# Raju Byfield: Byfield runs through eight players they see 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 call.

It names 19 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

4 of 13 have settled so far, averaging 50 out of 100, against 75 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

- **Deion Burks to be cut**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Deion Burks, Indianapolis Colts
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 0 for a naive guess
- **Elijah Moore to be cut**
  - 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
- **Tre Tucker to be 2nd on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
  - 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
- **Elijah Moore to be 6th on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Elijah Moore, Philadelphia Eagles
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Cedric Tillman to be cut**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
  - 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
- **Kayshon Boutte to be 4th on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
  - 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
- **Jalen Nailor to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jalen Nailor, 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

## Who this take is about

- Deion Burks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/deion-burks
- Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts
- 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
- Tre Tucker — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tre-tucker
- Las Vegas Raiders — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/raiders
- Jerry Jeudy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jerry-jeudy
- Cleveland Browns — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/browns
- Cedric Tillman — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cedric-tillman
- Denzel Boston — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/denzel-boston
- Kayshon Boutte — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kayshon-boutte
- New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots
- Trey Benson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/trey-benson
- Green Bay Packers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/packers
- Jalen Nailor — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jalen-nailor
- K.C. Concepcion — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/k-c-concepcion

## What others said about the same people

- John Middlekauff on Anthony Richardson: Middlekoff's bold predictions, as relayed on the show, have the Patriots and Colts making the playoffs; they also argue the Colts whiffed on Anthony Richardson, comparing them to Trey Lance. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eaacd99d-867e-4bab-9c40-015de85caa35 (scored 100)
- Rich Eisen on Myles Garrett: Discussing Myles Garrett's trade request, Eisen said they expect Garrett to get their way and be moved out of Cleveland rather than stay, which is why staying would be shocking. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b61b90d2-d027-4022-b57a-d30ac36f21bc (scored 100)
- Bill Huber on Green Bay Packers: Huber argues Green Bay has no excuses left and will beat New England in Foxborough, and expects Christian Watson to play despite their rib injury. They also sketch the projected interior offensive line, with John Williams at center and Laken Tomlinson at right guard. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5ab5fa3a-4526-46a4-b11b-a2bc99820cb8 (scored 100)
- Pete Prisco on Green Bay Packers: Prisco gives score predictions for every Week 9 NFL game, picking the Bengals to rout the Falcons in Madrid, the Cowboys to rebound at Indianapolis, and the Jaguars to win in Baltimore without Lamar Jackson. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dc43909b-bc7f-47aa-b208-5cf7c95844bc (scored 64.29)
- Derek Brown on Green Bay Packers: Brown picked the Bengals to beat the Falcons in Madrid, the Packers to win outright in New England and the Bills to beat the Vikings on Monday night. They were bullish on Jonah Coleman's rest-of-season value, expected Jonathan Taylor to play for the Colts, floated a Breece Hall trade, and did not expect DJ Reed to play in Week 9. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b4014405-6764-427e-9708-679baf6b06de (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on New England Patriots: Fitzmaurice predicted a 24-21 Patriots win over the Packers, said they would not be surprised if Jonathan Taylor were inactive amid trade talk, pegged Jonah Coleman as an RB22 rest-of-season value, expected Evan Hull to be Arizona's backup back, and saw Kerby Joseph returning in Week 10 or 11. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/41cd806b-d6f3-401d-ac46-33a027d3a0fd (scored 14.29)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100)
- Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: Brener suggests Seattle may turn to rookie-contract quarterback Jalen Milroe for their first career start in Week 9 against the Cardinals, with Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock dealing with an elbow injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/42d1bd81-5e19-456e-9f68-b3b135170ec0 (scored 0)
- Nic Bodiford on Joe Fagnano: Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a13b9f29-bb76-4c56-b226-aca74b21f5b7 (scored 100)
- Garrett Podell on Carson Beck: Podell argues the Cardinals have maxed out with Jacoby Brissett and that rookie Carson Beck should be ramped up to replace them as starter, targeting Week 8 at Dallas for Beck's regular-season debut. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2f499498-ebbe-41f8-8ea3-41fe96f79432 (scored 0)
- Jacob Herlin on J.J. McCarthy: Herlin published Week 7 fantasy D/ST rankings with projections for 28 team defenses, led by Houston, Minnesota and Cleveland. They also expect Cleveland to post a fourth straight top-10 fantasy defense result, and predicts Jalon Daniels starts another week for Tampa Bay while J.J. McCarthy takes over as the Giants' starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cf4a2992-3760-464e-b540-6182ebc4457f (scored 100)
- Donnie Druin on Jacoby Brissett: Following the Cardinals' decision not to make staff or lineup changes, Druin states that Jacoby Brissett will remain Arizona's starting quarterback for another week, with rookie Carson Beck staying behind them. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cb29b9b6-2fbf-4df8-8438-ac3f0b9b9566 (scored 100)

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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

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