# Raju Byfield: 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. **Claimed:** Aug 10, 2026 **Pundit:** Raju Byfield — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/raju-byfield **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/8-surprising-players-on-the-roster-bubble-2026-fantasy-football/ 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. > 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. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Darius Cooper to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Darius Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Elijah Moore to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Elijah Moore, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **John Metchie III to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: John Metchie III, Carolina Panthers - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess - **Jerry Jeudy to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Trey Benson to move to Green Bay Packers** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Trey Benson, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **K.C. Concepcion to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: K.C. Concepcion, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Kayshon Boutte to be 4th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots - Verdict: not settled yet - **Deion Burks to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Deion Burks, Indianapolis Colts - Verdict: not settled yet - **Tre Tucker to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Denzel Boston to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cedric Tillman to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jalen Nailor to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jalen Nailor, Las Vegas Raiders - Verdict: not settled yet - **Elijah Moore to be 6th on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Elijah Moore, Philadelphia Eagles - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Darius Cooper — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/darius-cooper - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Elijah Moore — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/elijah-moore - John Metchie III — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/john-metchie-iii - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Jerry Jeudy — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jerry-jeudy - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/browns - Trey Benson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/trey-benson - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/packers - K.C. Concepcion — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/k-c-concepcion - Kayshon Boutte — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/kayshon-boutte - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Deion Burks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/deion-burks - Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/colts - Tre Tucker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/tre-tucker - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/raiders - Denzel Boston — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/denzel-boston - Cedric Tillman — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/cedric-tillman - Jalen Nailor — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/jalen-nailor ## What others said about the same people - Bucky Brooks on Keenan Allen: Brooks 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 100) - 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) - Paul Keren on Teven Jenkins: Keren 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/86b36112-724c-4f9c-a4fd-cf74a38be8e4 (scored 0) - Noah Compton on C.J. Allen: After 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/98a8bd92-bcd8-4b5a-aad7-96ecd936662b (scored 0) - Jeff Kerr on Michael Carter: Kerr 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/922a9343-f96d-419d-8091-49b64dd471d9 (scored 0) - Seth Walder on Kayshon Boutte: Walder 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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0263bd78-6c5c-41c5-8615-0467d8ef521a (scored 0) ## 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) - Nathan Jahnke on Jalen Tolbert: PFF'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. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/760054fd-7815-4b86-a9e3-bc9bdb0a730b (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=raju-byfield