Zachary Pereles· Aug 31, 2026
An unsigned CBS Sports winners-and-losers column projects De'Zhaun Stribling as an immediate starter in San Francisco, forecasts a big season for Bo Nix and the Broncos offense, predicts Shedeur Sanders will play at some point this season for Cleveland, and expects Aaron Donald to still be a star and Nnamdi Madubuike to return early in the season.
“It's all adding up for a big year for Nix.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 5 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 11 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 5 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 4.
Where this call stands in the room
Shedeur Sanders · 2026 season33 calls from 26 pundits between 1 and 2. Zachary Pereles 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
6 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.
Nnamdi Madubuike to make the roster
“the best news is Nnamdi Madubuike, who has worked his way back from a career-threatening neck injury to be in line to play early this season”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKirk CousinsLas Vegas RaidersAug 31, 2026
Kirk Cousins to be 1st on the depth chart
“Kirk Cousins looked solid in the preseason, which should give Mendoza even more time.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Fernando Mendoza to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Kirk Cousins looked solid in the preseason, which should give Mendoza even more time. But those "he should start immediately" thoughts? Let's reassess in six weeks.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
De'Zhaun Stribling to be 1st on the depth chart
“with Ricky Pearsall out for the season, he is likely to step in as a starter right away”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsShedeur SandersCleveland BrownsAug 31, 2026
Shedeur Sanders to be 1st on the depth chart
“Shedeur Sanders will get his shot this year, whether it's due to Deshaun Watson's performance or a potential injury.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTua TagovailoaAtlanta FalconsAug 31, 2026
Tua Tagovailoa to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Falcons haven't had much of an opportunity to remove him from QB1 status”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- 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.
- John BreechDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0The unsigned Pick Six newsletter expects Seth McLaughlin to step into the Lions' starting center job with Cade Mays injured, and suggests Tua Tagovailoa is on track to be Atlanta's Week 1 starting quarterback.
- Matt OkadaDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0In a PPR-framed fantasy draft guide, Okada makes a few non-fantasy claims: rookie Jeremiyah Love will be Arizona's featured back despite being listed as RB2, Tua Tagovailoa will be Atlanta's Week 1 starter, and Kyler Murray will open the season as Minnesota's starting quarterback.
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.
- 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.