This article is part of our Depth Chart Watch series.
Heading into the final preseason week, we have a couple newly minted starting quarterbacks, and as they so often do, injuries are throwing quite a few situations into chaos. Fortunately, I'm here to summarize the insanity for you.
Arizona RB - Andre Ellington appears to be doing his level best to lose his No. 1 role, as the third week of the preseason brought another disappointing performance -- just 27 total yards on 12 touches (nine rushes, three catches). Since breaking off a 57-yard reception in the first week of exhibition play, Ellington has totaled just 11 carries for 31 yards and three catches on seven targets for eight yards in the next two. Not good. While rookie David Johnson was similarly unproductive running the ball, losing two yards on four carries, he posted a strong receiving effort, reeling in four of five targets for 40 yards and a score. Chris Johnson will get his chance to make an impression in the final preseason game Thursday, as he'll start and is supposed to touch the ball 10-plus times.
Atlanta RB - Devonta Freeman is slated to miss the final preseason game, adding that DNP to the others he's collected the last few weeks, but the current sound of things is that he'll be good to go when real games start next week. Meanwhile, Tevin Coleman made his preseason debut last week, gaining four yards on two carries. So we don't have a lot to go on here as we try
Heading into the final preseason week, we have a couple newly minted starting quarterbacks, and as they so often do, injuries are throwing quite a few situations into chaos. Fortunately, I'm here to summarize the insanity for you.
Arizona RB - Andre Ellington appears to be doing his level best to lose his No. 1 role, as the third week of the preseason brought another disappointing performance -- just 27 total yards on 12 touches (nine rushes, three catches). Since breaking off a 57-yard reception in the first week of exhibition play, Ellington has totaled just 11 carries for 31 yards and three catches on seven targets for eight yards in the next two. Not good. While rookie David Johnson was similarly unproductive running the ball, losing two yards on four carries, he posted a strong receiving effort, reeling in four of five targets for 40 yards and a score. Chris Johnson will get his chance to make an impression in the final preseason game Thursday, as he'll start and is supposed to touch the ball 10-plus times.
Atlanta RB - Devonta Freeman is slated to miss the final preseason game, adding that DNP to the others he's collected the last few weeks, but the current sound of things is that he'll be good to go when real games start next week. Meanwhile, Tevin Coleman made his preseason debut last week, gaining four yards on two carries. So we don't have a lot to go on here as we try to figure out how this thing's going to shake out.
Atlanta WR - Roddy White had minor surgery on his elbow last week, but is still expected to be available Week 1. I'm not as confident; I had minor surgery of my own last week, and I don't think I'd be ready for Week 1, but hey, maybe that's just me. If he can't go, Matt Ryan will distribute more targets to Leonard Hankerson, who's turned in a strong preseason. Hankerson could be this year's Harry Douglas, posting strong stat lines when either White or Julio Jones isn't in the lineup.
Baltimore RB - Javorius Allen didn't impress in extended action last week, taking 12 carries for only 24 yards and catching one of three pass targets for five yards. That gives an extra bit of job security to 2014 veteran breakout Justin Forsett, though Allen still appears set to overtake the hurting Lorenzo Taliaferro (knee) for the No. 2 role.
Buffalo QB - Sometimes, the dark horse wins. This is one of those times. The question most experts asked all preseason was whether it would be Matt Cassel or EJ Manuel in Week 1, but instead, it's going to be Tyrod Taylor, who's impressed coach Rex Ryan with his ever-improving passing ability (24-for-31 for 236 yards in the preseason) as well as his legs (11 rushes, 108 yards). As a dual-threat quarterback with a potentially elite target in Sammy Watkins, Taylor becomes an instant fantasy interest in fantasy, particularly in two-QB leagues. It looks likely that the Bills will retain Manuel as the backup while letting Cassel go, but there are no sure things here.
Buffalo RB - Fred Jackson got cut essentially out of the blue this week, shocking pretty much everyone around the league -- especially after he broke off a 41-yard touchdown in preseason Week 3. That leaves Anthony Dixon, Karlos Williams and Bryce Brown (all of whom are banged up) to compete for No. 2 duties behind LeSean McCoy, who's suffering from a hamstring injury and may not be available for a full workload in Week 1. I like Williams, but this situation could still go in a lot of directions.
Chicago WR - It looks like Eddie Royal has overtaken Marquess Wilson for the No. 2 job, but both, as well as top dog Alshon Jeffery, are hurting as we enter the final week of preseason action. Jeffery is reportedly just day-to-day, but if his calf injury lingers, both Royal and Wilson would be in line for increased workloads -- assuming they get over their own hip and hamstring injuries, respectively.
Cleveland RB - Duke Johnson went and got himself concussed in last week's game, and he has no timeline for return -- bad news for a Browns team that hasn't seen much to write home about from Isaiah Crowell or Terrance West in exhibition play. It'll be Crowell who opens the season at the top of the chart, but this situation projects to be rather fluid again.
Dallas RB - Rumblings have begun that Darren McFadden is going to steal the starting role -- or at least a timeshare -- away from Joseph Randle. I just don't see it. Sure, McFadden turned in his best game of the preseason last week, collecting 37 yards on only four carries, but Randle still appears set to take early down duties, and he has the receiving ability to be a three-down back. Even if McFadden temporarily seizes a larger role, his penchant for injury -- not to mention three straight seasons well under 4.0 YPC -- means there's a decent chance he could give it right back. I'm more than happy to take the fear-induced discount on Randle in my upcoming drafts.
Detroit RB - Joique Bell is back from the PUP list and listed as the starter, but his Week 1 availability hasn't yet been confirmed. Meanwhile, Ameer Abdullah has been a bit quiet over the last two preseason games, with limited touches (five carries, one catch) yielding 36 total yards, 21 of which came on the reception. Zach Zenner, on the other hand, has blown everyone away, guaranteeing himself a roster spot, while Theo Riddick has received plenty of first-team reps. This could turn into even more of a committee approach than we thought, especially if Bell isn't ready for a full workload in the early going.
Green Bay WR - Randall Cobb picked up a sprained AC joint in his shoulder in last week's preseason game, but is expected to be good to go come Week 1. Even so, Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery have become major fantasy interests, with Montgomery taking a pass for 52 yards last week despite Aaron Rodgers not playing. Jeff Janis has also been making his name heard in fantasy circles after a strong preseason Week 3 (three catches, 72 yards, TD).
Indianapolis WR - Phillip Dorsett increasingly looks like he's going to win the No. 3 receiver role from Donte Moncrief, but he didn't play in last week's preseason game. Even so, Moncrief will likely see his share of time in four-wide sets, making him a potential boom-or-bust fantasy option. T.Y. Hilton and Andre Johnson should still account for the vast majority of looks, though Hilton is dealing with a minor concussion sustained last week.
Jacksonville RB - T.J. Yeldon was distinctly unimpressive in his first preseason action last week, gaining just 10 yards on eight rushes, plus one catch for 12 yards. While we shouldn't jump to conclusions based on that and he appears to be a lock for goal-line duties, there has to be concern that Denard Robinson will make this into more of a timeshare than some forecasted. Robinson was, after all, one of the most valuable rushers in the league for a four-week stretch last season.
Jacksonville TE - Julius Thomas is having surgery on his finger, and he could miss a month of action, putting him in line for a return in Week 3 or 4. And so we say hello again to veteran Marcedes Lewis, who should be in line for semi-consistent targets while Thomas is out.
New England QB - Well, I'll be. Tom Brady won his court case, overturning his four-game Deflategate suspension, and like magic, he's back in the driver's seat for the Patriots starting in Week 1. You just can't keep the man down. Sorry, Jimmy Garoppolo.
New England WR - Brandon LaFell (foot) remains on the preseason PUP list, and it's starting to look like he might miss significant regular-season time. The Pats acquired yet another receiver in Jalen Saunders this week, but the majority of looks appear set to go to Julian Edelman, followed by what may be an ever-changing rotation that includes Reggie Wayne, Danny Amendola and Aaron Dobson.
New York Giants WR - Victor Cruz's Week 1 looks jeopardized, as he's still not even jogging. That's great news for Rueben Randle owners, who should stand to benefit if Cruz remains out as Randle has been known to put up big games when given the opportunity. Meanwhile, Odell Beckham has had a quiet preseason, dealing with a hamstring injury (always a concern) and failing to catch a pass of longer than eight yards on his 13 targets. Don't downgrade Beckham quite yet, but at least make a note of caution.
Oakland TE - Lee Smith is listed as the Raiders' No. 1 tight end, but he's a blocking-oriented sort, so don't expect him to steal many targets from talented third-year man Mychal Rivera. The bigger threat to Rivera is rookie Clive Walford, but he has an undisclosed injury and no timetable to return.
Pittsburgh WR - Martavis Bryant's suspension was upheld, so he's out for the first four games of the season. Markus Wheaton will thus serve in the No. 2 receiver role opposite Antonio Bryant, with rookie Sammie Coates and veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey still jockeying for No. 3 duties in his absence.
Seattle RB - Marshawn Lynch's backup, Robert Turbin, suffered the dreaded high-ankle sprain last week and will miss significant time. The Seahawks have shown interest in Fred Jackson, as they apparently don't trust Christine Michael as their No. 2 (though he did run well last week -- seven carries for 37 yards), while undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls has to be considered a dark horse despite a solid camp.
St. Louis RB - The last thing Tre Mason needs as he tries to make an impression before Todd Gurley's ready to return is an injury, but he aggravated a hamstring ailment last week, and now his own Week 1 status is in question. With Gurley (knee) highly unlikely to see action in the season's first few weeks, Benny Cunningham could be in line for an expanded workload.
Washington QB - Kirk Cousins was named the starter Monday, a role that he cemented with a 20-for-27 day (though he did throw a pick to go with a TD) in preseason Week 3. Colt McCoy was impressive with the second team again, though, so Cousins will need to get off to a strong start once the real games begin, or he'll be at risk of losing his job to either McCoy or Robert Griffin.
Washington RB - It may be time for Alfred Morris to start feeling some nerves, as third-round rookie Matt Jones has looked like a star in the making throughout camp, while Morris has had a pretty quiet preseason. Through three preseason games, Jones has carried 20 times for 139 yards and a touchdown, and he's also caught both his pass targets for 28 yards. It seems likely Jones will immediately overtake the third-down role formerly held by Roy Helu, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him rob the plodding Morris of early down carries sooner rather than later. At 6-foot-2, 231, he's got great size for an NFL running back, and though Jones isn't much faster than Morris, he looks like a much more complete runner who won't be so reliant on the zone read (which won't be happening with Griffin out of the starting role) to find success.
