Christian Booher· Sep 12, 2026
Previewing the Lions' season opener against the Saints, Booher lays out the expected starting lineup changes: rookie Blake Miller starting at right tackle, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and Jahmyr Gibbs as the unquestioned lead back after David Montgomery's departure.
“The Lions will be turning things over to Blake Miller on the offensive line, as the rookie will make his first career start at right tackle.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 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
Blake Miller · 2026 season15 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 1. Christian Booher 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.
Their call against the room
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Who this take is about
3 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 CallsTate RatledgeDetroit LionsSep 12, 2026
Tate Ratledge to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Lions seem set with Tate Ratledge as the starting right guard, but the left side is unsettled heading into the game.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJahmyr GibbsDetroit LionsSep 12, 2026
Jahmyr Gibbs to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Lions traded away David Montgomery this offseason, cementing Jahmyr Gibbs as the primary option in the backfield for the first time in his career.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake MillerDetroit LionsSep 12, 2026
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Lions will be turning things over to Blake Miller on the offensive line, as the rookie will make his first career start at right tackle.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Emmett MatasovskyDepth Chart Calls · Christian IzienMiss · 0Matasovsky says Dobbs is currently leading the backup quarterback race and suggests Christian Izien may be pressed into a starting safety role in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab.
- Pete PriscoGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Detroit LionsHit · 100Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
- Matt DeryScore Predictions · Detroit LionsHit · 93Derry predicted a Lions win over the Saints by a 24-20 score, with the Saints covering the 7.5-point spread.
- Ross JacksonScore Predictions · Detroit LionsHit · 86Jackson predicted the Lions beat the Saints 27-20 in Week 1, and separately said he expects New Orleans to start 0-2 while still being a playoff-caliber team.
- Mitchell EisensteinScore Predictions · Detroit LionsClose · 79Mitchell picked the Lions to beat the Saints at home, 34-24.
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.