Zachary PerelesAug 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.

Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original

Waiting6 calls, none settled yet

—Average accuracynothing settled yet

—A naive guessthe same calls, no knowledge

0 of 6Settled6 still waiting

6Waitingnot graded yet

What Zachary Pereles said

our reading, beside the words we read it from

It's all adding up for a big year for Nix.

Zachary Pereles, the lead quote · each call’s own words are below

Where it was published: CBS Sports
The piece: NFL winners and losers from preseason: Fernando Mendoza falls behind as Rams strengthen Super Bowl candidacy
The original: Read the original
Read it wrong?: Tell us and we will look

1Fernando 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.”
2Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart“The Falcons haven't had much of an opportunity to remove him from QB1 status”
3Shedeur 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.”
4Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart“Kirk Cousins looked solid in the preseason, which should give Mendoza even more time.”
5De'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”
6Nnamdi Madubuike — “in line to play early this season”“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”

Box score

HitCloseMissWaiting

Call	Kind	What happened	Score	Naive	Skill
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart¹	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart²	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart³	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart⁴	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
De'Zhaun Stribling to be 1st on the depth chart⁵	Depth Chart Calls	—	—	—	—
Nnamdi Madubuike — “in line to play early this season”⁶	Roster Spot Calls	—	—	—	—
6 calls · 6 waiting			—	—

How each call scored

6 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.

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.

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 season

Zachary Pereles — 2the room — 34 calls from 28 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.

Their call against the room

2They said

1The room (55 pundits)

Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.

1Depth Chart Calls Fernando Mendoza Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
2Depth Chart Calls Tua Tagovailoa Atlanta Falcons
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
3Depth Chart Calls Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
4Depth Chart Calls Kirk Cousins Las Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
5Depth Chart Calls De'Zhaun Stribling San Francisco 49ers
De'Zhaun Stribling to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?
6Roster Spot Calls Nnamdi Madubuike Baltimore Ravens
Nnamdi Madubuike — “in line to play early this season”
VerdictWaiting
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Think this is wrong?

Who this take is about

Where do you stand on this one?Pick every open claim on Picks →

Others on the same people

Parker Hurley · Roster Spot Calls · Khalid Kareem · Miss 0
Hurley predicts the 49ers will release Khalil Kareem when Nate Hobbs is activated and cut Brandin Cooks when C.J. West returns, while arguing Sebastian Valdez won't be the one let go and no cornerback will be cut.
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.
Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Lazarczyk expects the Raiders to be sellers before the trade deadline, suggesting Kirk Cousins could be dealt back to the Vikings and that benched interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson is a prime candidate to be traded somewhere.
Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero laid out the Giants' quarterback situation with Jameis Winston starting, said Jayden Daniels likely won't be back when Washington plays the Giants and that Caleb Williams is unlikely to play Monday night, and floated Joey Porter Jr. landing in Dallas and Kirk Cousins being traded in-season.
Tom Pelissero · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Pelissero expects the Raiders to draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, and says Kirk Cousins will be released March 11 while Tua Tagovailoa will be released before March 13 if Miami can't trade them.
Alex Curry · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Curry expects Fernando Mendoza to be taken No. 1 overall by the Raiders and to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately, and they say Kirk Cousins will be released by Atlanta within weeks.

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.
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.
Jacob Herlin · Depth Chart Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter.
Donnie Druin · Depth Chart Calls · Jacoby Brissett · Hit 100
Following the Cardinals' decision not to make staff or lineup changes, Druin states that Jacoby Brissett will remain Arizona's starting quarterback for another week, with rookie Carson Beck staying behind them.
Jordan Dajani · Depth Chart Calls · Drew Kendall · Miss 0
Dajani expects Cam Jurgens to move back to center as the Ravens' starter after the trade, and projects a rebuilt Eagles offensive line for Week 5 with Jordan Mailata, Willie Lampkin, Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell starting from left tackle to right tackle.