Depth Chart Watch: Training Camp Job Battles

While most NFL teams enter training camp this year with their skill positions pretty set -- at least as far as the No. 1 guys -- it's those depth guys who often end up proving crucially important in a league with as much turnover as the NFL. A lot of receiving situations are in flux, and it has yet to be seen how the many backfield timeshares will be split out.

Without further ado, here's your first detailed look at the critical depth-chart battles to come.

Arizona RB -- Andre Ellington appears to have returned to full health following an injury-plagued 2014 campaign, but owners hoping for a starter's workload should temper expectations. The 26-year-old Ellington is undersized at 5-foot-9, 199, and getting hit by 250- and 300-pound defenders consistently seems to take its toll on him; even when healthy, his efficiency numbers dropped across the board last year as his usage increased. The Cards drafted David Johnson, and speculative owners should be encouraged by his three-down skillset. Stepfan Taylor and Kerwynn Williams are still in the mix too, but they should be expected to generally spend their time on the bench and special teams.

Arizona WR -- Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd will reprise their roles as the No. 1 and 2 receivers, respectively, with Floyd seemingly likely to surpass the fading Fitz for top duties. The Brothers Brown (i.e., John Brown and Jaron Brown, who are not actually brothers) are likely to account for the third and fourth spots, but the big-play-oriented Brittan Golden could factor into the mix as well.

Arizona TE -- Second-year TE Troy Niklas is expected to start, but it's unlikely he'll be relied upon for much receiving work. If anyone at the position does rack up noticeable catches, it'll probably be second-year TE Darren Fells, 6-7, 281. But there's probably not much to see here in standard formats unless Fells sees consistent red-zone targets.

Altanta RB -- The era of the plodding Steven Jackson mercifully ended, meaning Falcons fans have something to cheer for when the team hands the ball off again. Second-year RB Devonta Freeman has the edge of the incumbent, but rookie Tevin Coleman has a lot of fans both in the Falcons' front office and in the fantasy community. Coleman is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball, but he'll have to settle for a carry split, at least initially.

Atlanta WR -- Obviously, there's no one coming for Julio Jones at No. 1 or Roddy White at No. 2 as long as they stay healthy. Fantasy owners can overlook Devin Hester -- the dream will never become real -- but fourth-round rookie Justin Hardy presents an intriguing target for Matt Ryan as a possession-oriented receiver who can play in the slot.

Atlanta TE -- Free-agent import Jacob Tamme is projected to top the depth chart at tight end, but doesn't project to offer a ton of upside. Third-year man Levine Toilolo didn't show much receiving ability last year, so he's likely to take a back seat.

Baltimore RB -- So, let's just recap. At age 28, career-long backup and journeyman Justin Forsett steps into the lead role with Baltimore and goes on to produce more than 1,500 total yards and eight touchdowns. I ... did not see that coming. Forsett's always been an efficient runner who's more than the sum of his parts -- he lacks both the size and speed you'd like in an ideal running back, but he also reads the field and finishes his runs well. So there's value, but also seemingly a lot of injury risk -- after all, we're talking about an undersized 29-year-old running back coming off, by far, a career-high workload. The backup situation is a bit sticky -- Lorenzo Taliaferro is the incumbent, but Javorius Allen (call him "Buck") might be a more talented runner, and their training-camp battle for the No. 2 spot could prove important later in the season.

Baltimore WR -- From the look of things, this might not be the season to own Joe Flacco. The Baltimore receiving corps has what we can charitably call "issues." One starter, Steve Smith, likely will play fewer snaps in his age-36 season. The other likely will be first-round pick Breshad Perriman, who has big-play appeal thanks to his blazing speed but also possesses suspect hands and underdeveloped route-running ability. Marlon Brown should also get an opprortunity to bounce back from his poor 2014 campaign, but Kamar Aiken may have a legitimate chance to overtake him for the No. 3 role after showing well in limited opportunities last season.

Baltimore TE -- The Ravens were the first team to draft a tight end this year, picking Maxx Williams, who has just average size (6-4, 248) for the position, though he is a polished receiver. Dennis Pitta is 30 and has serious hip issues, so this job is basically Williams' uncontested, with Crockett Gillmore handling the blocking for the offense, which often lines up two tight ends.

Buffalo QB -- Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor are supposedly in a three-way competition for the ever-so-precious title of Terrible Starting Quarterback For A Rex Ryan-Coached Team, but it's likely truly between just Cassel and Manuel. My suspicion is that Manuel eventually wins the job, with Cassel serving as the veteran backup, but the Bills could go back and forth throughout the season if either is inconsistent.

Buffalo RB -- With LeSean McCoy in the fold, we could finally see the end of Fred "Can't Believe He's Still Playing" Jackson, and it helps that the Bills could save a nice chunk of money by letting the 34-year-old go. That said, rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated before. Anthony Dixon and rookie Karlos Williams seem likeliest to compete for touches behind McCoy, and his old teammate Bryce Brown is still around, but he doesn't seem destined for anything more than a depth role.

Buffalo WR -- The one big thing Bills quarterbacks have going for them is Sammy Watkins, the unquestioned top receiver. His hip worries seem behind him, but his owners will have to pray Cassel or Manuel can get him the ball consistently. Buffalo seems likely to line up Percy Harvin on the other side to use of his game-changing speed, but his near-constant injury issues are sure to create opportunity for others. Of course, there's not a lot of talent behind him, with Robert Woods, Chris Hogan and Marquise Goodwin competing for limited looks in what projects to be a run-heavy offense.

Carolina RB -- Finally, DeAngelo Williams is gone, and thus the DWJSTMADFVT (the DeAngelo Williams-Jonathan Stewart Mutually Assured Destruction of Fantasy Value Tour) has finally drawn to a shuddering halt. Now the only question is what other running back Ron Rivera will use to siphon carries and fantasy value from Stewart. Purely rom an opportunity standpoint, his backup is worth speculating on -- Stewart has missed 20 games the last three seasons, and he's only cleared 200 carries in one of his seven campaigns. Rookie-loving drafters are chasing Cameron Artis-Payne, but youth doesn't always equal upside. Fozzy Whittaker's listed second on the depth chart, but don't be surprised to see him displaced by the speedier, perhaps more versatile, Jordan Todman. Unfortunately, each will have to deal with Cam Newton vulturing touchdowns.

Chicago WR -- Alshon Jeffery is the No. 1 target, with an interesting battle for No. 2 between rookie Kevin White and the intriguing Marquess Wilson, who showed good things at the end of last season. Considering his draft pedigree (7th overall), White is the favorite, but he'll have to catch up with Wilson on the playbook and learn NFL-caliber route running. Eddie Royal will see a lot of slot work, so the loser of the White-Wilson battle likely will be stuck with No. 4 duties.

Chicago RB -- New coach John Fox has promised to cut Matt Forte's generally copious rushing load, and he's known for deploying his backs by committee, so Forte's days as a true workhorse might be over. That means the No. 2 situation is of special interest, with Ka'Deem Carey needing to hold off speedy rookie Jeremy Langford and Jacquizz Rodgers. As Rodgers is more of a third-down back, while catching the ball is Forte's specialty, he's likely to see the least work of the crew, with the true backup battle between Carey (who doesn't exactly seem like a darling of the new regime) and Langford (who wasn't an impressive college back, but is a big-play threat).

Cincinnati RB -- After Jeremy Hill's amazing 2014 rookie campaign, it's tempting to look at him as a growth candidate for 2015, but it all depends on how the Bengals use Giovani Bernard. Injuries may have kept Bernard out three games and sapped some of his effectiveness last year, but he still carried just two fewer times than the season before. Hill likely will take the majority of early down duties, but Bernard's likely to be in on more of the obvious passing situations. The nightmare for Hill owners is a scenario in which the two alternate series.

Cincinnati WR -- While Mohamed Sanu technically holds the No. 2 spot behind A.J. Green, it seems almost certain Marvin Jones will overtake him after finally getting over the foot and ankle injuries that cost him all 2014. In 2013, Jones had a big-time breakout as a playmaker and red-zone threat, and his presence opposite Green could really open things for the Cincy offense, as Sanu isn't able to create mismatches on the outside often. The Bengals also took a flier on Denarius Moore this offseason; that bears watching, as he showed flashes of big-play ability in Oakland.

Cincinnati TE -- After playing one game last season due to injury, Tyler Eifert is projected to be the unchallenged starter at tight end this year, as Jermaine Gresham has moved on. Eifert has a chance to be the Bengals' No. 2 receiver for all intents and purposes, with his receiving ability giving him considerable fantasy potential. Rookie Tyler Kroft is the second-stringer, and his unimpressive college stats don't offer much promise.

Cleveland QB -- Unimpressed with Johnny Manziel's ability as a starter, Cleveland picked up Josh McCown to open the season as the starter. So we enter Year 2 of Manziel Watch, as McCown largely tanked in Tampa Bay last year and comes into a situation where he'll be throwing to far less-talented receivers than what he enjoyed with the Bears and Bucs. If (OK, when) he stumbles, Manziel will be there waiting; both the Browns and fantasy owners will have to hope that last year's struggles and his time in rehab helped Johnny Football mature.

Cleveland RB -- The Terrance West-Isaiah Crowell duo makes its return to the backfield this year, but this time it has a new third wheel in rookie Duke Johnson. Johnson is likely to enjoy a lot of work on passing downs, where neither West nor Crowell particularly excel, and the third-round pick is an explosive runner. I'm more interested in Johnson as a PPR sleeper than I am in trying to figure out who of the other two will carry more from week to week.

Cleveland WR -- The Cleveland receiving corps project to be led by another offseason import, Dwayne Bowe, who surely is thankful to escape Kansas City's wide receiver gulag but certainly could have picked a more interesting landing spot. There will be a battle between Taylor Gabriel, Andrew Hawkins and Brian Hartline for targets in the No. 2 and 3 spots. The Browns might want Hartline to win the second outside spot because he at least matches up better size-wise than the minuscule Hawkins and Gabriel. That said, whoever's in the slot may actually be the second-most-targeted receiver, and those in leagues that reward long plays should pay attention to Gabriel.

Cleveland TE -- This is a house of pain. No other team has a lower-upside collection of tight ends. Veteran Rob Housler likely will see most of the targets, with Malcolm Johnson and E.J. Bibbs trying to win pass-catching jobs in training camp, while Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray occupy blocking roles.

Dallas RB -- Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden will try in tandem to step into the very big, empty shoes of DeMarco Murray. Randle is projected to hold the lead role thanks to his upside and experience with the system. In a limited sample last year, Randle rushed for 6.7 YPC, so there's considerable upside and probably some draft-day value in non-PPR formats. However, McFadden will certainly see his share of work, especially in passing situations, and could carve out a bigger role if he shows new life after leaving the doldrums of Oakland.

Dallas WR -- The freshly paid and extremely awesome Dez Bryant is, of course, the leader of this crew, but things go downhill fast thereafter. Terrance Williams failed to deliver last season on the promise of his impressive rookie campaign, and Dallas will be counting on him to solidify the wideout corps and draw some of the secondary's attention away from Bryant. This could also be a season of growth for Cole Beasley, who may see increased looks in his slot role as Jason Witten keeps getting older.

Denver RB -- After taking over as the starter down the stretch last season, C.J. Anderson is set to play the same role this year, meaning he should get at least 15 and perhaps as many as 30 or so touches a game. But as we've seen, the situation here can be ... volatile. Montee Ball and the sometimes spectacular, but inconsistent and injury-prone Ronnie Hillman will fight for No. 2 duties, with Juwan Thompson also in the mix to some degree.

Denver WR -- Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders have their spots on lockdown, but the No. 3 spot is up in the air. The betting man's play is Cody Latimer, who saw precious little usage last year but has the size, speed and hands to be an effective weapon for Peyton Manning in the slot. Andre Caldwell is the other main candidate, but at 30 years old, he's never going to be anything more than what he's been, which is a No. 4 or 5 receiver.

Denver TE -- It's hard to believe that Virgil Green, who's never caught double-digit passes in his career, will suddenly be converted into a receiving weapon, so Manning-TE speculators should look in the direction of Owen Daniels, who could see a big spike in his numbers if he stays healthy. He can't replicate the production of the departed Julius Thomas, but Daniels easily should provide the most fantasy value in this crew.

Detroit RB -- With Reggie Bush gone, there's no one really standing between Joique Bell and consecutive 200-plus carries seasons, but it's concerning that Bell has managed just 3.9 YPC the last two seasons; all in all, his skills fit a third-down back more than a lead rusher. Worse, he's coming off knee and Achilles' tendon surgeries, though they were reportedly fairly minor. Ameer Abdullah projects as his backup but has a similarly receiving-oriented skillset that may prevent him from carving out a big role while Bell is healthy. Noteworthy receiving weapon Theo Riddick will find some work too, though it's uncertain whose touches he can reasonably steal.

Detroit WR -- There's a four-way battle behind Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate between Jeremy Ross, Corey Fuller, Lance Moore and Ryan Broyles, with the perennially injured but terrifically gifted Broyles perhaps the most interesting if he can stay on the field long enough to win the slot job.

Detroit TE -- The Lions' three-headed beast returns, with Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron and Joseph Fauria. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said in April that Ebron is expected to be the third option in the passing game, but there have also been mutterings about Pettigrew seeing a bigger load and Fauria seeing more goal-line chances. All in all, there's still a bit much of a crowd here for us to really trust in Ebron before we see what percentage of the snaps he'll see.

Green Bay WR -- Passing-game mainstays Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson are back again, and sophomore Davante Adams seems to have the edge on the No. 3 role. Coach Mike McCarthy has glowed about him, so Adams is certainly interesting with an expanded role and Aaron Rodgers throwing to him. Third-round rookie Ty Montgomery's name is worth remembering, and the Packers have a pair of long-term projects in Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis who could pay off eventually.

Houston QB -- Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett will battle in training camp for the starting job. Give the edge to Hoyer on the merits of his veteran status and superior YPA to the awful one that Mallett put up in a limited sample last year.

Houston WR -- DeAndre Hopkins is stepping into the No. 1 role this year, but offseason wrist surgery, the departure of Andre Johnson and a gross quarterback situation make it quite possible that he'll take a step back from last season's shining numbers. Ex-Jag Cecil Shorts appears set to take the No. 2 role, but could be pushed as the season goes on by talented rookie Jaelen Strong. Houston also brought in veteran Nate Washington, who is likely to assume a significant role, perhaps working out of the slot.

Indianapolis RB -- Frank Gore might be 32, but he's nonetheless expected to handle a three-down load. The question, of course, is when Gore finally succumbs to his age and either implodes or is injured. Dan Herron is projected as the backup, but certainly lacks elite upside despite his fan-friendly rushing style. Vick Ballard and Zurlon Tipton (an amazing sci-fi character name) don't appear to pose big threats even as far as overtaking Herron for backup duties.

Indianapolis WR -- Freed from the doldrums of Houston, Johnson won't be asked to be The Man for the Colts -- that's T.Y. Hilton's job. But Johnson, even at 34, could be in for a bounce-back to 1,200 yards or so now that he has Andrew Luck throwing to him. No. 3 man Donte Moncrief has a lot of upside too, and owners would be well advised to speculate on him with a late pick, but he could be overtaken by impressive first-rounder Phillip Dorsett. Former CFL star Duron Carter also signed with the Colts in the offseason and could serve as a depth receiver with upside.

Indianapolis TE -- Coby Fleener owners will face another year of Dwayne Allen siphoning about 35 percent of the looks, but Fleener's quite relevant at tight end nonetheless. I'll be looking to see how the Colts deploy that duo again this year.

Jacksonville RB -- The Jags spent an early second-round pick on T.J. Yeldon, who will push Toby Gerhart to a backup role. Denard Robinson is still around, and he showed explosiveness at times last year, but faded toward season's end and then got hurt. He'll see some action, but probably not enough to be relevant in most leagues. Sophomore Storm Johnson's still here too, and the Jags also brought in Bernard Pierce, who could end up overtaking Gerhart for the No. 2 spot.

Jacksonville WR -- Allen Robinson projects to please PPR owners atop the depth chart this season, but after him, Marqise Lee needs more development and Allen Hurns needs more staying power. Things are pretty hideous on the chart behind that trio, though, so the only things that could reasonably shuffle things here are spectacular flameouts and injuries.

Kansas City WR -- Newcomer Jeremy Maclin takes over for the departed Dwayne Bowe as the No. 1 target, and converted running back De'Anthony Thomas and third-rounder Chris Conley will probably battle for the second role; both have uncertain upside. It only gets uglier from there, with names like Jason Avant (woo-hoo, Philly style!), Albert Wilson and Frankie Hammond competing for action.

Miami RB -- Lamar Miller is coming off a breakout campaign in which he cleared 1,000 yards for the first time and scored nine total touchdowns, but the Dolphins seem inclined to work rookie Jay Ajayi into the mix rather than handing Miller the ball 300 times. Ajayi is quite talented, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him carve out a significant chunk of the carries if he shows well in training camp and preseason.

Miami WR -- Miami's receiving corps saw an offseason shakeup, but it's questionable whether the changes will yield a ton of fantasy value. Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings are expected to line up on the outside while Jarvis Landry again occupies the slot role, and it's anyone's guess which of the three will be the most impactful for owners week to week. The wild card is first-round pick DeVante Parker, who's coming off foot surgery and could see his impact increase as the season goes on.

Minnesota RB -- Suspension over, relationship with the team patched up, Adrian Peterson is back. But after nearly a full season away from the game and with age 30 upon him, it's worth questioning whether he'll be the same AP owners could rely upon in his first six seasons. It's mostly the same old crowd behind him, with the electric Jerick McKinnon (who's coming off back surgery, but seemingly healthy) and the plodding Matt Asiata, plus newcomer DuJuan Harris. McKinnon should work his way into some third-down reps, but he's far from fantasy relevance as long as Peterson stays on the field.

Minnesota WR -- The Vikes bolstered their receiving corps by adding Mike Wallace to 2014 breakout Charles Johnson and 2014 disappointment Cordarrelle Patterson. Wallace should instantly step in as Teddy Bridgewater's top target. With Wallace's pure speed taking the cover off the defense, Johnson could find more opportunities underneath after he showed plenty of ability last year. Unfortunately, the fortunes of all three -- especially Patterson, a hugely gifted playmaker who took a step back last year and is now stuck in the No. 3 role -- are tied to how well Teddy Bridgewater can distribute the ball.

New England QB -- Tom Brady is set to miss the first four games of the year, which will force Jimmy Garoppolo into action (unless Brady's suspension is reduced). We haven't seen much of Garoppolo on the field yet, but he has a reliable receiving crew and was reasonably successful in his few opportunities last year.

New England RB -- This situation could still go in a lot of directions, and it's far from impossible that a guy we've never heard of will end up as the Pats' leading rusher. That'd be the typical Bill Belichick style. For now, LeGarrette Blount is the ostensible No. 1, though he's already been suspended for the first week of the year. Jonas Gray is probably the second-best RB to own (maybe even the best?), while Travaris Cadet was brought in to fill Shane Vereen's shoes. Familiar names Brandon Bolden and James White are still kicking around for depth, too.

New England WR -Julian Edelman remains the rare slot receiver who's also his team's No. 1 target, and though he's coming off a late-season concussion and hip injury, PPR owners should still be in love with him. Brandon LaFell needed an offseason walking boot, but he's in line to return and reprise his role as ostensibly this team's top receiver on the outside. It's open after that, with familiar unimpressive names Danny Amendola (who at least came on over the final three games last year), Brandon Gibson and Aaron Dobson rounding out the depth options.

New Orleans RB -- It looks like Mark Ingram is in great position to repeat last year's workload and productivity, with 200-plus carries seemingly on the horizon if he can stay healthy. C.J. Spiller projects to take on a lot of the passing work that once went to the likes of Pierre Thomas and Travaris Cadet; meanwhile, Khiry Robinson gives this backfield its typical three heads, but will probably be limited to five or so touches per game, assuming the others stay healthy.

New Orleans WR -- Probably the biggest beneficiary of Jimmy Graham skipping town is Marques Colston, who's always seemed to have his best games when Graham was injured. Colston's size and general reliability should have Drew Brees looking his way often, but emergent second-year man Brandin Cooks should get plenty of work as well -- perhaps more than Colston, when all's said and done. There are far fewer mouths to feed than normal, so this could be a good year to buy the Saints' top two receivers. Nick Toon is looking to step up as a regular in the No. 3 role, while undrafted wideout Seantavius Jones will look to make an impression in camp to take hold of the No. 4 job over the uninspiring likes of Jalen Saunders, Josh Morgan and Joseph Morgan.

New Orleans TE -- Without Graham, Josh Hill is projected to make up much of the difference. We haven't seen a ton of Hill, but he did show himself to be a credible receiver when given the rare opportunity behind Graham, and he only has to deal with the presence of Ben Watson, who'll be asked to block more often than not. Don't look for Hill to be Graham 2.0, but he could carve himself out some relevance, especially in deeper formats.

New York Giants RB -- Rashad Jennings enters this year healthy and ostensibly the established starter, but Eli Manning will surely make use of the pass-catching and blocking capabilities of newcomer Shane Vereen, particularly on third downs. The Patriots used to split Vereen out wide at times, and he could be used that way by the Giants, as well, considering the lack of WR depth.

New York Giants WR -- Odell Beckham returns as the top receiver and a candidate to become the top wideout in football in his sophomore campaign, but there's a bit of a mess behind him. Victor Cruz is coming off a torn patellar tendon in his knee, and though he's expected to be ready for training camp, there's been a sharp decline in his production already the last two years. Rueben Randle had his share of big games last season and will offer stiff competition for the No. 2 spot; if another injury were to strike Beckham or Cruz, he'd project to receive a lot of attention in the passing game. Dark horse: the speedy, 6-4 Corey Washington.

New York Jets QB -- While the Jets brought in Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason to serve as the veteran backup, they're expected to once more hand the reins to third-year man Geno Smith, who will look to parlay his promising finish from last season into a long-term hold on the position. After replacing Michael Vick in last year's Nov. 24 blowout loss in Buffalo, Geno concluded the season by completing 65.6 percent passing over the final five-and-a-half games with only three interceptions. If he can carry that efficiency forward, it could rocket the Jets into playoff contention. But if Fitzpatrick ends up seeing much time on the field, it probably means fans of the green and white are in for another miserable season.

New York Jets RB -- This is about as big a crowd of unexciting running backs as you can put together, but at least there are plenty of options. Good for Todd Bowles, but not for fantasy owners, who are generally well advised to steer clear of this situation. Chris Ivory is set to take No. 1 duties, but the Jets will distribute the ball around, meaning he's not likely to see more than about 200 carries. The rest will go to some combination of Patriots castoff Stevan Ridley, Rams castoff Zac Stacy and Bilal Powell, who's entering his fifth season as a depth running back for the Jets.

New York Jets WR -- If either Brandon Marshall or Eric Decker go down, second-round rookie Devin Smith -- last season's NCAA leader in yards per catch -- would see an increased opportunity. For now, though, he's stuck in the No. 4 role while the spectacularly unexciting Jeremy Kerley works the slot. It'll be interesting to see what sort of role ex-Texan DeVier Posey can win, too.

New York Jets TE -- Like last year, Jace Amaro and Jeff Cumberland will handle the majority of fantasy-relevant duties at tight end. Expect Amaro's role to increase in his second season, and don't be surprised to see him approach 60 catches if Geno can be sufficiently efficient.

Oakland RB -- Latavius Murray is expected to start; as a game-breaking runner and competent receiver, he's by far the most complete package. Trent Richardson was brought in to serve as the backup, and a photo with him in an Oakland jersey is a fine punch line for a wide variety of jokes, some (but not all) about Al Davis. Ex-Redskin Roy Helu should come offer help in pass protection and receiving out of the backfield, but is no threat to Murray. Undrafted rookie Terrance Cobb should also make the team, and his long-term upside merits a mention.

Oakland WR -- The No. 4 pick in the draft, Amari Cooper is expected to start. On the other side of this rebuilt corps is another top-10 pick in perennial disappointment Michael Crabtree, who could be of some use in PPR formats, but probaby not otherwise. Rod Streater, Brice Butler and Andre Holmes are still around, but with the new imports, all they can reasonably ask for is to push the unimpressive Kenbrell Thompkins for No. 3 duties.

Philadelphia QB -- Accquired in the offseason, Bradford is the favorite to start over Mark Sanchez, but he's also coming off a pair of torn ACLs and didn't get to develop much in St. Louis, where he wasn't surrounded by great talent or coaching. If he falters or is hurt (again), it'll be Sanchez time once more. We've seen that just about any NFL-caliber passer -- even Sanchez -- can put up big numbers in Kelly's system, so whoever's under center here should have plenty of fantasy relevance.

Philadelphia RB -- Coming off one of the best rushing seasons in football history, newcomer DeMarco Murray is expected to blow up for another huge campaign in the Chip Kelly system, but there's injury concern after he had nearly 400 carries last season. That's a huge workload spike, and prior to playing all 16 games in 2014, he had a reputation for being banged up often. If Murray is healthy, it's worth wondering how the Eagles will work in Ryan Mathews -- a similar back (almost the same size, a bit injury-prone and also a competent receiver) with a less-elite arsenal of skills. It's a high-volume offense, sure, but it's hard to believe Mathews sees more than 8-10 carries a game while Murray's healthy. And there's a third mouth to feed, too, though Darren Sproles generally makes his bones as a receiver out of the backfield.

Philadlphia WR -- LeSean McCoy wasn't the only elite skill player the Eagles jettisoned this offseason, as Jeremy Maclin hit the road as well, leaving Philadelphia with a questionable group at receiver. For now, Jordan Matthews is the top dog, and coming off a sharp rookie year, big things are expected as he tries to fill Maclin's shoes. The Eagles also hoped first-round pick Nelson Agholor -- who has himself drawn comparisons to Maclin -- can carve out a role on the opposite side, with Riley Cooper manning the No. 3 spot and Miles Austin slowly withering away on his third team in the last three seasons.

Philadelphia TE -- Promising young pass-catcher Zach Ertz figures to see a bigger workload this year with veteran Brent Celek now 30 and headed distinctly in the direction of marginalization. It's not impossible that Celek will produce a big game or two, but on a weekly basis, Ertz will be the Eagles tight end to own and could be headed for a top-10 finish at the position.

Pittsburgh RB -- Le'Veon Bell is set to sit out the first three games of the season due to a suspension (which could be reduced), and that means fantasy owners are slated to get some utility out of DeAngelo Williams, who'll start in Bell's absence. With his lack of size, Dri Archer is unlikely to get consideration as more than a scat back, but he'll at least see consistent third-down and change-of-pace work while Bell is out.

Pittsburgh WR -- Martavis Bryant appears likely to line up opposite Antonio Brown, with Markus Wheaton seemingly best suited to a slot role, but that No. 2 spot isn't set in stone yet. Nonetheless, that trio should account for the vast majority of the fantasy relevance among Steelers receivers, with rookie Sammie Coates offering some dark-horse upside in case of injury.

San Diego RB -- Rookie Melvin Gordon comes to San Diego as the 15th overall pick in the draft. He doesn't have a lot of receiving experience, so Branden Oliver and Danny Woodhead should see some third-down work in his place, but Gordon projects to take nearly all the totes on early downs as well as goal-line duties.

San Diego WR -- Keenan Allen's production dipped significantly last season, with his pass-catching efficiency, big-play ability and red-zone effectiveness all taking precipitous falls. But he returns as the top receiver for Philip Rivers, with the Chargers' offseason imports unlikely to overtake him. Newly minted San Diegan Steve Johnson should see a decent number of targets, but he has a moderate ceiling and a low floor, while fellow veteran Malcom Floyd is unlikely to offer more than 800-some yards in what's expected to be his final NFL season. Depth receiver Dontrelle Inman showed some things at the end of last year and could get some chances down the road.

San Diego TE -- Did you think it was weird that the old-school version of Antonio Gates nearly returned last season, with the veteran tight end -- 35 entering this year -- posting his highest touchdown total in a decade? So did the league; a positive PED test will send Gates to the bench for four games to start the 2015 season. That'll give Ladarius Green a fourth chance to make a first impression at tight end for the Chargers, but his pass-catching skills have shown up only sporadically so far.

San Francisco RB -- With Frank Gore moving on to Indy, Carlos Hyde is in line to inherit the rushing load by the Bay, and the 2014 second-rounder will look to build on last year's fairly modest 4.0 YPC as he does so. Hyde is a big, strong runner, but his lack of breakaway speed makes him more of a grinder than a playmaker, and Reggie Bush is on hand to handle much of the passing and change-of-pace work. Kendall Hunter, coming off a torn ACL, might eventually push Hyde for carries if things break out right, but I'm inclined to think that the Niners knew what they were doing when they picked Hyde out of Ohio State last year.

San Francisco WR -- Torrey Smith joins the possession-oriented Anquan Boldin to make up the top duo of targets for Colin Kaepernick this year, but there's room for a lot of shuffling on the chart behind them. Third-year man Quinton Patton and sophomore Bruce Ellington (each with six career receptions) are the top contenders for the No. 3 role, while Jerome Simpson will have to fight for his spot and overcome the negative perceptions created by his sub-50 percent catch rate the last three years.

Seattle WR -- After making a name for himself in the Super Bowl, Chris Matthews has a chance to fill the No. 3 role this season. Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse are one and two, Ricardo Lockette and Tyler Lockett are both special teams players and Paul Richardson (knee) is likely to begin the year on the PUP list. That leaves only second-year WR Kevin Norwood to battle Matthews, who's the biggest receiver on the roster (6-5, 218).

St. Louis RB -- Tre Mason took control of the rushing duties last season, but his inconsistency in the lead role and the high price the Rams paid for Todd Gurley (the 10th pick in the draft) could mean a change is coming to this pecking order sooner than later. Much of that will depend on the health of Gurley, who underwent knee surgery in November, not to mention whether Mason can show some development both in camp and early in the season. Mason has the skills to be a lower-tier lead back, but Gurley is a star in the making.

Buccaneers RB -- Doug Martin reportedly trimmed down and got fitter in the offseason, and with only Charles Sims and Bobby Rainey to compete with, there's a chance he could recapture the ol' rookie mojo this year. Three years is a long time in NFL terms, but lets' not forget that in 2012, Martin was a first-round draft pick who posted more than 1,900 total yards. He'll be available at a huge discount in fantasy drafts and could thus return a handsome profit. Currently, it seems Sims is his top backup, and he could even push Martin for starting duties in camp.

Tampa Bay WR -- Jameis Winston faces a lot of uncertainty as he comes into the NFL, but one place where he can find comfort is his wide receiver corps. Young stud Mike Evans and old stud Vincent Jackson will lead the way, with Louis Murphy seemingly the front-runner for the third spot. Of course, Murphy's a boring vet, so fifth-round rookie Kenny Bell should get a shot at supplanting him.

Tennessee QB -- Tennessee didn't invest big in Marcus Mariota to sit him Week 1, and coach Ken Whisenhunt has maintained he'll be the starter to open the campaign, barring injury or a hideous preseason showing. Zach Mettenberger fans will have to settle for cheering on his clipboard-holding abilities.

Tennessee RB -- Neither the Titans nor fantasy owners came away singing any hymns about Bishop Sankey's rookie season, as the 2014 second-rounder struggled to get anything going in a poor offense. However, there's a bright side -- after not being able to attend OTAs last year, Sankey has done so this year, and the hope is he can add some bulk to go with the quickness that made him such a high draft pick. If that doesn't help, bruising rookie David Cobb could overtake him, particularly around the goal line. The question is how often Mariota can get the Titans to the goal line during his rookie campaign. Dexter McCluster is here too, but it's hard to believe he'll see the ball much outside of return duties and some receiving action.

Tennessee WR -- Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter are set to reprise their roles as the top two receivers for Tennessee, and Wright in particular seems likely to see a boost in value with the presence of Mariota under center. Hunter may be a different story -- he's a physical beast, but something of a boom-or-bust candidate entering his third season, and he's going to have to fend off the similarly huge and talented rookie Dorial Green-Beckham. The Titans also brought in a pair of vets in Harry Douglas and the broken-down Hakeem Nicks, and the fact that they run a lot of three- and four-wide sets should mean all get some chances.

Washington RB -- Alfred Morris is still the lead back, but the selection of Matt Jones in the draft gives the Redskins another option in the backfield if Morris continues his decline in efficiency. With Roy Helu gone, there's room for a new third-down option, and Jones could have the inside track at that even though his skillset is closer to that of a power back. Silas Redd might be an option as well.

Washington TE -- Jordan Reed (knee) is expected to be ready for training camp, but he should also be expected to miss time to injury again this season, as he's missed a dozen games over his first two campaigns. Niles Paul showed some star-quality skills when he got his shots last year, and he'll get them again this year. Whenever it looks like he'll line up for a good number of targets, Paul will make for a hell of a spot-starting play.