Depth Chart Watch: Fallout From Week 3

Folks, Monday night was one wild night of sports. Unless you lived under a rock, you certainly found something on TV in prime time. Crying players took the field as the Marlins faced the Mets in the first game after the tragically untimely death of Jose Fernandez; offensive fireworks in the Falcons-Saints game; and of course the heavyweight bout, the presidential debate. Keen watchers came in anticipating a big night, and they got it.

Turning my attention away from general interest stories to the NFL (you know, the reason you're here), there's plenty to see as we head into the first week of byes. Run, don't walk, to your fantasy waiver wire and pick up Jordan Howard, this week's top widely available add. Unless your team is stacked top to bottom, there are plenty of other players who can help too, especially if you're building depth for the longer haul. Major pieces for later this year are on your wire, so be sure you think about the future as well as the present. Picking up players like Kenneth Dixon now might pay major dividends later.

QUARTERBACK

Chicago Bears

Brian Hoyer was pretty strong despite a loss to Dallas in Week 3, completing 30 of 49 passes for 317 yards, two touchdowns and no picks – though he did lose a fumble. There's a chance Jay Cutler gets back for this week, but don't hold your breath.

Cleveland Browns

As it turned out, fantasy owners like me who liked the Miami defense against Cody Kessler and the Browns went unrewarded, as the third-stringer delivered 244 passing yards while completing 21 of his 33 attempts, albeit with no touchdowns (or interceptions!) while Cleveland unexpectedly scored 24 points. Not bad! He did lose a fumble but hey, no one's saying you should start the guy in fantasy.

New England Patriots

So, Bill Belichick was down to his third-string quarterback and was still missing his superstar tight end Thursday. No matter. The Pats absolutely crushed Houston, with Jacoby Brissett serving as an effective game manager, completing 11 of 19 passes for 103 yards and rushing eight times for 48 yards and his only score of the day. No turnovers, move the chains – that's the New England offense. Brissett did suffer a thumb injury of unclear severity though, leaving this situation up in the air as we head toward Week 4 given that the progress of Jimmy Garropolo's shoulder is also unknown, though both practiced Tuesday. All they need to do is get through this week, and then Tom Brady will be back on the field.

Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson sprained his MCL in Week 3 against the Niners and was removed with the game well in hand, but said he could have returned if it was a close contest. He's expected to play against the Jets this week, although there's some chance the Seahawks might choose to rest him with their bye coming up in Week 5. Aside from an interception, Trevone Boykin acquitted himself reasonably well in relief (7-for-9 for 65 yards and a touchdown).

RUNNING BACK

Atlanta Falcons

Who's got two thumbs and started both Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman against the Saints for their Monday night shootout? This guy! The Atlanta backs put up two of the highest fantasy outputs at their position so far this year, with Freeman gaining 207 total yards (152 rushing and a team-leading 55 receiving on five catches) and a touchdown, while Coleman punched in three touchdowns to go with 42 rushing yards and another 47 through the air. That should make Freeman owners feel a lot better, though there's still a timeshare here and the going will be tougher against Carolina in Week 4.

Baltimore Ravens

With Justin Forsett looking slower than ever, Terrance West ended up with the bigger share of Sunday's workload, carrying 10 times for 45 yards to Forsett's seven for 20. Forsett did at least help PPR owners by reeling in six catches… for 12 yards. Gross. Meanwhile, scuttlebutt continues to ramp up regarding the potential debut of rookie Kenneth Dixon, a smart speculative pickup for those fantasy owners taking the long view at running back. Dixon could appear in game action as soon as this week, but even if he looks great right away it'll probably take him two or three weeks to win a featured role, so stay patient if you snag him.

Carolina Panthers

As it turned out, Cameron Artis-Payne stepped right into the Jonathan Stewart role in Week 3 with the incumbent out thanks to a hamstring injury. There wasn't much there for fantasy owners, though, as CAP managed a modest 47 rushing yards on 12 carries, adding a catch for 11 yards. Fozzy Whittaker was much less involved, running five times for 22 yards. There'll be better days ahead against worse defenses, as Cam Newton and the Panthers got pretty well shut down by Minnesota on Sunday, so Artis-Payne should still pay dividends for invested fantasy owners with Stewart expected to miss multiple weeks.

Chicago Bears

Jeremy Langford went down with an ankle injury in Week 3, and Jordan Howard managed to clear 90 total yards after he left. In those leagues where Howard's available he makes for a priority add, as Langford's set to miss 4-to-8 weeks. Bid aggressively. The Bears are also adding Joique Bell for depth, but he's highly unlikely to take the job over from Howard.

Detroit Lions

With Ameer Abdullah (foot) out, the Lions' running game was a bit of a disaster in Week 3, as Dwayne Washington averaged only 3.8 YPC on 10 carries while Theo Riddick managed to gain only nine yards on his own 10 rushes. Riddick did produce some in the passing game, as usual, but is still a boom-or-bust fantasy play, although he at least has a decent floor in PPR formats. This looks like a legit timeshare in Abdullah's absence.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Chris Ivory got back for the Jags in Week 3, and it was… not a glorious return. Ivory ran 12 times for all of 14 yards, with a nine-yard catch added on, and he added knee and ankle injuries to the mystery ailment that kept him out the first two weeks. Of course, T.J. Yeldon was barely better, gaining just 17 yards on six carries and 11 yards on two catches. It remains to be seen whether Ivory will be good to go for next week's game against the Colts in London, but both backs will be tough to trust even in that softer matchup.

Green Bay Packers

Eddie Lacy took back his backfield in Week 3 after splitting things with James Starks the week before. The Packers' No. 1 back carried 17 times for 103 yards while Starks carried just once.

Kansas City Chiefs

Contrary to expectations from early in the week, Jamaal Charles (knee) remained out Sunday, allowing Spencer Ware to take a starter's workload again. He had some nice moments, but the Jets' tough defense limited Ware to 83 total yards and caused him to lose a fumble. Meanwhile, head coach Andy Reid said "there's a chance" Charles plays in Week 4 against the Steelers, which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of his health.

Miami Dolphins

With Arian Foster (groin) out and Jay Ajayi still out of favor, Kenyan Drake drew the biggest portion of the running work in Sunday's win over Cleveland. He produced decent but not very fantasy-relevant numbers – nine carries for 37 yards – and it doesn't help Drake that Ajayi ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard rush in overtime. Of course, Ajayi had only 17 yards before that, so you take the good with the bad. Foster isn't expected to play Thursday against the Bengals, so we'll see a similar timeshare approach in that game.

Minnesota Vikings

With Adrian Peterson (knee) out for much or all of the season, the Jerick McKinnon-Matt Asiata timeshare got off to a fairly predictable start in Week 3, with McKinnon taking the heavy end of the load (16 carries to six), but not producing much (45 rushing yards). Both caught a single pass for a short gain on a single target and neither received a carry inside the 10-yard line, mostly due to game flow. McKinnon found the end zone on a two-point conversion though, which may offer the promise of future goal line opportunities.

New York Giants

Injuries have come for the Giants' backfield. With Rashad Jennings (thumb) unable to go Sunday, the Giants rolled out Shane Vereen and Orleans Darkwa, only to see Vereen rupture his triceps and head to IR; in the best-case scenario, he's back in eight weeks. An undrafted rusher who's fashioned a career as a little-used backup, Darkwa ran well when given the chance against Washington, gaining 53 yards on 10 carries and scoring a touchdown. Jennings could return for the Giants' Monday Night Football game in Week 4, but there are no sure things on that front yet.

Oakland Raiders

If I was Latavius Murray, I'd be feeling pretty nervous right about now. He had a starting job all to himself, but he's increasingly splitting off carries to DeAndre Washington (who looked electric Sunday, rushing for 57 yards on just six totes) and Jalen Richard (who was about half as productive on the same number of carries, which is still good). Murray put up the lowest YPC (3.7) of the trio on his 10 carries and, though he saved his day with a touchdown, his owners should be casting about for alternatives. Washington looks like a star in the making, and it's enticing to think about what he might be able to do with a full workload eventually.

Philadelphia Eagles

Ryan Mathews got pulled early Sunday with his ankle injury acting up, and the Eagles accordingly turned to rookie Wendell Smallwood, who helped stun the Steelers with 17 rushes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Kenjon Barner got in the action too, rushing eight times for 42 yards and finding the end zone himself. Darren Sproles barely ran the ball (two carries for a loss of a yard), but led the Eagles in receiving with 128 yards and a touchdown of his own on six catches (six targets).

Pittsburgh Steelers

The final week of DeAngelo Williams, Starter, was disappointing for his owners, as the veteran struggled alongside the rest of Pittsburgh's offense in a trouncing at the hands of the Eagles. But this week, Le'Veon Bell comes back – reportedly in top condition – and his fantasy owners couldn't be happier. If I was Mike Tomlin, I'd use Williams to spell Bell a bit more often than in the past, considering how brittle the Steelers' electric No. 1 back has proven to be. Either way, there's no cutting Williams to the wire this season after what we saw last year (i.e., Bell getting hurt and Williams resuming bell-cow duties).

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers' depleted RB corps led to an essentially Melvin Gordon-only deployment, but he gained only 35 yards (but a touchdown!) on 16 carries. Crucially, in the aftermath of Danny Woodhead's season-ending injury, Gordon did show well in the passing game, reeling in four of seven targets for 43 yards. That's promising. Newly signed backfield/slot receiving specialist Dexter McCluster caught two passes for nine yards on three targets.

Seattle Seahawks

I'm at the point of cutting Thomas Rawls now, as things in Seattle are clearly going one way: Christine Michael's. As it turns out, Rawls has a hairline fracture in his leg that'll keep him out a few weeks, while the Seahawks "interim" starter enjoyed his biggest workload yet (20 carries) in Week 3 and delivered 106 yards and two touchdowns. Sure, Michael isn't of much use in the passing game, but receiving-oriented back C.J. Prosise is expected to return to action in Week 4 against the Jets.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In the first post-Doug Martin (hamstring) game, Charles Sims enjoyed lead duties, as expected, and he cleared 100 total yards while scoring a touchdown – nice! He'll need to keep it up, as Martin's expected to be facing a multi-week absence. Not much to see for interim No. 2 man Jacquizz Rodgers.

WIDE RECEIVER

Arizona Cardinals

After two weeks of invisibility, John Brown showed up in Week 3 – thanks in no small part to Carson Palmer slinging the ball 50 times as the Cardinals tried in vain to make up an early deficit. Brown led the team in receiving with 70 yards on six catches (11 targets), nearly evenly splitting Palmer's attention with Larry Fitzgerald (12 targets, seven catches, 60 yards) and Michael Floyd (11 targets, four catches, 65 yards). It's not a big game, but the fact that he's no longer a forgotten man at least makes Brown roster-worthy in fantasy. Floyd missed some time after a hit to the head and entered the concussion protocol after the game, so his status is up in the air for next week.

Buffalo Bills

With no Sammy Watkins (foot) and a tough Arizona team coming to town, things looked rough for the Bills, and yet they posted a stunning victory driven almost entirely by the running game. Only Robert Woods got much attention, catching six balls for 51 yards on eight targets. Marquise Goodwin – he of the 84-yard Darrelle Revis burn in Week 2 – caught one of five targets for six yards.

Carolina Panthers

What the heck, Kelvin Benjamin? After starting the season with a pair of big games, including 108 yards and two touchdowns against the Niners in Week 2, he was utterly silent against Minnesota on Sunday. One target. No catches. And no, he wasn't hurt – he played 61 snaps! Devin Funchess joined Benjamin in being shut out, but even so, he had one more target than the Panthers' No. 1 receiver. You can chalk this one up as a brutal week for the Carolina passing offense, but at least Ted Ginn (three catches for 62 yards on seven targets) and Philly Brown (four for 57 on five targets) did something.

Cleveland Browns

Corey Coleman broke his hand the day after my last column came out and, with their top two quarterbacks down for the count, few were investing in the Cleveland passing game this week. But as it turned out, these injuries had the effect of making the Browns deploy QB-turned-receiver Terrell Pryor as the ultimate multi-tool, and he racked up an enormous day – 144 receiving yards on eight catches (14 targets) accompanied by four carries that resulted in 21 yards and a touchdown, plus five passing attempts on which he gained another 35 yards. It's been decades since we saw a player used that way. Temporary No. 2 and 3 receivers Andrew Hawkins and Ricardo Louis did nothing, and with Josh Gordon (suspension) on track to return after just one more week out of the lineup, there's no reason to look their way in fantasy.

Dallas Cowboys

Dez Bryant hurt his knee over the weekend, but seemingly didn't undergo the MRI he was expected to have Monday. It sounds like he'll play through it, so the depth chart here will go unchanged.

Detroit Lions

Marvin Jones, you guys. A 205-yard, two-touchdown day against Green Bay has him back to elite status, while Golden Tate put up another clunker, picking up only 40 yards. Brutal. Oh, and for the second straight week, No. 3 man Anquan Boldin notched a touchdown to go with modest yardage.

Indianapolis Colts

Donte Moncreif (shoulder) didn't go Sunday, but those investing in Phillip Dorsett only got three grabs for 27 yards while T.Y. Hilton took advantage of some extra looks, racking up 174 yards on eight catches.

New York Jets

Once again, Quincy Enunwa made himself noticed, getting thrown to a team-leading 11 times in Week 3, though he caught just four of those passes for 37 yards – something that can mostly be laid at the feet of Ryan Fitzpatrick's brutal failures against the KC defense. Brandon Marshall played through his knee ailment, but caught just three of the 10 targets sent his way for 27 yards. Eric Decker was used the least of the trio (one 31-yard catch on six targets). It's worth noting in case Decker and Marshall's injury concerns persist that undrafted rookie Robby Anderson looked good the two times he was thrown to, grabbing both balls and gaining 34 yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers

There was a Markus Wheaton sighting in Week 3, though it wasn't good for much – two yards, in fact, even though he was thrown to five time. Meanwhile, Antonio Brown reappeared after the prior week's disaster, catching 12 balls for 140 yards, which is nice. Neither Sammie Coates nor Eli Rogers managed to do much in a disaster game for the Pittsburgh offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you bet on Adam Humphries to catch nine balls for 100 yards on a dozen targets in Week 3, I'd like to discuss the upcoming presidential election with you. Mike Evans was a monster as usual, while Vincent Jackson disappointed again. Humphries gained more yards Sunday than Jackson has in the first three weeks put together – ick. It's not totally impossible that Humphries might replace Jackson as the Bucs' true No. 2 receiver.

TIGHT END

Indianapolis Colts

Jack Doyle hasn't gotten any attention in this space yet, but it's time – he's outproducing Dwayne Allen for fantasy purposes despite being ostensibly behind him on the depth chart (and receiving slightly fewer snaps). Three weeks in, Doyle has 137 yards and two scores on 15 targets; Allen has 113 yards and one touchdown on the same number of targets. Still, they're hurting each other's fantasy value and are largely TD-dependent.

New England Patriots

The Pats got a limited Rob Gronkowski back for the Thursday game, but he played just 14 snaps and didn't catch his only target. Martellus Bennett enjoyed a big snap load again, but had another quiet week – two catches for 10 yards on just three targets. Things will be very different when Brady returns.

New York Jets

The Jets snagged Austin Seferian-Jenkins off waivers Monday after he got cut by following his DUI arrest. With New York's existing crew of tight ends almost entirely blocking-oriented, ASJ (and his second-round pedigree) could quickly earn a role in their passing game if he can stay out of trouble.

Philadelphia Eagles

Zach Ertz (collarbone) again didn't play in Week 3, but will likely be back after the bye. In his absence, there wasn't much of an encore for Trey Burton after his big Week 2, but Brent Celek picked up 61 yards on three catches.

San Diego Chargers

Hunter Henry stepped in for Antonio Gates (hamstring) in Week 3 and caught all five of his targets for 76 yards – but failed to secure the ball well enough on one of those and got it ripped out of his hands for a fumble. It's unclear what Gates' status is heading into this week, but the situation is clearly worth monitoring.

Seattle Seahawks

Welcome back to the world of the living, Jimmy Graham. He did lose a fumble this week, but six catches for 100 yards and a score will certainly play in fantasy anyway. Luke Willson still had one more snap than the ex-Saint (48 to 47), but he's not much of a threat to Graham's targets.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After the Bucs cut loose Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Cameron Brate finally got to take over chief duties at tight end, and he paid off those who rolled with him by scoring a pair of touchdowns to go with five catches for 46 yards (10 targets). Brate could be a real red-zone menace for Tampa, especially while Doug Martin's down for the count.

Tennessee Titans

Delanie Walker (hamstring) didn't suit up for Week 3, and ex-Jet Jace Amaro led the Titans in receiving yards with 59 on three catches in his place despite playing just 29 snaps. Yes, Walker's expected back at practice this week, but it's no sure thing that he'll be back. Amaro seems set to serve as the primary receiving tight end if his absence from game action persists.