# Nathan Jahnke: Jahnke argues Bucky Irving's expanded role, including goal-line work, makes him a must-start rest of season, while Sean Tucker will still vulture a few scores. He also says Ted Hurst III won't hold fantasy value in his reduced rotational role, and that released Cowboys back Emari Demercado will likely land on the practice squad.

**Claimed:** Oct 9, 2026
**Pundit:** Nathan Jahnke — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nathan-jahnke
**Outlet:** Pro Football Focus — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/pro-football-focus
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-5-recap-immediate-fantasy-football-takeaways-from-buccaneers-cowboys/

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

The call scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> Irving's role is big enough to consider him a must-start going forward.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Emari Demercado to be cut**
  - Kind: Roster Spot Calls · About: Emari Demercado, Dallas Cowboys
  - Verdict: scored 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- Emari Demercado — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emari-demercado
- Dallas Cowboys — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/cowboys

## What others said about the same people

- Gregg Rosenthal on Dallas Cowboys: Rosenthal expects a high-scoring Eagles-Cowboys kickoff game, guesses a scoreline around 41-27, still believes Dallas can clear its win total and reach the playoffs, likes the Giants to beat expectations with Jackson Dart taking over as starter early. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a11f697d-1616-4bbe-9b7f-5bde7c6653ea (scored 0)
- Kyle Crabbs on Nazir Stackhouse: Crabbs projects all seven rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to Tennessee, Travis Hunter second to Cleveland and Abdul Carter third to the Giants. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e8a40874-e85c-44ec-a4c8-b6f0edbd22d2 (scored 0)
- JP Acosta on George Pickens: JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/660e3494-2b0b-415e-beb7-9e3bf3464e30 (scored 0)
- Colin Cowherd on Dallas Cowboys: Cowherd praised Dak Prescott as the stabilizing force of the Cowboys and picked Dallas to beat Tampa Bay in their Week 5 matchup, while calling the Dallas coaching staff average. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ece798a4-5146-4cf5-a99a-af7c0ab17119 (scored 0)
- Chuck Pagano on Dallas Cowboys: Pagano expected the Cowboys offense to keep rolling against Tampa Bay on Thursday night, saying it would take a miracle for Dallas not to score at least 31 points. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d6d40ffe-84df-4b13-94c3-8425a237cca3 (scored 0)
- Jordan Dajani on Dallas Cowboys: Dajani picked the Cowboys 30-20 over the Buccaneers and the Falcons 27-21 over the Ravens, and named Marvin Harrison Jr., Khalil Mack and Brian Thomas Jr. as trade candidates with landing spots in Indianapolis, Chicago and Las Vegas. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4d50be99-4873-4551-a8a4-9080a146a42e (scored 45.24)

## More roster spot calls

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

- Jeff Kerr on Carson Steele: Kerr argues Joshua Weru making the 53-man roster is an overreaction, predicts Carson Steele has earned a roster spot (possibly beating out Cameron Latu for the fullback job), says Tanner McKee should and will be the QB2 over Andy Dalton by Week 1, and expects Darius Cooper to win the final receiver spot over Elijah Moore though he isn't a lock. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2fd41554-eb69-417a-9ad0-5a7640afc612 (scored 100)
- Bill Huber on Pierre Strong: With Chris Brooks hurt, Huber expects Green Bay to give running back Pierre Strong a chance, either by adding him to the 53-man roster or elevating him from the practice squad, and views the return of Damon Bankston to the practice squad as the move that enables it. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5787a031-3a00-4476-8b2b-43b05c9d63a3 (scored 100)
- Donnie Druin on Jedrick Wills: Druin states that because Arizona signed Jedrick Wills Jr. directly off Buffalo's practice squad, Wills will be on the Cardinals' 53-man roster for at least three weeks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8d6318e1-0bd1-4c25-ade7-7f63de24a57b (scored 100)
- Nick Faria on Nate Lynn: Faria lays out the Jets' post-cuts 53-man roster with a projected depth chart at every position, naming Geno Smith the starting QB with Cade Klubnik behind him, Breece Hall atop the backfield, Garrett Wilson leading the receivers, Mason Taylor as the top tight end, and Thomas/Stephens/Brownlee as the starting cornerbacks. He also expects Braiden McGregor could be gone within 48 hours via the waiver wire and Nate Lynn to land on the practice squad. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/91e72b2d-ea9e-4e72-8f91-02f7747460ed (scored 100)
- Carter Bahns on Dameon Pierce: A CBS Sports piece names 20 notable veterans it considers at risk of being cut before the 53-man roster deadline, with several pegged for the practice squad or outright release, and also sketches a few depth-chart pecking orders (Titans QBs, Panthers tight ends, Texans receivers, Eagles backfield). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94f49c83-2307-4f25-b10c-b1cba9df5dbc (scored 0)
- Nick Faria on Nate Lynn: Faria says the Jets' rotational defensive linemen should be very good this year, and casts doubt on undrafted edge Nate Lynn making the 53-man roster despite a strong camp. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/487d9da3-b77a-4b3a-b438-c9542c8119f7 (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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