Zachary Pereles· Aug 31, 2026
A CBS Sports winners-and-losers column projects De'Zhaun Stribling as an immediate starter in San Francisco, forecasts a big season for Bo Nix and the Broncos offense, predicts Shedeur Sanders will play at some point this season for Cleveland, and expects Aaron Donald to still be a star and Nnamdi Madubuike to return early in the season.
“It's all adding up for a big year for Nix.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 4.
Where this call stands in the room
Shedeur Sanders · 2026 season27 calls from 22 pundits between 1 and 2. Zachary Pereles 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.
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Who this take is about
6 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.
Nnamdi Madubuike to make the roster
“the best news is Nnamdi Madubuike, who has worked his way back from a career-threatening neck injury to be in line to play early this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland BrownsAug 31, 2026
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
“Shedeur Sanders will get his shot this year, whether it's due to Deshaun Watson's performance or a potential injury.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas RaidersAug 31, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Kirk Cousins looked solid in the preseason, which should give Mendoza even more time.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta FalconsAug 31, 2026
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Falcons haven't had much of an opportunity to remove him from QB1 status”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to be 1st on the depth chart
“with Ricky Pearsall out for the season, he is likely to step in as a starter right away”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Kirk Cousins looked solid in the preseason, which should give Mendoza even more time. But those "he should start immediately" thoughts? Let's reassess in six weeks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Baltimore RavensHit · 98Simms 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.
- 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 · Baltimore RavensHit · 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.
- Richie BradshawScore Predictions · San Francisco 49ersHit · 83Bradshaw picks the 49ers to beat the Cardinals in their Week 3 matchup, predicting a final score of 27-14 in San Francisco's favor.
- Tracy SandlerGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Sandler predicted Caleb Williams would miss two to three weeks with his hamstring injury, and in the picks segment took the Broncos, Ravens, Vikings, Bills and Bears (switching off an earlier Tampa pick).
- Carmen VitaliGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100In the show's weekly picks segment Vitali took the Broncos over the Rams, the Ravens over the Cowboys in Rio, Tampa at home over Minnesota, the Bills over the Chargers and the Eagles on the road in Chicago. She also agreed that Caleb Williams would be out roughly two to three weeks.
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.
- 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.
- Bradley LockerDepth Chart Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland.
- Bill HuberDepth Chart Calls · Chris McClellanMiss · 0Huber's first Packers rookie progress report projects second-round cornerback Brandon Cisse to hold onto his spot with the No. 1 defense, third-round defensive tackle Chris McClellan to start in Week 1, and fifth-round lineman Jager Burton to be the team's top interior backup rather than a starter.
- Rich HribarDepth Chart Calls · Malik WillisHit · 100Hribar previews the Week 1 Dolphins-Raiders game, calling Malik Willis a strong floor-based QB2 for fantasy, noting Kirk Cousins is the Raiders' starter and not a Week 1 streamer in 1QB leagues, and listing expected defensive starters for both teams.
- Randy GurziDepth Chart Calls · Jadarian PriceHit · 100Gurzi suggests the Seahawks could sign three free agents — safety Donovan Wilson, guard Kevin Zeitler, and running back Kareem Hunt — if weaknesses show up after Week 1. He also notes Trevon Diggs starting on the practice squad and describes Seattle's projected backfield roles.