Raju Byfield· Aug 10, 2026
Byfield runs through eight players he sees as surprising roster-bubble candidates ahead of the 2026 preseason, projecting cuts (Cedric Tillman, Elijah Moore, Deion Burks), depth-chart pecking orders in Cleveland, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and New England, a possible Trey Benson trade to Green Bay, and safety for John Metchie and Darius Cooper.
“Tillman has fallen down the depth chart in Cleveland, and his lack of special teams value will likely prove prohibitive when the Browns are deciding on the final wide receiver spots on their initial 53-man roster.”
published in writing · FantasyPros · read the original →
13 checkable claims — 7 depth chart calls, 5 roster spot calls and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 19 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
3 of 13 have settled so far, averaging 66.7 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 6 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 4 and below it on 2.
Where this call stands in the room
Tre Tucker · 2026 season9 calls from 4 pundits between 1 and 2. Raju Byfield 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.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
13 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.
Darius Cooper to make the roster
“former UDFA Darius Cooper, now seen as a virtual lock to make the final roster”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 5816c8a5-d433-4f5d-81ee-78ae61fc28a9
- 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
- Roster Spot CallsElijah MoorePhiladelphia EaglesAug 10, 2026
Elijah Moore to make the roster
“Elijah Moore is in danger of being waived by the Philadelphia Eagles at final cutdown unless he makes waves in preseason.”
Miss · 0Scored 0a naive guess scored 100-200 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- PHI
- skill:
- -200
- player:
- e5fd452d-112c-4722-bf9b-9efe7e174f89
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he does not make the 53
- accuracy:
- 0
- 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
John Metchie III to make the roster
“It would be surprising if Metchie did not make the roster... so he should be safe”
Hit · 100Scored 100a naive guess scored 100+0 skillHow this was scored
- club:
- CAR
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- 6bf7fcf9-3ef8-4203-a9cc-09498a79d6cf
- 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
- Depth Chart CallsJerry JeudyCleveland BrownsAug 10, 2026
Jerry Jeudy to be 3rd on the depth chart
“This means that the top three in Cleveland will be Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and Jerry Jeudy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Trey Benson to move to Green Bay Packers
“we could see a trade between brothers that sends Benson to the Green Bay Packers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsK.C. ConcepcionCleveland BrownsAug 10, 2026
K.C. Concepcion to be 2nd on the depth chart
“This means that the top three in Cleveland will be Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and Jerry Jeudy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kayshon Boutte to be 4th on the depth chart
“Kayshon wants a new contract and will not be happy with his role as the number four receiver behind A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Pop Douglas.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsDeion BurksIndianapolis ColtsAug 10, 2026
Deion Burks to make the roster
“Burks, who is still running with the 3s, is in jeopardy of not making the active roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsTre TuckerLas Vegas RaidersAug 10, 2026
Tre Tucker to be 2nd on the depth chart
“with Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker occupying the top two slots”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsDenzel BostonCleveland BrownsAug 10, 2026
Denzel Boston to be 1st on the depth chart
“This means that the top three in Cleveland will be Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and Jerry Jeudy.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Roster Spot CallsCedric TillmanCleveland BrownsAug 10, 2026
Cedric Tillman to make the roster
“his lack of special teams value will likely prove prohibitive when the Browns are deciding on the final wide receiver spots on their initial 53-man roster”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsJalen NailorLas Vegas RaidersAug 10, 2026
Jalen Nailor to be 1st on the depth chart
“The Raiders' wide receiver depth chart is starting to concretize, with Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker occupying the top two slots”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsElijah MoorePhiladelphia EaglesAug 10, 2026
Elijah Moore to be 6th on the depth chart
“Moore is clearly behind DeVonta Smith, Dontaviyon Wicks, Darius Cooper, Makai Lemon, and Marquise Brown.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Bucky BrooksTrade and Signing Calls · Keenan AllenHit · 100Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season.
- 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.
- Noah ComptonDepth Chart Calls · C.J. AllenMiss · 0After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
- Jeff KerrDepth Chart Calls · Michael CarterMiss · 0Kerr says several Eagles have raised their stock in camp: Darius Cooper is emerging as the team's WR4, Drew Kendall is the No. 3 interior lineman/top backup at guard and center, Willie Lampkin is in prime position to make the 53-man roster, and Michael Carter is a roster lock who could start at safety in Week 1.
- Seth WalderTrade and Signing Calls · Kayshon BoutteMiss · 0Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver.
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.
- 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.