# Scott Kennedy: Kennedy lays out five things that must go right for Atlanta in 2026, including a healthy Bijan Robinson carrying the offense with Brian Robinson Jr. handling short-yardage work, and a receiver room he views as Drake London plus a group of complementary No. 3-caliber options.

**Claimed:** Sep 6, 2026
**Pundit:** Scott Kennedy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/scott-kennedy
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/onsi/5-crucial-things-that-must-go-right-for-falcons-to-break-playoff-drought

4 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls — 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.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 2 and below it on 2.

> On paper, it looks like the Falcons have Drake London and three No. 3 receivers.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Jahan Dotson to be 3rd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jahan Dotson, Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Brian Robinson to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Brian Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Drake London to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Zachariah Branch to be 3rd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Zachariah Branch, Atlanta Falcons
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Jahan Dotson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jahan-dotson
- Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/falcons
- Brian Robinson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brian-robinson
- Drake London — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drake-london
- Zachariah Branch — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/zachariah-branch

## What others said about the same people

- Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0)
- Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0)
- John Breech on Tua Tagovailoa: The unsigned Pick Six newsletter expects Seth McLaughlin to step into the Lions' starting center job with Cade Mays injured, and suggests Tua Tagovailoa is on track to be Atlanta's Week 1 starting quarterback. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/a040e9f9-5016-4dce-b2b3-a4c411e950f5 (scored 0)
- Matt Okada on Tua Tagovailoa: In a PPR-framed fantasy draft guide, Okada makes a few non-fantasy claims: rookie Jeremiyah Love will be Arizona's featured back despite being listed as RB2, Tua Tagovailoa will be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, and Kyler Murray will open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8ada4169-6627-4730-a98d-6869382735d2 (scored 0)
- theScore on Tua Tagovailoa: theScore's staff power rankings for all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/24fe7834-99fc-43fe-a5c1-5de6d46c8cd5 (scored 0)
- Mike Fanelli on Tua Tagovailoa: Fanelli ranks all 32 NFL teams for 2026 fantasy purposes, with the Bengals first and the Dolphins last, and makes assorted calls including Joe Burrow winning Comeback Player of the Year, Drake Maye leading the league in passing touchdowns, various starting-role and depth-chart projections, plus sleepers (Godwin, Travis Hunter, Jonathon Brooks) and a bust call on De'Von Achane. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2c6f6ca7-2193-4aef-8a62-e4a7f535b80a (scored 0)

## More depth chart calls

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

- Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100)
- Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0)
- Nathan Jahnke on Jalen Tolbert: 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 0)
- Emmett Matasovsky on Christian Izien: Matasovsky 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9715ee92-1646-4ee4-8911-e3e4cbae9027 (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

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=scott-kennedy
