# 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.co/pundits/raju-byfield **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.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 - **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 - **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 - **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 - **Trey Benson to move to Green Bay Packers** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Trey Benson, Green Bay Packers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Deion Burks to make the roster** - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Deion Burks, Indianapolis Colts - 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 - **Tre Tucker to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders - 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 - **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 - **Jerry Jeudy to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Elijah Moore — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/elijah-moore - Philadelphia Eagles — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/eagles - Darius Cooper — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/darius-cooper - John Metchie III — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/john-metchie-iii - Carolina Panthers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/panthers - Trey Benson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trey-benson - Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers - Deion Burks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/deion-burks - Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts - Denzel Boston — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/denzel-boston - Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/browns - Cedric Tillman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cedric-tillman - Tre Tucker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tre-tucker - Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders - K.C. Concepcion — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/k-c-concepcion - Kayshon Boutte — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kayshon-boutte - New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots - Jalen Nailor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-nailor - Jerry Jeudy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jerry-jeudy ## What others said about the same people - Fox Sports on Austin Ekeler: The piece reports, citing ESPN, that Carolina is expected to sign veteran running back Austin Ekeler with Jonathon Brooks sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a3aa7c15-e643-4c03-85d9-10aef8b4085a (scored 0) - Chris Simms on Carolina Panthers: Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b (scored 50) - Connor Rogers on Carolina Panthers: Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0c2a0048-cb74-4da9-8ef4-695cc6571cdf (scored 100) - Chris Long on New England Patriots: Previewing Week 2, Long called New England a spot to bounce back against Pittsburgh, projected a 27-14 Patriots win, saw Eagles-Titans as a 23-10 grinder, liked the Rams' spot Monday night against the Giants, and wrote down a Bills 31, Lions 23 final for the Thursday nighter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ab903e00-9f1b-4862-91a6-96343679649c (scored 100) - Mary Kay Cabot on Za'Darius Smith: Cabot reported that Za'Darius Smith is expected to sign with the Browns, possibly as early as Sunday, after working out for the team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3eb50e55-cb33-43c3-a427-d47904beb7bb (scored 0) - Chris Simms on Carolina Panthers: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 47.62) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0) - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) --- 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.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.co/corrections?pundit=raju-byfield