The fourth preseason game is considered to be mostly unimportant. And it was. There will always be a few guys on the roster bubble who will succeed or fail as a result of those games, but none of them are expected to have much fantasy relevance.
The actual game didn't mean much. But what happened after that game means quite a bit.
The final preseason cuts get rid of camp arms and legs, and guys who couldn't quite crack the roster. Some will end up on practice squads, while others will coach high school football or sell insurance. No shame in that; not everyone can make it in the NFL. But for a lot of those guys, it's the last time they'll wear a professional football jersey.
But not all of them. LeSean McCoy was unemployed for about five minutes. And his new stint in Kansas City changes things for that team, and maybe yours.
If you've already held your draft or auction, you don't get to stop evaluating talent or considering roster moves. These are moves at the bottom of your roster, of course. But they're still important. Final cuts might make your backups less valuable, or someone on the waiver wire more valuable. It might be a guy like McCoy who has a new home, or a rookie like Devin Singletary thrust into a more-prominent position. Either way, a "surprise" cut creates opportunities for you.
For everyone in your league, actually. Fortunately, some owners are too in love with their rosters to make any changes. Their decisions were so brilliant that it's not possible to improve upon them. Why mess with perfection?
Good for them, and better for you. Feel free to improve the bottom of your roster before week 1. In fact, the last spot or two would ideally be reserved for rotating talent as circumstances dictate. That's not always possible due to shallow benches or shallow waiver wires. But, when possible, be on the lookout for players with better potential.
I'm not implying that McCoy is sitting on your waiver wire. It's the ripple effect that you should be watching. Just like it's not only the trade of Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills that matters. It's the clear sign that Miami is trying to make your "rotating defense" strategy look very viable by chasing them as often as possible. It's the new opportunities for lesser Dolphin receivers. It's the new risk of taking Houston wideouts not named "Hopkins." Final cuts and trades can make a real difference in your league.
Even for NFL teams, the "final" rosters aren't really final. Demaryius Thomas did such a great job in the last preseason game (it actually meant something for him), that the Patriots decided they wanted to keep him. So, of course, they cut him.
To be fair, they brought him back a couple days later so they could sign him to a new deal and save some money. So he's back. But since he's cheaper, they might consider him more expendable later in the season. And a number of guys will get signed after week 1 so their salaries won't be guaranteed. Players will come in for workouts all season long. The roster is always changing.
Headed into your first contest, make sure you have the same philosophy. Every player you drafted doesn't have to stay with your team. If certain players look better (or worse) than they did a few days ago, your roster should reflect how the league looks today. Don't get so excited about your team that you "wait and see what happens" before improving it. Otherwise you'll wait and see a rival get some increased upside at the end of their roster while you're still living three weeks in the NFL's past. Truthfully, you can't even afford to live three days in the past. Keep evaluating talent and improve your team when you can. Even before any games are played.
Are you making any changes to your roster based on cuts or trades? Any guys you have look better or worse today than they did when you took them? Share your thoughts below.