Rich Eisen· Mar 16, 2026
Eisen agrees the Panthers win the NFC South and finish above .500, insists Kyler Murray will win the Vikings' starting job over JJ McCarthy, and endorses Bijan Robinson as the No. 1 overall fantasy draft pick.
“A guy who's in entering year eight with two Pro Bowl seasons and damn near 90 starts in his career under his belt is gonna beat out somebody like JJ McCarthy because of his rawness.”
said on air, transcribed by us · Overreaction Monday (podcast) · read the original →
4 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 division winner, 1 fantasy ranking and 1 season win total — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
Where this call stands in the room
Kyler Murray · 2026 season53 calls from 39 pundits between 1 and 2. Rich Eisen 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
4 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.
- Division WinnersCarolina PanthersMar 16, 2026
Carolina Panthers to win the division
“They're gonna win the South next year. I don't think that's an overreaction at all.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsMar 16, 2026
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“then then he's going to be the starter. He's gonna be the guy. ... is gonna beat out somebody like JJ McCarthy because of his rawness.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Fantasy RankingsMar 16, 2026
“Bijan is your number one overall fantasy draft choice. I believe so.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Season Win TotalsCarolina PanthersMar 16, 2026
Carolina Panthers to finish with ? wins
“that should get them above 500 at the very least”
Too vague to check — we could not tell what would count as right.
What others said about the same people
- Fox SportsRoster Spot Calls · J.J. McCarthyHit · 100FOX Sports projects Kyle McCord as Miami's backup behind starter Malik Willis, Mitchell Trubisky as Tennessee's primary backup behind starter Cam Ward, and J.J. McCarthy making the Vikings' 53-man roster.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2.
- Nathan JahnkeRoster Spot Calls · Carson WentzHit · 100PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a series of depth-chart, roster and usage projections based on final-week preseason snap counts, including Ja'Kobi Lane locking down the Ravens' third receiver role, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Kyle Pitts facing reduced 12-personnel usage, Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2 and Emmett Johnson as the Chiefs' backup running back.
- Trevor RipleyRoster Spot Calls · Jacob ThomasHit · 100Ripley expects UDFA safety Jacob Thomas to earn a roster spot with the Vikings after a strong preseason showing, believes Jay Ward will start opposite Metellus, and thinks Theo Jackson's roster spot is safe despite losing his starting job.
- Tom JensenRoster Spot Calls · T.J. HockensonMiss · 0NFL.com published a list of players it expects to be released by cutdown day, headlined by tight ends Dawson Knox, T.J. Hockenson and Cole Kmet.
- Zach RobertsRoster Spot Calls · Aaron HallHit · 100Previewing the Panthers' Hall of Fame Game, Roberts predicts Kenny Pickett starts but plays sparingly with Haynes King getting extensive work, and projects UDFA receiver Ja'Seem Reed and defensive lineman Aaron Hall to make the final 53-man roster.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- 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.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Rashod BatemanMiss · 0In his Week 2 waiver wire column, Fitzmaurice recommends a slate of pickups he expects to outperform their current rostership (Kaelon Black, Deebo Samuel, Tyler Shough, Geno Smith and others), lays out several depth-chart expectations (Black as the 49ers' No. 2 back, Shedeur Sanders eventually taking over in Cleveland, Penix returning for Atlanta), and flags Fool's Gold/drop candidates such as Mike Gesicki, Kendrick Bourne and Rashid Shaheed.