Chris Roling· Sep 13, 2026
Roling predicts a lopsided Chargers home win over the Cardinals in Week 1, 30-10, and advises starting Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton in fantasy while sitting Ladd McConkey.
“Prediction: Chargers 30, Cardinals 10”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call, 1 fantasy bust call, 1 positional finishe, 1 score prediction and 1 sleeper call — 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.
1 of 5 have settled so far, averaging 31 out of 100, against 20.2 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1.
Where this call stands in the room
Omarion Hampton · 2026 season13 calls from 12 pundits between 1 and 1. Chris Roling 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.
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Who this take is about
The game in this take
- Cardinals at Chargers 23 calls
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.
- Score PredictionsLos Angeles ChargersSep 13, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers 30 — Cardinals 10
“Prediction: Chargers 30, Cardinals 10”
Miss · 31Scored 30.95a naive guess scored 20.16+21.59 skillHow this was scored
- score:
- 26-14
- skill:
- 21.59
- they picked:
- LAC
- season:
- 2026
- accuracy:
- 30.95
- baseline:
- 20.16
- difficulty:
- 2
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- actual margin:
- 12
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- naive home margin:
- -0.53
- predicted margin:
- 20
- Sleeper CallsOmarion HamptonLos Angeles ChargersSep 13, 2026
Omarion Hampton to outplay his draft cost
“Here comes the workhorse... There's no competition to take snaps from him, either... Verdict: Start”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Ladd McConkey to fall short of his draft cost
“This one hurts, but avoid McConkey for now... Verdict: Sit”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart
“There's no competition to take snaps from him, either, with the McDaniel addition of Keaton Mitchell already battling a small injury this week.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justin Herbert to finish top 12 at his position, by fantasy points
“he's a borderline matchup-proof QB1. Verdict: Start”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Pete PriscoGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense.
- Shanna McCarristonScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersClose · 45The unsigned CBS Sports preview picks the Chargers to beat the Cardinals 27-17 in Week 1, and expects rookie Jake Slaughter to step in at center for Los Angeles after Tyler Biadasz's injury.
- Simon HunterGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Hunter picked Houston and the Giants as underdog money line plays, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit as favorites, and used Pittsburgh plus the Chargers as his survivor picks for week one.
- Brandon DeutschGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0Deutsch streamed the Chargers defense in Week 1, forecasting a blowout win of more than 20 points over the Cardinals.
- John GranatoGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 0John backed the Texans to beat the Bills in Week 1, and during the contest segment said he saw the Chargers outscoring the Cardinals.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Los Angeles ChargersMiss · 38Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
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.