Depth Chart Watch: Fallout From Week 14

If it seems like it's been forever since you could actually feel good about blowing your FAAB budget or waiver priority on a running back, well, it has been. Even in shallower formats, most of the fantasy-relevant handcuffs have been owned for a long time. However, your fantasy waiver wire may currently be more enticing than it's been in weeks thanks to the injuries suffered by Melvin Gordon and Matt Forte. The scramble for Bilal Powell and Kenneth Farrow will be a mad one.

With that in mind, let's zip through the league's ever-shifting depth charts, shall we?

QUARTERBACK

Cleveland Browns

Robert Griffin (shoulder) made an unimpressive return to action Sunday against the Bengals, completing only 12 of 28 passes for 104 yards and an interception while adding 31 yards and a touchdown on the ground as the Browns fell to 0-13. Although Griffin showed his ability to extend plays at times, the final results are ugly. Still, as long as he stays healthy, you can expect him to finish out the season as Cleveland's starter.

Denver Broncos

Trevor Siemian (foot) got back out on the field Sunday and ended up needing to hurl the ball a season-high 51 times, completing 35 passes for 334 yards and a touchdown. Foot seems all right after one game on the shelf.

Miami Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill suffered ACL and MCL sprains against the Cardinals on Sunday, which is actually better news than we initially expected – there was speculation that he had fully torn ligaments in his left knee. It's unclear how capable he'll be of returning to the field this season, but it's quite clear that Matt Moore will start in Week 15 against the Jets. Moore went 3-for-5 for 47 yards after coming on in relief Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers

After another not-good game by Colin Kaepernick – 15-for-26 for 133 yards and a touchdown – we could be looking at another QB change here, but it's an unclear situation as I write these words. After all, it's not like going back to Blaine Gabbert counts as an upgrade. I suspect Kaepernick keeps his job.

RUNNING BACK

Atlanta Falcons

A lot of Devonta Freeman owners probably got bumped from their fantasy playoffs in Week 14, as he managed just six yards on six carries and a dozen more on two catches – a brutal day made even more brutal by the fact that it came on the heels of two straight two-touchdown games. He'll probably bounce back against the sad-sack Niners in Week 15, but he'll have to do so while dealing with the presence of Tevin Coleman, who had no such limitations this past weekend – he took his turn to score two TDs, one rushing and one receiving, to go with a modest 55 total yards.

Baltimore Ravens

Kenneth Dixon seems to have finally staked out his territory here, as he gained 39 yards on 11 carries and tacked on 42 more plus a touchdown on eight catches (11 targets!) in Monday night's loss to New England. Terrance West was handed the ball just twice, though he did have four catches of his own for a modest 24 yards. Dixon's multifaceted usage is quite promising for fantasy owners down the stretch.

Cincinnati Bengals

In an uncontroversial statement last week, I projected that better times were ahead for Jeremy Hill against Cleveland in Week 14, and indeed that was the case. Hill cruised for 111 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries with another 31 yards on three receptions, although Rex Burkhead did carve out nine effective rushes of his own (45 yards).

Denver Broncos

Well, this has turned into about as ugly a situation as you could ask for. The Broncos signed up Justin Forsett ("he knows the playbook!") and promptly rolled him out as their starting running back over Devontae Booker on Sunday. The results: six rushes for 17 yards, three catches for 18 yards and a fumble. Things were just as bad for Booker, who gained one total yard on three carries and picked up two catches for another 10. Keep both of them far away from your starting lineups against the Pats in Week 15.

Detroit Lions

Theo Riddick picked up a wrist injury about a week ago, and it kept him out of action in Week 14, leaving Dwayne Washington to take the bulk of the backfield work. He did reasonably well from a real-life perspective, notching 16 carries for 64 yards and a catch for another 10, but that's not much of a fantasy bacon-maker. Riddick went through two limited practices last week, so his absence probably won't be a long one, but it merits checking back.

Green Bay Packers

Ty Montgomery led the Packers in rushing as they routed the Seahawks in Week 14, although he split off 10 carries to a less-effective Christine Michael (36 yards). With 46 yards and a touchdown on the ground, plus another 45 on three catches, Montgomery did a lot with a relatively small workload. I wouldn't be surprised to see that load increase moving forward, as he's the most effective rusher the Pack has got right now, and he's obviously a weapon in the passing game too.

Jacksonville Jaguars

There was neither a Chris Ivory nor a Denard Robinson available for the Jags in Week 14, which led to a banner day by T.J. Yeldon standards – 59 yards on 17 carries (a bleh-worthy 3.5 YPC) and another 31 on seven catches. Hey, that's 90 total yards – not bad!

New York Giants

Paul Perkins and Rashad Jennings put up twin 15-carry, 45-yard lines Sunday night, which pretty much tells you all you need to know about this situation. Jennings did add 12 yards on two catches, so there's that. Meanwhile, Shane Vereen's in the concussion protocol, as he was able to play just three snaps in his first game back from a triceps injury before getting hurt again. It's been an awfully tough season for him.

New York Jets

Matt Forte went down with a knee injury Sunday and had an MRI. Although results haven't been released yet, he did tell reporters that he thought he avoided ligament damage. Still, his prognosis remains a question mark. In his place, Bilal Powell went nuts against the Niners, rushing 29 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns – including a game-winning 19-yard scamper in overtime. As is his wont, Powell also added 34 yards on five catches. The Jets' unwillingness to throw to Forte has been one of the biggest disappointments for his fantasy owners this year, ranking only slightly below the fact that he plays for the Jets. Powell only has to deal with the latter, as they love throwing him the ball. He makes for a priority pickup if available.

Philadelphia Eagles

Ryan Mathews (knee) got back on the field Sunday, and his fellow running backs gave him plenty of room by all getting hurt – Darren Sproles suffered a concussion on a brutal hit while fielding a punt, while Wendell Smallwood hurt his ACL and has since been placed on IR. That leaves only Mathews, Kenjon Barner and fresh practice-squad promotion Byron Marshall as the Eagles' healthy backs. Mathews was decent in his return, going for 60 yards on 15 rushes. If he factors into the passing game more now that Sproles is hurt, he could see a significant bump in value, although this week's matchup against Baltimore is not a friendly one for running backs.

San Diego Chargers

As mentioned up top, Melvin Gordon was the premier injury sufferer of Week 14, going down after just three carries. He's being called day-to-day with hip and knee ailments, but I don't have great confidence that the 23-year-old will get back on the field for Week 15 to continue his breakout campaign. Keep an eye on the reports as the week progresses, but were I a Gordon owner I'd plan for Kenneth Farrow, who went for 55 yards on 16 carries, to start at running back this week. Ronnie Hillman could be activated to see some touches as well. Farrow makes an enticing pickup for RB-desperate owners, but don't expect him to step in and be as good as Gordon.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Doug Martin ended up seeing a full workload in Week 14 despite speculation he might be limited following an awkward hit the week before. He carried 23 times for an uninspiring 66 yards and a touchdown, adding a couple catches for 19 more. Backup/change-of-pace guy Charles Sims (knee) made his return to the field, rushing four times for 17 yards and snagging three of four targets for another 33.

WIDE RECEIVER

Arizona Cardinals

Already struggling to deal with John Brown's sickle-cell issues – he played 26 snaps Sunday, but was just a decoy and has seen his fantasy value disappear – the Cardinals now have to deal with Michael Floyd's DUI arrest Monday. They got the tight ends more involved last week, but you have to figure that with Brown extremely limited and Floyd likely to get benched for his irresponsibility, J.J. Nelson will see an uptick in targets. (He got just two in Week 14, but caught one for an eight-yard touchdown and also took his only rushing attempt 56 yards to the house.) Extra looks could also go to Larry Fitzgerald, who was impressively held in check on nine targets by the Dolphins on Sunday, catching just three balls for a miserable 12 yards.

Chicago Bears

Cameron Meredith woke up with a six-catch, 72-yard, touchdown-scoring effort in Week 14, marking his most catches and highest yardage since Oct. 16 against the Jags (the second game of his two-game breakout). However, with Alshon Jeffery (suspension) back in the fold this week, Meredith will surely see his role decrease again. Same goes for Josh Bellamy (seven targets Sunday).

Cincinnati Bengals

Word is that A.J. Green (hamstring) is expected back at practice Wednesday, which would be a big win for the Bengals and fantasy owners alike. His return couldn't come at a better time, as Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd managed a "grand" total of 71 yards on 12 targets Sunday. At this point, Boyd seems likelier to retain the No. 2 role than LaFell does upon Green's return. That said, it's still not set in stone that Green will play this week, and it's unknown how limited he might be if he does.

Indianapolis Colts

Bad news strikes again for Donte Moncrief, who left Sunday's game without a catch thanks to a hamstring injury. He's day-to-day, with Phillip Dorsett the most likely beneficiary of extra looks alongside starter T.Y. Hilton if Moncrief can't suit up against Minnesota in Week 15.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Marqise Lee busted out for 113 yards on five grabs (eight targets) against Minnesota on Sunday, and Bryan Walters caught a touchdown pass. Conspicuously absent from that sentence: Allen Robinson, who caught a single ball on three targets for 17 yards, and Allen Hurns (hamstring), who sat out again. I'd avoid all these wideouts like the plague at this point, with the possible exception of Lee, who's been useful three of the last four weeks.

Kansas City Chiefs

Jeremy Maclin saw only three targets in his return to the field from a groin injury, largely ceding the spotlight to another strong Tyreek Hill effort Thursday – six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, plus a punt return for another score. Hill did lose a fumble, but we'll take it. Meanwhile, Chris Conley caught a couple passes on three targets, and that was good for 70 yards; Albert Wilson was targeted just once.

Los Angeles Rams

Tavon Austin (chest) made his return Sunday and gained 89 total yards (seven catches for 62 on 11 targets, plus a couple rushes for 27) against the Falcons. Kenny Britt stayed busy even with Austin in the fold, nabbing seven balls on a dozen targets for a team-best 82 receiving yards. And then Jeff Fisher got fired. So that's fun.

New Orleans Saints

Michael Thomas was a game-time call and ended up being unable to suit up in Week 14 due to a foot injury; the result was a second straight rough day for Drew Brees. In his absence, Brandon Coleman emerged with his biggest workload since Week 3, catching five of eight targets for 47 yards. Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead both saw regular targets, as usual, although Snead's own eight were his highest total since Week 8.

New York Jets

Robby Anderson led the Jets in receiving for the second consecutive game in Week 14, catching six of 11 targets for 99 yards. Quincy Enunwa got the second-most targets (seven), but turned them into just three catches for 29 yards; Brandon Marshall was targeted only five times and gained a mere 33 yards on three receptions. The Bryce Petty era clearly isn't treating him well.

Oakland Raiders

Michael Crabtree aggravated a finger injury in Thursday's game, leaving his status unclear as we approach Week 15; there's been no word on his X-ray results. His potential absence would be a big hit to the Oakland passing game, but good news for Seth Roberts, who saw nine targets (but only caught two) in Week 14.

Philadelphia Eagles

Jordan Matthews (ankle) made a successful return to the field in Week 14, catching eight of his 10 targets for 79 yards. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz sent fully half of his pass attempts to tight ends, reflecting the Eagles' lack of confidence in their options from No. 2 on down at wideout. Nelson Agholor saw four targets and Paul Turner got two; neither player did much of note.

TIGHT END

Houston Texans

C.J. Fiedorowicz has been the Texans' most reliable pass catcher, so it comes as awful news for the team that he picked up a concussion Sunday. If he can't clear the protocol in time to play the Jags on Sunday, Ryan Griffin will probably step up in his place.

New England Patriots

Martellus Bennett emerged from whatever cave Bill Belichick has had him trapped inside to catch all four of his targets for 70 yards and a touchdown Monday night. Woo! He still was only the fourth most-targeted Pats receiver, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him remain a volatile option down the stretch.

Pittsburgh Steelers

I fielded a lot of "Ladarius Green or Antonio Gates?" questions last week, and my advice was generally to gamble on the upside of Green. Of course, that wasn't without its risk, as we saw when he caught just two passes for 25 yards in Sunday's snowy game at Buffalo. We'll give him a weather-related mulligan here though, after Big Ben threw three picks in an ugly passing effort that was surely affected by the conditions. There's still upside here, and I don't believe it's supposed to snow much in Cinci on Sunday.

San Diego Chargers

Those who started Gates didn't get a whole lot out of him – he picked up nine targets, but delivered the modest line of five grabs for 61 yards. Hunter Henry got five targets and picked up a touchdown, albeit with only two receptions and 13 yards for an accompaniment.

Washington Redskins

Jordan Reed (shoulder) made his return to the field Sunday, but he played only 10 snaps and was targeted just once, reeling in a 10-yard catch. Unsurprisingly, Vernon Davis wasn't involved much against an Eagles defense that excels against tight ends – he got just two targets, catching one for one whole yard. This week's opponent, Carolina, is just the opposite – the league's worst defense against tight ends. Keep that (as well as the potential continued absence of star linebacker Luke Kuechly) in mind as you monitor Reed's status over the course of the week.