This article is part of our Depth Chart Watch series.
Week 1 of the preseason is behind us, and the job battles continue. Let's look across the league at depth-chart situations that have seen some movement – preferably of the meaningful variety – over the last week. In many of these cases, the pecking order remains unresolved, as the job battles promise to play out over the entirety of the preseason. Let's get into it.
QUARTERBACK
Cleveland Browns
Robert Griffin's first game action in a Browns jersey didn't go well – 4-for-8 for 67 yards (49 on one pass) and an interception – but the job is his anyway. It's not like Josh McCown looked any better in the first week of the preseason.
Los Angeles Rams
The star passer of preseason Week 1 for the Rams was neither ostensible starter Case Keenum nor franchise building block Jared Goff – it was projected third-stringer Sean Mannion, who came in after Goff departed early with shoulder soreness. Mannion proceeded to throw for three touchdowns, leading a spirited comeback. Nonetheless, Mannion did that with the second-teamers; meanwhile, coach Jeff Fisher intends to give Goff (who had easily the worst game of the three, but whose shoulder injury has dissipated) some action with the starters in the preseason's second week.
RUNNING BACK
Chicago Bears
Prospective short-yardage back Jordan Howard managed just 12 yards on five carries in the preseason opener, but hey – you asked for short yardage and you got it. Likely starter Jeremy Langford gained only seven yards on
Week 1 of the preseason is behind us, and the job battles continue. Let's look across the league at depth-chart situations that have seen some movement – preferably of the meaningful variety – over the last week. In many of these cases, the pecking order remains unresolved, as the job battles promise to play out over the entirety of the preseason. Let's get into it.
QUARTERBACK
Cleveland Browns
Robert Griffin's first game action in a Browns jersey didn't go well – 4-for-8 for 67 yards (49 on one pass) and an interception – but the job is his anyway. It's not like Josh McCown looked any better in the first week of the preseason.
Los Angeles Rams
The star passer of preseason Week 1 for the Rams was neither ostensible starter Case Keenum nor franchise building block Jared Goff – it was projected third-stringer Sean Mannion, who came in after Goff departed early with shoulder soreness. Mannion proceeded to throw for three touchdowns, leading a spirited comeback. Nonetheless, Mannion did that with the second-teamers; meanwhile, coach Jeff Fisher intends to give Goff (who had easily the worst game of the three, but whose shoulder injury has dissipated) some action with the starters in the preseason's second week.
RUNNING BACK
Chicago Bears
Prospective short-yardage back Jordan Howard managed just 12 yards on five carries in the preseason opener, but hey – you asked for short yardage and you got it. Likely starter Jeremy Langford gained only seven yards on four carries; Ka'Deem Carey and Jacquizz Rodgers were in similar boats. There's not much to take away from that except that the Bears' offensive line can't be trusted.
Denver Broncos
Devontae Booker is reportedly taking hold of the No. 2 role behind C.J. Anderson in the Broncos' backfield; he's even getting some work with the first-teamers. That's bad news for Ronnie Hillman, and it may even end up being bad news for Anderson eventually.
New England Patriots
If there's one thing we know about Bill Belichick, it's that he never hesitates to turn to the next man up on the RB depth chart. That's why I'm calling your attention to Stanford product Tyler Gaffney, a 2014 sixth-rounder whose career has been derailed by injuries. He earned plenty of attention in the preseason's first week with a 44-yard touchdown run as part of a 64-yard effort on nine carries. Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount remain the running backs to own, but it's worth watching Gaffney as well as the electric, receiving-oriented James White.
Oakland Raiders
A couple reserves here merit our attention for being among the precious few first-week-of-the-preseason breakouts: George Atkinson turned only five handoffs into 97 yards and two touchdowns, while DeAndre Washington provided 43 yards on eight carries and a 32-yard reception. Latavius Murray has moderate job security atop the Oakland depth chart, but after last year's 4.0 YPC, he's hardly locked in. Meanwhile, the competition to play behind and perhaps eventually supplant Murray is wide open between Washington (who's been the primary backup in practice), Atkinson and Taiwan Jones.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans have to be thrilled with what they got out of their backs in the first week of the preseason, as DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry and Bishop Sankey each scored a touchdown while posting video-game-esque per-carry numbers. Sankey's just looking to keep his roster spot at this point, but he made a good argument in his own favor Saturday. Murray and Henry will split carries when the games count, with the edge likely going to the hotter hand.
San Franciso 49ers
Second-year man Mike Davis put up a big first week of the preseason, totaling 89 yards (72 on the ground) on just seven touches. Shaun Draughn is supposedly strongly No. 2 in the pecking order behind Carlos Hyde, but Draughn is a journeyman who averaged 3.5 YPC for the Niners last year. If Hyde goes down to injury again, the veteran might get the first crack at replacing him, but the intriguing Davis could be the one who wins out in the end. A bowling-ball-like back at 5-foot-9, 217, he can pound the ball between the tackles and is an asset in the passing game. That's a strong combo.
Seattle Seahawks
With Thomas Rawls (ankle) off the PUP list, but not active, Christine Michael got a chance to show his stuff in the preseason's first week, and he impressed with 44 yards on seven rushes. C.J. Prosise (hamstring) is also back at practice now and promises to factor in as a receiving back. Still, this is Rawls' party, assuming the ankle holds up, though coach Pete Carroll said after Saturday's game that he envisions a "1-2 punch" with Rawls and Michael. Rawls got into team drills for the first time in camp Monday.
WIDE RECEIVER
Buffalo Bills
The Bills' first official depth chart of the year lists Marquise Goodwin as the No. 3 receiver over the likes of Greg Little, Greg Salas and Dezmin Lewis. Nonetheless, that's not settled and the competition remains open, with Goodwin and Little in particular having earned praise during camp.
Cincinnati Bengals
Second-round draft pick Tyler Boyd hauled down a 40-yard pass in the preseason opener and continues to look secure as the Bengals' No. 3 receiver at minimum – with the No. 2 spot certainly in sight, considering the mediocre career of Brandon LaFell. If Boyd can build on that first look over the remaining preseason action, he could challenge for a starting role as soon as Week 1.
Cleveland Browns
Terrelle Pryor made himself noticed in the first preseason game by hauling in a 49-yard reception from Robert Griffin; he had an eight-yarder too, and he might be cementing himself as the No. 3 target (which would mean No. 2 to start the season). His hand injury appears to be minor. Meanwhile, impressive rookie Corey Coleman (hamstring) is back in practice action; he's becoming increasingly worth monitoring in drafts. When Josh Gordon's back from his suspension, this is going to be quite the intriguing crew of weapons for RGIII.
Minnesota Vikings
Things keep trending in Charles Johnson's direction – he caught a 49-yard touchdown from Teddy Bridgewater on his only target in the preseason opener. It's looking more and more likely that Johnson will start the season as the No. 2 receiver opposite Stefon Diggs, but at the same time, Laquon Treadwell looked solid (four catches, 41 yards) with the second-teamers. His talent is undeniable.
New England Patriots
Julian Edelman (foot) is back to practicing in full, but Danny Amendola (ankle/knee) remains on the PUP list with no timetable. Chris Hogan (shoulder) also just started taking contact in practice, while Keshawn Martin's still limited. Malcolm Mitchell hurt his elbow in the preseason opener (in which he caught four passes for 55 yards), but practiced in full pads Monday. All in all, it's a bit of a mess, and the tendency of the Pats' top two wideouts to get hurt means someone else besides the team's elite tight-end duo needs to step up. But who'll do it? That remains a question.
New Orleans Saints
Michael Thomas is in the process of making moves on the Saints' No. 3 receiver role – a good place to be when Drew Brees is the quarterback. The rookie caught four passes for 67 yards in his first preseason action, and with Brandon Coleman looking shaky early on, Thomas could easily pass him on the depth chart. Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead will certainly get theirs, but there's plenty of volume to make Thomas worth owning too if he continues looking good.
Philadelphia Eagles
In search of playmakers in the passing game, the Eagles traded with Tennessee on Tuesday for Dorial Green-Beckham, whose size, speed and pedigree should be welcome additions to a mediocre receiving corps. Nelson Agholor has sort of been the starter opposite Jordan Matthews by default, but the 2015 first-rounder hasn't impressed, so there's room for him to be surpassed on the depth chart. It could be Green-Beckham who does that, it could be Rueben Randle, or it could be both.
Tennessee Titans
As you probably just read, the Titans surprisingly dealt Green-Beckham to the Eagles for a backup offensive lineman Tuesday, bringing some clarity to the crowded depth chart in Honky-Tonk Town. That's not to say that Marcus Mariota has an exciting set of weapons; Rishard Matthews appears to be the No. 1 after logging 662 yards over 11 games last year, while fifth-round rookie Tajae Sharp is listed as the No. 2. Former 1,000-yard man Kendall Wright is thus buried in the No. 3 role, and he'll have to fight off the dry-aged Andre Johnson for targets.
TIGHT END
Cincinnati Bengals
Tyler Eifert (ankle) and Tyler Kroft (knee) remain out of commission for a while, leaving C.J. Uzomah the duties of No. 1 tight end. Uzomah saw minimal work in the preseason opener, but he's receiving plenty of praise from teammates and coaches, with backup passer AJ McCarron saying, "He's going to be a starter in this league, and sooner rather than later."
Detroit Lions
The Lions signed up ex-Packer Andrew Quarless even though he's suspended the first two games of the year, giving them some depth while Eric Ebron (leg) and Brandon Pettigrew (knee) remain injured. Ebron's issue seems like it's not major, but the team hasn't been forthcoming with much information. Undrafted rookie Cole Wick remains a name to watch if Ebron can't get back for the start of the season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Austin Seferian-Jenkins got to enjoy some first-team time in practice Monday and reportedly stood out, with the star-like moves he's shown in camp marking him out as a fantasy sleeper. Still, Cameron Brate remains firmly in the race for snaps and targets at tight end; in fact, Seferian-Jenkins still needs to win the starting job from him.
