Jordan Vanek· Nov 9, 2023
Vanek ranks the NFL's top 24 wide receivers at the 2023 midseason, with Tyreek Hill first, and adds that Ja'Marr Chase will eventually become the league's best receiver and that Tee Higgins is one of the best No. 2 receivers in football.
“Chase is close to surpassing Jefferson and will eventually be the best wide receiver in the NFL.”
published in writing · The 33rd Team · read the original (as archived Apr 24, 2024) → · live page
4 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 positional finishe and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
All 4 have settled, averaging 65.8 out of 100, against 75 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Their call against what happened
2They said
3What happened
Their call against what actually happened.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
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.
Tee Higgins to be 2nd on the depth chart
“He is one of the best No. 2 receivers in football.”
Hit · 92Scored 91.67a naive guess scored 91.67+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CIN
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Tee Higgins
- season:
- 2023
- accuracy:
- 91.67
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- WR
- naive slot:
- 2
- actual slot:
- 3
- difficulty:
- 1.5
- measured by:
- receptions
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 9
DeVonta Smith to be 2nd on the depth chart
“DeVonta Smith is the second-best receiver on his team but could be a No. 1 option elsewhere.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 91.67+12.5 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 12.5
- player:
- DeVonta Smith
- season:
- 2023
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 91.67
- position:
- WR
- naive slot:
- 1
- actual slot:
- 2
- difficulty:
- 1.5
- measured by:
- receptions
- the naive guess:
- where he sat last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- predicted slot:
- 2
- weeks left when called:
- 9
- Top Player ListsNov 9, 2023
“This article attempts to account for all those factors when ranking the league's top 24 wide receivers. NFL's Top 24 Wide Receivers”
Close · 63Scored 63.17a naive guess scored 50+19.76 skillHow this was scored
- naive:
- a coin-flip ordering scores 50
- skill:
- 19.76
- placed:
- 24
- season:
- 2023
- players:
- 24
- accuracy:
- 63.17
- baseline:
- 50
- by position:
- WR 24: 63.17
- difficulty:
- 1.5
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- could not place:
- 0
- weeks left when called:
- 9
Ja'Marr Chase to finish top 1 at his position, by receiving yards
“Chase is close to surpassing Jefferson and will eventually be the best wide receiver in the NFL.”
Miss · 8Scored 8.33a naive guess scored 66.67-87.5 skillHow this was scored
- skill:
- -87.5
- player:
- Ja'Marr Chase
- season:
- 2023
- zero at:
- 12
- accuracy:
- 8.33
- baseline:
- 66.67
- position:
- WR
- ranked by:
- receiving yards
- difficulty:
- 1.5
- the naive guess:
- where he finished last season
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- naive finish:
- 16
- actual finish:
- 12
- weeks left when called:
- 9
- predicted finish:
- 1
What others said about the same people
- Rich EisenTrade and Signing Calls · A.J. BrownHit · 100Eisen delivered his SoFi-presented power rankings of the 2026 NFL draftees most likely to live up to their billing, counting down from Mekhi Lemmon at No. 10 to Jeremiah Love at No. 1. He also predicted the Eagles will trade A.J. Brown and picked three NFC South teams to go over their win totals.
- Nick ShookMock Draft Picks · Jermod McCoyMiss · 2Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three.
- Carmen VitaliTrade and Signing Calls · Trey HendricksonHit · 100Vitally pegs Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles as probably a top-five pick in this year's draft, and expects the Bengals to lose Trey Hendrickson in free agency.
- Justin PenikTrade and Signing Calls · Zack BaunMiss · 0Pennock predicted Sam Darnold to Pittsburgh, Zach Baun re-signing in Philadelphia, Charvarius Ward and Jamien Sherwood to Washington, Cam Robinson to Chicago as left tackle, Cam Bynum to the Jets, Darius Slayton to the Chargers, Aaron Jones back to Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers to the Giants.
- Gregg RosenthalTrade and Signing Calls · Tee HigginsMiss · 0Rosenthal called Alabama linebacker Jihad Campbell a first-round pick, said Trey Smith and Tee Higgins will not reach free agency, and predicted Matthew Stafford ends up with either the Raiders or Rams rather than the Giants.
- Manti Te'oTrade and Signing Calls · Trey HendricksonMiss · 0Te'o predicted Trey Hendrickson would return to Cincinnati, while arguing the Bengals' contract priority should be their two wide receivers.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100An unsigned CBS Sports preseason review grading all 32 teams, which along the way stakes out a number of depth-chart calls for Week 1 and beyond — including Deshaun Watson opening as Cleveland's starter, Fernando Mendoza taking over as Las Vegas' QB1 by season's end, and Minnesota's Murray-Wentz-McCarthy quarterback order.
- Ryan WilsonDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100A CBS Sports piece states Deshaun Watson has won Cleveland's starting quarterback job for Week 1 with Shedeur Sanders next in line, while arguing Watson will not play like even an average NFL quarterback and that none of the Browns' current young passers should stop them from drafting a first-round quarterback next April.
- Rafael ZamoranoDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Zamorano argues the Browns do not have a franchise quarterback and that it's unlikely Watson or Sanders is their long-term answer.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The unsigned newsletter author says Deshaun Watson will start Week 1 at Jacksonville, notes he voted for Jaxson Dart as his breakout QB rather than Caleb Williams, and says newly signed Daniel Carlson is the favorite to win the Saints' kicking job.
- Mark ChichesterDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100Unsigned PFF piece reporting/asserting that Deshaun Watson will be Cleveland's Week 1 starting quarterback against Jacksonville, with Shedeur Sanders behind him on the depth chart.
- Zachary PerelesDepth Chart Calls · Deshaun WatsonHit · 100The unsigned recap argues Sanders clearly outplayed Watson and, even if Sanders isn't named the Week 1 starter, predicts both quarterbacks will see significant playing time in 2026.