This article is part of our Depth Chart Watch series.
Cardinals RB - Andre Ellington is highly questionable for Monday night's game and could end up missing several weeks. All of a sudden, the little-drafted Jonathan Dwyer has a very reasonable chance to be the Cards' top rusher for the next several weeks.
Falcons RB - Nothing unexpected happened in terms of carry distribution in Week 1, but Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith both busted eye-opening plays for touchdowns. Steven Jackson had one nice 17-yard run, and if you take that away, he rushed 11 times for 35 yards while generating zero yards on three pass targets.
Falcons WR - Devin Hester was a surprisingly big part of this pass game against New Orleans, catching five of six targets for 99 yards. Matt Ryan's not gonna have 448 yards to distribute every week, but it's clear that Atlanta sees Hester as more than just a returner. He's more of a co-No. 3 with Harry Douglas than a No. 4.
Ravens RB - Bernard Pierce got himself benched in the opener after generating 14 yards on six carries and losing a fumble. Thereafter, the Ravens employed Justin Forsett as their only rusher, and he delivered a fantasy-friendly line of 70 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus five catches for 14 yards. This situation is one to watch throughout the week, as it's hard to predict what combination of Pierce, Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro the Ravens will choose to employ in Week 2. Ray Rice's Week 3 return is looking very enticing all of a sudden.
Ravens WR - While the heavy usage of Steve Smith (15 targets) yielded big numbers (seven catches, 118 yards, a TD) this week, and he was utilized far more than Torrey Smith (seven targets, three catches for 50 yards), don't expect Steve to become the No. 1 here based on a big debut. Deeper down the chart, Marlon Brown saw just one target, while Jacoby Jones got seven - now that seems like a strong indicator that Jones is the No. 3 man on this chart.
Bills RB - While C.J. Spiller out-touched Fred Jackson 18-10 in Week 1, Jackson was far more efficient, generating 74 yards while Spiller picked up 64. And Bryce Brown sat out, while Anthony Dixon turned his five carries into 60 yards, adding some intrigue to the No. 3 spot here.
Bills WR - As it turned out, Robert Woods was the most highly targeted and most productive receiver for the Bills in the opener, while Sammy Watkins was quiet. With the playmaking abilities Woods showed in this one, perhaps he's proven himself worth a fantasy bench stash on upside.
Panthers QB - With Cam Newton (ribs) deemed unavailable for Week 1, Derek Anderson turned in a competent game (24-for-34, 230 yards, two TDs), but there's no controversy here - if Cam's healthy, he plays, period. He was likely held out of this one more as a precaution than anything else, just to ensure that he gets over this rib ailment so it doesn't cause him to miss a bigger chunk of time later in the year.
Panthers RB - In Week 1, it was DeAngelo Williams who took the heavy share of the workload, rushing 14 times for 72 yards. Jonathan Stewart produced just 20 yards on his nine rushes, but did at least have three receptions to Williams' none. This remains a value-sucking timeshare.
Panthers WR - Kelvin Benjamin went out and proved that he's this team's top receiver in Week 1, leading Panther wideouts in targets (eight) and production (six catches, 92 yards and a score). We already knew the rookie had the role, but it's good to see the payoff in real game action. As will likely be typical of the Carolina pass game this year, Jerricho Cotchery was the second-most productive wideout with 32 yards on four catches, and no other wide receiver gained a single yard. It's like that.
Bears WR - Brandon Marshall (ankle) and Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) both got nicked up Sunday, but that didn't create a whole lot of opportunities for the rest of the Bears' wideouts - Santonio Holmes caught only two of five targets for 21 yards, while Josh Morgan and Micheal Spurlock each caught one short pass on three targets. Both of the star wideouts are projected to play in Week 2, but this is a situation worth watching even though Chicago lacks high-upside backup options.
Bengals RB - In Sunday's pass-heavy season opener, Jeremy Hill saw just four rushes (and no pass targets) in his role behind Giovani Bernard, who himself carried only 14 times (but also caught six balls). But this was an odd game in which the Bengals settled for field goals five times; I anticipate seeing significantly more of Hill in games where Cincy's around the goal line a lot and/or able to play a ball-control strategy.
Bengals WR - Mohamed Sanu was serviceable for real-life purposes as a replacement for Marvin Jones (foot) in Week 1, reeling in four of his five targets for 36 yards, but obviously that's not moving the fantasy needle much. Still, especially with Tyler Eifert now hurt, the Bengals are going to look to Sanu to make some more plays in the pass game simply because they have no one else outside of A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard.
Bengals TE - Tyler Eifert was starting to get things going and justify his sleeper status, catching three balls for 37 yards, and then boom, dislocated elbow. He's now a candidate to miss significant time, while Jermaine Gresham becomes the lone wolf among Bengals tight ends. It's hard to give Gresham too big of an upgrade, as he's just not a great pass-catcher, but he's gonna be getting all the reps.
Browns QB - Brian Hoyer delivered a competent game in Week 1, avoiding turnovers while throwing for 230 yards and a score against the Steelers as the Browns nearly completed a comeback from a 24-point deficit. That'll go a long way toward giving Hoyer some stability atop the depth chart. Johnny Manziel spent the whole game on the sideline - no trick packages here.
Browns RB - Yep, Ben Tate's already hurt - after getting off to a fine start, he suffered a knee injury Sunday, only to see Terrance West roll up 100 yards on 16 carries. But West owners weren't totally free to celebrate, as they suffered through Isaiah Crowell vulturing a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. The extent of Tate's injury is currently unknown, but it seems quite likely that West will get the vast majority of the work if the veteran misses time.
Browns WR - With Miles Austin unsurprisingly quiet in Week 1, this group is basically Andrew Hawkins or bust. Travis Benjamin had a nice touchdown catch, but only 20 yards, tying Austin in that category. And they were the Browns' second- and third-most productive wideouts.
Browns TE - As if this offense didn't have enough issues to overcome, Jordan Cameron injured his shoulder in Sunday's game. If he can't go next week, the depth chart after him is ugly, with Jim Dray probably the top pass-catching option and Gary Barnidge the top blocking tight end.
Cowboys RB - DeMarco Murray's backups didn't even garner a single carry in this game, which should give you some idea of how Dallas intends to use Murray this year (that is, until his knees buckle).
Broncos RB - Montee Ball got all the carries he could handle in Week 1, although he wasn't very efficient, totaling only 83 yards on 25 touches. Meanwhile, C.J. Anderson ripped off 27 yards on just four carries, and Ronnie Hillman was inactive. The Broncos will largely go with Ball, but if he can't come close to replicating last year's 4.7 YPC, they'll keep their options open. That said, there will surely be no changes in the pecking order after one game.
Broncos WR - With Wes Welker suspended and Demaryius Thomas silenced, Emmanuel Sanders was the most reliable wide receiver for the Broncos, though he produced a non-heart-pounding line of six catches for 77 yards. The real beneficiary was tight end Julius Thomas, the day's fantasy darling with 104 yards and three scores. But I anticipate greater things from Sanders over the next few games while Welker remains out - he'll stay second on the chart.
Packers RB - Eddie Lacy was concussed in Thursday's season opener, but it sounds like he's coming along well. Still, concussions are iffy propositions, so James Starks should see his ownership spike sharply after averaging 5.3 YPC on seven carries in Lacy's place. Starks would get the start against the Jets' tough defensive front in Week 2 if Lacy can't go.
Packers TE - Andrew Quarless ended up being the only TE on this team who was even marginally fantasy-relevant in Week 1, as his 26 receiving yards were 26 more than any of his compadres at the position, including Richard Rodgers. Despite starting, Rodgers went untargeted and missed some time due to a neck ailment.
Texans RB - The Arian Foster show was back in full force for Week 1, with Jonathan Grimes and Alfred Blue getting just one rush each (although Blue did block a punt and return it for a touchdown, so that helps). Foster lost a fumble, but didn't lose any playing time for it. He'll continue to marginalize the others as long as he can stay on the field.
Colts RB - Unsurprisingly, the Colts produced nothing on the ground this week, with Trent Richardson running six times for all of 20 yards, while Ahmad Bradshaw rushed just thrice for 15. The two backs were more productive in the pass game, with T-Rich gaining 31 yards on three catches, while Bradshaw impressed with five receptions for 70 yards. It seems like Bradshaw's going to get a lot of third-down work, and he could theoretically supplant Richardson on early downs too, but his injury history makes a full workload unlikely (or perhaps inadvisable).
Colts TE - Despite Coby Fleener seeing eight targets from Andrew Luck to Dwayne Allen's five, Allen roundly outproduced him, collecting 64 yards and a score against Fleener's three catches for 21 yards. The timeshare will limit Allen's value, as you can't expect Luck to throw 50-plus times every game, but he's clearly a more complete pass-catcher than Fleener and seems a bit ahead on the depth chart despite seeing fewer looks.
Jaguars QB - What do we make of this game, in which Chad Henne led the Jags to an early 17-0 lead, only for them to lose 34-17, with Henne losing a fumble for a touchdown with under two minutes left? I suppose just that Henne once again showed himself to be relatively serviceable, but also supremely replaceable. Keep warm, Blake Bortles.
Jaguars RB - Toby Gerhart got banged up in Week 1, but gritted it out, though he didn't help fantasy owners much with 42 rush yards and 15 receiving. Still, despite Gerhart's sore ankle, neither Denard Robinson nor Jordan Todman exceeded three carries in this game. The Jags seem very committed here; fantasy owners shouldn't be quite as committed.
Jaguars WR - Remember that whole Allen Hurns preseason hype? Yeah, so the dude rolled up four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, only to fail to record another reception thereafter as the Eagles mounted their comeback. Hurns will be a popular add this week, but don't go crazy - it's highly noteworthy that the Eagles were able to make an adjustment to shut him down. And Cecil Shorts should be back by Week 2 or 3, meaning Hurns' workload will likely diminish, though at least Shorts will tie up the opposition's top cover corner. It's worth noting, too, that Marqise Lee turned in a fairly efficient six catches on 10 targets for 62 yards - he's not going to be marginalized in this offense.
Chiefs RB - Somehow, the Chiefs forgot that they had this Jamaal Charles guy, as he had just seven carries in Week 1 - that's just one more than Alex Smith, and Smith nearly doubled his rushing yardage. What gives? No depth chart changes here - just complaining.
Chiefs WR - While Dwayne Bowe's absence created an opportunity for some guys to step up, Alex Smith's weak season debut meant every wideout aside from interim No. 1 man Donnie Avery (84 yards) was totally useless. Frankie Hammond had one catch (it was a good one, though) for 22 yards, Junior Hemingway didn't have any, and no other Chiefs wideout was targeted. Bowe will be back from his suspension in Week 2, pushing all the other guys back to their rightful spots.
Chiefs TE - With the wide receivers so unreliable, Anthony Fasano and Travis Kelce saw 11 targets between them, combining for 78 yards and a touchdown (Fasano's). If Fasano wasn't in the picture, Kelce would probably be a top-five tight end. But if I had some ham, I could make a ham and cheese sandwich. If I had some cheese. Nonetheless, Kelce did roll up 47 yards, including a team-high 27-yard reception, and should continue working his way into a bigger role in this playmaking-starved offense.
Dolphins RB - Like I've been saying, the Dolphins didn't bring Knowshon Moreno in to sit him down behind Lamar Miller. Moreno carried 24 times to Miller's 11 on Sunday, ripping off134 yards and a score, and you should expect similar carry breakdowns as the season continues, especially if the Dolphins can keep their games close.
Patriots RB - Stevan Ridley showed just how much being listed No. 1 on this backfield depth chart means, as he saw just 10 touches (eight carries, two catches) in Week 1. Shane Vereen touched the ball the most (a dozen times) and, as we should expect going forward, produced the only fantasy-relevant day.
Patriots WR - Not that fantasy owners got much out of anyone not named Julian Edelman in this pass game in Week 1, but Kenbrell Thompkins saw 10 targets from Tom Brady, which will usually result in something better than five catches and 37 yards. Danny Amendola had a very quiet day, with just 16 yards on three receptions, while normal No. 3 man Aaron Dobson didn't play. This depth chart is very volatile from No. 2 to No. 4, with targets likely to get shuffled around unpredictably from week to week.
Saints RB - We finally got to see how this three-headed backfield works in real game action, and it was good for everyone - Mark Ingram looked great while plowing in for two touchdowns, Khiry Robinson punched one in from the 2-yard line, and Pierre Thomas was typically useful for PPR purposes (six catches, 89 total yards). The Saints won't play in shootouts like this every week, but they're not known for low-scoring games either - Ingram and Thomas appear likely to retain consistent fantasy relevance, with Khiry (who carried just six times) more on the volatile end.
Saints WR - With Kenny Stills (quad) held out, the Saints turned to Brandin Cooks often in the early going, and he ended up with a very fine outing (77 receiving yards and a score, plus an 18-yard run). It seems clear that New Orleans intends to get him the ball. Even with Stills not playing, Nick Toon was inactive, a sign of very little faith in the second-year man. Surprisingly, Cooks and Marques Colston were the only wide receivers to catch a pass from Drew Brees in this one.
Giants WR - Odell Beckham is projected to sit out of Monday's game, with Jerrel Jernigan currently projected to line up as the No. 3 receiver. I'm just gonna boost Corey Washington here one more time.
Giants TE -Larry Donnell is currently on top here, but Monday night's action will go a long way toward determining whether he stays there.
Jets RB - Both Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson exceeded expectations in Week 1. Johnson turned 13 carries into 68 yards, and he added five catches for 23 yards and a score. Ivory did him one better, turning a mediocre game into a banner day with a career-long 71-yard run that left him with a final line of 10 carries for 102 yards and a score. It seems we're likely to continue on the path of roughly a 60-40 carry split in Johnson's favor.
Jets WR - Neither David Nelson nor Greg Salas did much to gain a stronger share of No. 3 receiver duties for the Jets in Week 1, but hey, Eric Decker looked relatively good and Jeremy Kerley was his typical unimpressive self, generating just 38 yards on five catches. You're not going to find much deep value here.
Jets TE - Jeff Cumberland was the clear-cut No. 1 on Sunday, totaling 50 yards on four catches while Jace Amaro caught two balls for four yards. That'll give Cumby some breathing room as he battles to retain top duties at tight end, but both of these guys can catch the ball, so they'll likely both factor into a Jets offense that needs quality receivers as the year goes on.
Raiders QB - The Derek Carr era got off to an uneven start, as he threw for a pair of touchdowns and avoided turning the ball over, but also failed to generate much movement down the field, totaling just 151 yards. Matt Schaub (elbow) could end up taking this job back, but now that the Raiders have rolled with Carr once, they'll probably stick with him to see whether he can make some adjustments next week against Houston.
Raiders RB - As anticipated, Maurice Jones-Drew got the majority of the touches in Week 1, but Oakland's ground game went precisely nowhere, as MoJo gained just 11 yards on nine carries, while Darren McFadden generated just 15 yards on his four totes. Neither made much impact in the pass game either. It looks like Jones-Drew will see about two-thirds of the touches here moving forward, unless he gets hurt or the Raiders decide to see what Latavius Murray can offer them.
Raiders WR - I feel like all I do here is talk about Denarius Moore, but I have to again after he caught just two of a team-high eight targets for eight yards in Week 1. The only real big-play threat on the team, it seems like Moore is going to get his looks no matter how much he struggles. James Jones, meanwhile, did practically nothing until a garbage-time 30-yard touchdown catch, and Andre Holmes was untargeted. So we might say that the pecking order here right now is something like this: Rod Streater, Moore, Jones, Holmes. Results may vary.
Eagles RB - As was anticipated in the preseason, there was indeed plenty of work to go around for both LeSean McCoy (27 touches) and Darren Sproles (15 touches), with both backs rolling up fantasy-relevant days - if a bit of a disappointing one in McCoy's case. Despite being second fiddle, Sproles should remain a strong flex play, particularly for PPR, just as he was in New Orleans.
Eagles WR - A slow start for Nick Foles ended up hurting the fantasy outputs of most of his receivers, with only a late 68-yard TD grab rescuing Jeremy Maclin's day. Otherwise, Jordan Matthews ended up as the second-most-productive receiver, with his two catches going for 37 yards. Riley Cooper caught four balls on seven targets, but for just 29 yards. Although it seems likely Cooper will be targeted more than Matthews, at least in the short term, Matthews could very reasonably produce bigger numbers anyway.
Eagles TE - Trendy fantasy pick Zach Ertz had a big Week 1, making three big plays that added up to 77 yards and a score. Though he was targeted just one more time than Brent Celek, Ertz saw way more action down the field and appears set to outproduce Celek despite still being listed as the backup. Gotta love that Chip Kelly offense.
Seahawks RB - Don't we all feel silly about fading Marshawn Lynch in this year's drafts already? Marshawn showed his fantasy owners have no reason to fear in Week 1, rushing 20 times for 110 yards and two scores. Robert Turbin served as his backup, carrying six times for 27 yards; Christine Michael (hamstring) took a seat.
49ers RB - In an odd, low-volume Week 1 game for the Niners' offense, Carlos Hyde carved out a nice chunk of work (seven carries to Frank Gore's 16) and made the most of it, running for 50 yards and a touchdown. But neither of them, nor any of San Fran's other backs, were targeted in the passing game.
Rams QB - After an ineffective first half, Shaun Hill was benched ostensibly due to a quad strain, leading to the NFL debut of Austin Davis, who at least outproduced Hill in terms of YPA despite similarly failing at putting points on the board. Hill's likely going to get another chance as the starter here, but he could quickly lose his job to Davis if he continues putting up ugly stat lines. Or if that injury lingers.
Rams RB - While Zac Stacy didn't really get it done in Week 1 - 11 carries for 43 yards and an eight-yard catch - Benny Cunningham wasn't much more productive on the ground, though a 27-yard reception helped him tie Stacy in total yards. Indeed, as anticipated, Cunningham cut significantly into Stacy's touches, with eight to Stacy's 12. It's hard to judge too much from this game in which the Rams got blown out, but then again, this is a team that could be on the wrong end of a lot of blowouts this year, nerfing both backs' value.
Rams WR - Brian Quick was the most heavily targeted and most productive receiver on this team - the only productive fantasy player on the team, in fact - with seven catches and 99 yards in Week 1. Tavon Austin and Chris Givens were quiet, while Kenny Britt failed even to catch a pass. This QB situation isn't getting any better, and while it's possible that some of the Rams' receivers will rack up yards here and there due to the team always playing from behind, it wouldn't be surprising if it's Britt one week, Quick another, and Givens another still, with fantasy owners unable to turn to any of these guys with any confidence.
Buccaneers RB - Doug Martin fell on his face (figuratively) Sunday, playing through a leg injury and rushing just nine times for nine yards, but Bobby Rainey didn't do anything much to displace him, with his six touches (four carries, two roushes) resulting in all of 20 yards, a touchdown and a lost fumble. But Rainey would likely be in line to take the majority of the carries if Martin's injury - the status of which is currently uncertain - holds him out in Week 2. Mike James is the only other option.
Buccaneers WR - Unsurprisingly, Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans got the most targets (nine each) in Week 1, but it is a bit surprising that Jackson was so unproductive (four catches, 36 yards) and that Evans equaled him in looks already. While no other Tampa receiver saw more than two targets, Chris Owusu did turn one of his two into a 19-yard touchdown. He appears to be solidly No. 3 here.
Buccaneers TE - Brandon Myers ended up being Tampa's top receiver in Week 1, but his six catches were only good for 41 yards, as he didn't serve as much more than a dump-off option. Austin Seferian-Jenkins was targeted just twice, reeling in a 26-yarder. It looks like this is Myers' spot to lose, but the Bucs clearly see the rookie's playmaking potential.
Titans RB - Hope you didn't pick Bishop Sankey too high, considering he got the third-most carries in this backfield on Sunday. Shonn Greene turned in a surprisingly decent day, averaging 4.7 yards on 15 rushes, while Dexter McCluster turned in a quiet nine for 29 yards. Sankey rushed just six times for 25 yards and wasn't targeted in the pass game. There's not a lot of value to be found here overall, but it's likely that Greene actually owns the majority of it as the presumptive goal-line back. But it's worth noting that the Titans scored both of their touchdowns on short passes inside the 6-yard line.
Titans WR - Justin Hunter was surprisingly the most heavily targeted Titans receiver on Sunday, and even though he caught just three of the eight balls thrown his way, his 63 yards led all Tennessee receivers. Kendall Wright, meanwhile, turned in a typically efficient six catches on seven targets, but for just 46 yards, with his day bailed out by a touchdown. Nate Washington was typically mediocre, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Hunter continually receive more targets even if Washington's still ostensibly the No. 2 receiver.
Redskins TE - Jordan Reed entered Sunday with a sprained thumb, played anyway, and ended up leaving with a hamstring injury. In his absence, Niles Paul ended up leading the team in receiving, racking up a stunning 86 yards on four catches, though he also lost a fumble. Logan Paulsen, meanwhile, caught two passes for no yards. If Reed misses time, it seems that Paul will step in as the primary pass-catching tight end here. We'll know more after Reed's MRI comes out.
