# Rich Eisen: Eisen predicted Deshaun Watson would be Cleveland's Week 1 starter, that Daniel Jones would start Week 1 for the Colts with Anthony Richardson eventually moved on from, and agreed that Justin Herbert finishes top three in MVP voting and that Denver is the AFC's top team for 2026.

**Claimed:** May 11, 2026
**Pundit:** Rich Eisen — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/rich-eisen
**Outlet:** Overreaction Monday (podcast) — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/overreaction-monday-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ESP2658594905.mp3?updated=1778517441

5 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 award pick, 1 conference champion and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 8 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.

> I think Deshaun Watson's the week one starter.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Justin Herbert to win MVP**
  - Kind: Award Picks · About: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Anthony Richardson to move to Indianapolis Colts**
  - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Daniel Jones to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Deshaun Watson to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Denver Broncos to reach the Super Bowl**
  - Kind: Conference Champions · About: Denver Broncos
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Justin Herbert — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/justin-herbert
- Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers
- Anthony Richardson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/anthony-richardson
- Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/colts
- Daniel Jones — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/daniel-jones
- Deshaun Watson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/deshaun-watson
- Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns
- Denver Broncos — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/broncos

## What others said about the same people

- Thomas Martinez on Patrick Herbert: Martinez projects the Chargers' starting lineups on offense and defense for their Week 3 game at Buffalo, with injuries forcing several changes — Oronde Gadsden II at tight end, Trevor Penning at left guard, Jamaree Caldwell at defensive tackle and RJ Mickens at safety — while expecting Ladd McConkey to play and Marquez Valdez-Scantling to debut. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/bcc0c9e2-6313-45af-bc99-f1cd46806da6 (scored 0)
- Chad Jensen on Jonah Coleman: Jensen expects the Broncos to sign fullback Adam Prentice to the active 53-man roster early the following week rather than risk losing him on waivers, with a corresponding cut coming Monday. He also anticipates Denver will clear a roster spot for Jonah Coleman once the running back's four-game IR stint ends around Week 7. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/660f418e-5ec3-4df4-a4f3-1f4221b7a451 (scored 0)
- Noah Compton on Caden Curry: After the Colts' preseason finale loss to Detroit, Compton projected several roster and depth-chart outcomes: Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback, rookie A.J. Haulcy as the starting strong safety, Seth McGowan as the backup running back, and rookie defensive ends George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry making the initial 53-man roster, while receiver Deion Burks appears likely to be cut. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/fa7eba23-4322-47d7-b21e-7adb82e6b325 (scored 100)
- Nick Pedone on Isaiah Bond: Previewing the Browns' preseason finale, Pedone says five receivers — Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Isaiah Bond and Tylan Wallace — are very likely to make Cleveland's 53-man roster, leaving one final spot open for Luke Floriea and others. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/b7401a6b-fdaf-4d71-84f3-d96262d88dcd (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Laquon Treadwell: PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Laquon Treadwell: PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/22a4578b-eb92-41d2-820b-1a7eaa2e4e2f (scored 100)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)
- Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0)
- Bradley Locker on Carson Wentz: PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a3716f21-0488-4fc8-a414-c25c2d781a6e (scored 100)
- Tyler Sullivan on Michael Penix Jr.: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/1000d8d0-5de1-405e-b8ce-255cde75a32d (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Rashod Bateman: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6218d3c2-61e7-4ace-9976-b51eeefdf22c (scored 0)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology

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