Bradley Locker· Aug 18, 2026
An unsigned PFF piece on preseason Week 1 standouts projects several depth-chart outcomes, naming expected starters in New Orleans, Baltimore and Las Vegas while suggesting rookies Malachi Fields and Matthew Hibner will climb into No. 2 roles for the Giants and Ravens.
“The Saints figure to start Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley at boundary corner to begin the season.”
published in writing · Pro Football Focus · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 8 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 12 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Malachi Fields · 2026 season10 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 3. Bradley Locker said 2. the room's median is 2. 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
8 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 CallsMatthew HibnerBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Matthew Hibner to be 2nd on the depth chart
“The SMU product Hibner has made a good case already to supplant Durham Smythe as the team's No. 2 option.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMarlon HumphreyBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Marlon Humphrey to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Ravens seem to have their starting cornerbacks set in Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsNate WigginsBaltimore RavensAug 18, 2026
Nate Wiggins to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Ravens seem to have their starting cornerbacks set in Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kool-Aid McKinstry to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Saints figure to start Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley at boundary corner to begin the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMalachi FieldsNew York GiantsAug 18, 2026
Malachi Fields to be 2nd on the depth chart
“The third-round pick caught two contested catches in his preseason debut and might be New York's WR2.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsQuincy RileyNew Orleans SaintsAug 18, 2026
Quincy Riley to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Saints figure to start Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley at boundary corner to begin the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKolton MillerLas Vegas RaidersAug 18, 2026
Kolton Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Las Vegas projects to start Kolton Miller and D.J. Glaze at tackle to begin the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDJ GlazeLas Vegas RaidersAug 18, 2026
DJ Glaze to be 1st on the depth chart
“Las Vegas projects to start Kolton Miller and D.J. Glaze at tackle to begin the season.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Fernando Alfaro-DonisTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Argues the Raiders' weakest spot is their receiver room, expects Jalen Nailor to take a big step forward in Klint Kubiak's scheme with Kirk Cousins starting before Fernando Mendoza takes over, and suggests Las Vegas should trade a mid-round pick for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who would immediately become their top option.
- Brandon CarneyTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Carney drafted a team of rookies he expects to make an immediate fantasy impact (headlined by Karnell Tate and Makai Lemon), predicted landing spots for the remaining big-name free agents, and gave way-too-early division winners, wild cards and award picks — Patriots, Chargers, Bengals, Jaguars, Eagles, Rams, Vikings and Saints as division champs with Joe Burrow as MVP.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Baltimore RavensClose · 58In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · New York GiantsHit · 100Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
- Jared DubinGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Dubin is high on the Ravens and low on the Colts, predicting a big Baltimore road win.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.