Chris Roling· Aug 15, 2026
After the Chargers' preseason opener, Roling projects Kayode Awosika as the Week 1 starting left guard with rookie Jake Slaughter backing him up and Branson Taylor as the backup swing tackle, expects Derius Davis to hold the return job, sees Brenen Thompson as a roster lock, and pegs Amar Johnson as the leader for the fourth running back spot behind Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal.
“Taylor winding up as the backup swing tackle to push Trey Pipkins while Slaughter backs up Awosika at left guard might be the play by Week 1.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
8 checkable claims — 7 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot 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.
1 of 8 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 3.
Where this call stands in the room
Jake Slaughter · 2026 season17 calls from 16 pundits between 1 and 2. Chris Roling 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.
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Who this take is about
8 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.
Brenen Thompson to make the roster
“Thompson is a rookie hand-picked by Mike McDaniel, so he's not going anywhere. His inclusion would make it about five wideouts as a lock already.”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 0+200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- LAC
- skill:
- 200
- player:
- 326a0442-2b56-4f72-9376-fb148e8de51c
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 0
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 1
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
Amar Johnson to be 4th on the depth chart
“That fourth running back spot now has Johnson fighting with Desrosiers and Jaret Patterson... Onlookers might be able to pencil in Johnson as having a major lead over the other two at this point.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart
“Nobody is knocking Omarion Hampton from the major role.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Branson Taylor to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Taylor winding up as the backup swing tackle to push Trey Pipkins while Slaughter backs up Awosika at left guard might be the play by Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kayode Awosika to be 1st on the depth chart
“One could reason that, perhaps Awosika is firmly installed as the starting left guard now.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kimani Vidal to be 3rd on the depth chart
“or even solid third option at running back, Kimani Vidal”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jake Slaughter to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Taylor winding up as the backup swing tackle to push Trey Pipkins while Slaughter backs up Awosika at left guard might be the play by Week 1.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Derius Davis to be 1st on the depth chart
“Wideout Derius Davis remains top dog in the race, it seems”
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.