Josh Reed· Aug 8, 2026
Reed argues fans are overreacting to Ravens camp standouts: rookie Ja'Kobi Lane won't unseat Rashod Bateman as the No. 2 receiver, and fifth-round rookie Adam Randall is at best battling for the No. 3 running back job behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, with both Randall and Rasheen Ali likely making the roster as special-teamers.
“All that being said, even if Randall absolutely balls out in the preseason, he's still likely only battling for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind five-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry and fellow veteran Justice Hill.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
6 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 2 roster spot calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 6 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 6 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Where this call stands in the room
Rashod Bateman · 2026 season6 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 2. Josh Reed said 2. the room's median is 2. 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.
- Roster Spot CallsRasheen AliBaltimore RavensAug 8, 2026
Rasheen Ali to make the roster
“The most likely scenario is that both players make the team and primarily play on special teams”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- BAL
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- faae9dcd-ff2e-46b8-88d2-b78fe9612355
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- 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
Adam Randall to be 3rd on the depth chart
“he's still likely only battling for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind five-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry and fellow veteran Justice Hill”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Derrick Henry to be 1st on the depth chart
“With Henry as the unquestioned starter, slated to receive the bulk of the carries and snaps at the position”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Rashod Bateman to be 2nd on the depth chart
“to say that he's shown enough in just a few padded practices and no game action to overtake someone like Bateman ... is overly optimistic and premature”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Justice Hill to be 2nd on the depth chart
“Hill remains one of the best pass-catching and protecting players at the position in the league, making him the favorite to retain his role as the preferred third-down backfield option”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Adam Randall to make the roster
“The most likely scenario is that both players make the team and primarily play on special teams”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mason CameronDepth Chart Calls · Ethan PocicMiss · 0An unsigned PFF piece ranks the NFL's top 32 centers heading into the 2026 season, with Creed Humphrey first for the fourth straight year, and names Ethan Pocic and Austin Schlottmann as the favorites to win starting center jobs in Baltimore and Tennessee.
- Evan SilvaFantasy Defense Calls · Baltimore RavensClose · 58In his 2020 fantasy defense/special teams rankings, Silva puts the Steelers first, the 49ers second and the Ravens third, citing pass rush, favorable early schedules and game scripts.
- Jared DubinGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Dubin is high on the Ravens and low on the Colts, predicting a big Baltimore road win.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
- AJ HawkGame Outcome Picks · Baltimore RavensHit · 100AJ Hawk picked the Ravens over the Colts, Carolina to beat Chicago outright, the Bills at Houston, the Bengals over Tampa Bay, the Titans over the Jets, the Raiders over Miami, the Packers at Minnesota and the Cowboys over the Giants.
- Jordan DajaniScore Predictions · Baltimore RavensClose · 67Dajani picks the Rams over the 49ers, Texans over Bills, Ravens over Colts, Bengals over Buccaneers, Vikings over Packers, Cowboys over Giants and Broncos over Chiefs in Week 1, with exact scores. He also predicts the Bills win the AFC East, the Cowboys win their division, and Caleb Downs wins Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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.