# Chris Roling: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 15, 2026 **Pundit:** Chris Roling — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/chris-roling **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/chargers/onsi/chargers-preseason-win-texans-biggest-questions 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. > 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. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Brenen Thompson to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Brenen Thompson, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess - **Amar Johnson to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Amar Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Omarion Hampton to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Branson Taylor to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Branson Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kayode Awosika to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kayode Awosika, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kimani Vidal to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jake Slaughter to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Slaughter, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Derius Davis to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Derius Davis, Los Angeles Chargers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Brenen Thompson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/brenen-thompson - Los Angeles Chargers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/chargers - Amar Johnson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/amar-johnson - Omarion Hampton — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/omarion-hampton - Branson Taylor — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/branson-taylor - Kayode Awosika — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kayode-awosika - Kimani Vidal — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kimani-vidal - Jake Slaughter — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jake-slaughter - Derius Davis — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/derius-davis ## What others said about the same people - Pete Prisco on Los Angeles Chargers: Prisco predicts the Lions blow out the Saints in Detroit and that the Chargers rout the Cardinals behind a new-look offense. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2bb82ce8-249f-4f77-b543-f84d64882973 (scored 0) - Shanna McCarriston on Los Angeles Chargers: The 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/77fd63b2-8b02-46a8-a1f9-dc052aa896c6 (scored 45.24) - Simon Hunter on Los Angeles Chargers: Hunter 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/5ac46502-b65b-469b-befc-16fbc672b011 (scored 0) - Brandon Deutsch on Los Angeles Chargers: Deutsch streamed the Chargers defense in Week 1, forecasting a blowout win of more than 20 points over the Cardinals. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cc329622-3510-4f49-925b-ef46ad069d42 (scored 0) - John Granato on Los Angeles Chargers: John backed the Texans to beat the Bills in Week 1, and during the contest segment said he saw the Chargers outscoring the Cardinals. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7e5667ab-d120-4333-bd33-74701c5f467f (scored 0) - Mike Florio on Los Angeles Chargers: Florio 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/4b20f46e-ebc0-462f-9e7a-2ab82f91a2ea (scored 38.1) ## 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) - 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) - 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) - 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) - 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) --- 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=chris-roling