth chart
“Defensive tackle: Teair Tart”
Teair Tart Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Alec Ingold to be 1st on the depth chart
“Fullback: Alec Ingold”
Alec Ingold Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Travis Burke to be 1st on the depth chart
“Right tackle: Travis Burke (R)”
Travis Burke Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Tarheeb Still to be 1st on the depth chart
“Cornerback: Tarheeb Still”
Tarheeb Still Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Daiyan Henley to be 1st on the depth chart
“Linebacker: Daiyan Henley”
Daiyan Henley Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
Justin Herbert to be 1st on the depth chart
“Quarterback: Justin Herbert”
Justin Herbert Los Angeles Chargers
—Waiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Others on the same people

Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.
Tyler Sullivan · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Chargers · Miss 0
Sullivan flags five Week 9 underdogs they expect to pull upsets: the Packers at New England, the Vikings over Buffalo, the winless Chargers over Houston, the Panthers over Denver, and the Falcons over Cincinnati in Madrid.
Kevin Wildes · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Chargers · Miss 0
Wildes used their upset alert on the winless Chargers to beat the Rams.
Greg Auman · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Chargers · Miss 21
Auman predicts an all-Los Angeles Super Bowl with the Chargers beating the Rams 24-21.
Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Chargers · Miss 0
Nick Wright ran through their projected 2025 records for all 16 AFC teams, calling Baltimore a 13-win regular-season juggernaut, Houston a 12-win team with the league's best defense, and going under on the Jets, Bengals, Steelers and Chargers; they also picked the Chiefs' game-by-game schedule to 12-5 and said Buffalo wins the AFC East.
Eric Mangini · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Chargers · Miss 0
Mangini took the Titans to upset the Texans, and in the chips segment backed the Chargers to upset Denver, the Patriots over the Raiders, and the Rams over the Bills.

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.