Walter Cherepinsky· Aug 21, 2026
In preseason notes, he touts 49ers rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling as a top fantasy sleeper whose ADP should rise, calls rookie RB Kaelon Black a late-round sleeper who could start games if McCaffrey misses time, declares the Malik Benson hype over, and reads depth-chart signals: Tre Tucker as the Raiders' No. 1 receiver, Mike Washington behind Ashton Jeanty, and Woody Marks behind David Montgomery.
“49ers second-round rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling is one of our top fantasy sleepers.”
published in writing · Walter Football · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 sleeper call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 9 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 below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Mike Washington · 2026 season15 calls from 9 pundits between 1 and 2. Walter Cherepinsky 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.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
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Who this take is about
5 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.
Oronde Gadsden II to be 2nd on the depth chart
“He was the primary tight end in the Chargers' offense last year, but that's not going to be the case if the preseason is any indication.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Mike Washington to be 2nd on the depth chart
“if the Raiders were planning to give Washington a comparable workload to Jeanty, they wouldn't have used him so much in this meaningless game”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsWoody MarksHouston TexansAug 21, 2026
Woody Marks to be 2nd on the depth chart
“David Montgomery was nowhere to be seen, which means that Marks is clearly behind him.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Sleeper CallsKaelon BlackSan Francisco 49ersAug 21, 2026
Kaelon Black to outplay his draft cost (late-round)
“Black is looking better and better as a late-round sleeper who can potentially start several games this year if McCaffrey misses time.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTre TuckerLas Vegas RaidersAug 21, 2026
Tre Tucker to be 1st on the depth chart
“The fact that Nailor played and Tucker sat with the other starters means that Tucker is likely the No. 1 receiver in Las Vegas.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- Mike TannenbaumTrade and Signing Calls · Stefon DiggsMiss · 0Tannenbaum argues the Chiefs should lean on the run game early while Mahomes recovers, says the Bills haven't done enough at receiver and would repeat their playoff shortcoming, expects AJ Brown to have a massive impact in New England, thinks George Pickens will earn a big raise, and offers free-agent fits: Deebo Samuel to Buffalo, Joey Bosa to Tampa Bay, Taylor Decker to Houston, and Stefon Diggs to San Francisco.
- 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.
- Nick ShookMock Draft Picks · Fernando MendozaHit · 100Shook 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.
- Scott BogmanMock Draft Picks · Olaivavega IoaneClose · 71He gave David Bailey to Tennessee at 4, Sonny Styles to Washington at 7, Caleb Downs to Cincinnati at 10, Carnell Tate to the Rams at 13, Denzel Boston to the Jets at 16, Kayden McDonald to Carolina at 19, Vega Ioane to the Chargers at 22, Peter Woods to Chicago at 25, Emmanuel Pregnon to Houston at 28 and Romello Height to Denver at 31, and insisted both Bailey and Downs are top-10 locks.
- Nick ShookTrade and Signing Calls · Breece HallMiss · 0Shook names Breece Hall, Jakobi Meyers and David Njoku as trade candidates, suggesting Hall could land with the Chargers and that the Raiders will move Meyers as sellers.
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.