Nick Shook#67 of 87 NFL pundits · 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.
Published in writingRead the original
What Nick Shook said
There's no better time than now to sort out the order of power in the NFL.
- The piece
- NFL Power Rankings: Rams enter preseason on top; Seahawks at No. 3, Patriots outside top 10
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playoff Picks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Surprise Team Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Power Rankings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Depth Chart Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
How each call scored
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 call.
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.
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
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season29 calls from 25 pundits between 1 and 2. Nick Shook said 2. 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 record
Their call against what actually happened last time. Not yet settled.
Playoff Picks1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“That defense can carry the Texans to another playoff appearance”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Surprise Team Calls2 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Dallas Cowboys to beat expectations
“Dallas is my favorite under-the-radar title contender right now.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Power Rankings1 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
“Rank 1 Los Angeles Rams ... Rank 32 Miami Dolphins”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Depth Chart Calls7 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Patrick Mahomes to be 1st on the depth chart
“it seems like he's on track to start Week 1”
—WaitingNot 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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“quickly signed Kyler Murray, who apparently just locked up the starting quarterback job”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart
“this being the first season in which Moore has a defined starter in Tyler Shough”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
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”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Rookie right tackle Blake Miller arrives with an increased responsibility as a projected starter”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders, Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins, Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings, Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints, Kirk Cousins, Blake Miller, Detroit Lions
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.Gilberto Manzano · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Previewing the trade deadline, he expects Justin Herbert to stay in Los Angeles despite the Chargers' 0–7 start, thinks the Jets will keep Garrett Wilson and pair him with their young weapons, expects a receiver-hungry Kansas City to be aggressive with Josh Downs the likeliest target, and suggests expiring Eagles contracts Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen could be dealt for mid-round picks.
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.