Nick Shook· Aug 12, 2026
Shook's Week 1 2026 preseason NFL power rankings, ordering all 32 teams with the Rams first and the Dolphins last, plus assorted team- and player-level expectations embedded in the blurbs.
“There's no better time than now to sort out the order of power in the NFL.”
published in writing · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 7 depth chart calls, 2 surprise team calls, 1 playoff pick and 1 power ranking — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 15 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 7 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 6.
Where this call stands in the room
Fernando Mendoza · 2026 season14 calls from 12 pundits between 1 and 2. Nick Shook said 2. 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
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
11 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.
Patrick Mahomes to be 1st on the depth chart
“it seems like he's on track to start Week 1”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart
“New head man Klint Kubiak has his veteran QB in Kirk Cousins to guide the team onto the highway before handing driving responsibilities to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas RaidersAug 12, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“New head man Klint Kubiak has his veteran QB in Kirk Cousins to guide the team onto the highway”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsMalik WillisMiami DolphinsAug 12, 2026
Malik Willis to be 1st on the depth chart
“It's not an ideal time for Malik Willis to embrace his first opportunity as a full-time starting quarterback”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTyler ShoughNew Orleans SaintsAug 12, 2026
Tyler Shough to be 1st on the depth chart
“this being the first season in which Moore has a defined starter in Tyler Shough”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsBlake MillerDetroit LionsAug 12, 2026
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
“Rookie right tackle Blake Miller arrives with an increased responsibility as a projected starter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsNew Orleans SaintsAug 12, 2026
New Orleans Saints to beat expectations
“In a very winnable division, I'm expecting these Saints to become one of the league's most pleasant surprises.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Playoff PicksHouston TexansAug 12, 2026
Houston Texans to make the playoffs
“That defense can carry the Texans to another playoff appearance”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKyler MurrayMinnesota VikingsAug 12, 2026
Kyler Murray to be 1st on the depth chart
“quickly signed Kyler Murray, who apparently just locked up the starting quarterback job”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Power RankingsAug 12, 2026
“Rank 1 Los Angeles Rams ... Rank 32 Miami Dolphins”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Surprise Team CallsDallas CowboysAug 12, 2026
Dallas Cowboys to beat expectations
“Dallas is my favorite under-the-radar title contender right now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisTrade and Signing Calls · DaRon BlandHit · 100Moraitis names five Cowboys he expects to be playing their final season opener in Dallas in 2026: George Pickens (likely tag-and-trade or departure), Malik Hooker, Luke Schoonmaker, DeMarvion Overshown and DaRon Bland.
- 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF'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.
- 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.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF'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.
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.
- 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.
- Paul KerenDepth Chart Calls · Teven JenkinsMiss · 0Keren says Teven Jenkins still projects as Cleveland's Week 1 starting right guard despite a push from KT Leveston, and that Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams will be the Browns' lead linebackers.
- Jared DubinDepth Chart Calls · Daniel FaaleleMiss · 0Dubin grades the Faalele trade, predicting Faalele has a decent chance to be Jacksonville's Week 1 starting right guard in competition with Wyatt Milum, and that Evan Neal's odds of making the Giants' 53-man roster improved while Jon Runyan and Francis Mauigoa hold the Giants' starting guard jobs.