Nick Shook· Aug 12, 2026
Shook's Week 1 2026 preseason NFL power rankings, ordering all 32 teams with the Rams first and the Dolphins last, plus assorted team- and player-level expectations embedded in the blurbs.
“There's no better time than now to sort out the order of power in the NFL.”
published in writing · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 7 depth chart calls, 2 surprise team calls, 1 playoff pick and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 6.
Where this call stands in the room
Kyler Murray · 2026 season11 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 2. Nick Shook 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 CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsAug 12, 2026
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“quickly signed Kyler Murray, who apparently just locked up the starting quarterback job”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart
“New head man Klint Kubiak has his veteran QB in Kirk Cousins to guide the team onto the highway before handing driving responsibilities to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas RaidersAug 12, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“New head man Klint Kubiak has his veteran QB in Kirk Cousins to guide the team onto the highway”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Patrick Mahomes to be 1st on the depth chart
“it seems like he's on track to start Week 1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsAug 12, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“In a very winnable division, I'm expecting these Saints to become one of the league's most pleasant surprises.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“That defense can carry the Texans to another playoff appearance”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake MillerDetroit LionsAug 12, 2026
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Rookie right tackle Blake Miller arrives with an increased responsibility as a projected starter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsDallas CowboysAug 12, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to beat expectations
“Dallas is my favorite under-the-radar title contender right now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 12, 2026
“Rank 1 Los Angeles Rams ... Rank 32 Miami Dolphins”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMalik WillisMiami DolphinsAug 12, 2026
Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart
“It's not an ideal time for Malik Willis to embrace his first opportunity as a full-time starting quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans SaintsAug 12, 2026
Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart
“this being the first season in which Moore has a defined starter in Tyler Shough”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms 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.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
- Steven RuizGame Outcome Picks · Las Vegas RaidersHit · 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.
- Nate TiceGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 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.
- 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.
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.
- Fox SportsDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Hit · 100Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay.
- 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.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners.