How an NFL Team Builds a Depth Chart
A depth chart is more than a list of starters. It is a ranked plan for every position, every formation and every injury. Here is how coaches build one, update it and why published charts can mislead.
Open any team's page the week of a game and you will find a depth chart: a list of positions with a name or two beside each. It looks simple, a column of starters and a column of backups. In fact a depth chart is a working document that coaches build, revise and hide, and the version a fan sees is only a rough sketch of what the staff actually uses on game day.
This guide explains what a depth chart is, how coaches decide who goes where, why one position can have several charts, how injuries and game plans change the order, and why a published chart on a website or in a news report is not the same thing as the lineup you will see on Sunday. It also explains how to read a depth chart if you play fantasy football or just want to know who is really in line to play.
What a depth chart is
A depth chart lists the players at each position in order of preference. The first name is the starter, the second name is the first backup, and so on. If a starter is hurt or removed from the game, the next man up takes his place.
Most teams build separate charts for the three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. They may also have charts for specific packages. A player who is third on the depth chart at his position might be the first choice on a specific formation because of his skills. For example, a team might keep a big-bodied receiver as a backup in its standard lineup but use him as a primary option in goal-line packages. The chart shows rank, but the usage is determined by the situation.
The staff also tracks who is behind a starter at several positions. A backup offensive lineman may be listed as the next man at both guard and tackle. This flexibility is valuable because a roster only has a limited number of linemen who can dress for a game.
Who decides the order
The head coach has the final say, but the process involves many people. Position coaches know their players best and typically recommend the order within their groups. Coordinators set the order for offense and defense, and the special teams coordinator sets the order for kicking units. Together they weigh several factors.
- Performance in practice. What has the player done in drills, scrimmages and team periods? Practice is where the coaching staff sees nearly everything.
- Performance in games. Preseason and regular-season play provides evidence under real pressure.
- Knowledge of the system. A player who knows the playbook well and makes few mental errors can earn trust ahead of a more athletic player who is still learning.
- Health. A player who is nursing an injury cannot be relied on, even if he is the most talented.
- Fit. The staff considers whether a player's traits match the role in the scheme, such as speed for an edge rusher or length for a press corner.
- Special teams value. A backup who plays on coverage units may be more valuable on game day than a better player who cannot.
These are judgments, not formulas. A coach may prefer a steady veteran over a more talented young player because the veteran will not make mistakes at critical moments. Experience also matters in how much trust a player gets with the offense's most complex calls.
For the broader process of how coaches and staff pick the team, see inside an NFL front office.
Starters, rotations and the problem with the word "starter"
Fans often treat "starter" as a clear category. In football it is not. The NFL game has many more roles than eleven starters on each side, and substitution is constant.
Take an example. In a hypothetical defensive scheme, the base lineup has four down linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs. But on most downs, many teams use a nickel formation with an extra defensive back and one fewer linebacker. If that is the formation the defense uses most of the time, the nickel cornerback may play more snaps than the third linebacker. The depth chart lists the linebacker as a starter and the nickel back as a backup, but the usage tells a different story.
For this reason, understanding who plays requires looking at snap counts and personnel groupings, not just the order on a chart. Our guide to personnel groupings explains how offenses label their lineups, and how to read snap counts shows how to measure actual playing time.
Some positions also rotate by design. Defensive linemen often rotate to stay fresh. Running backs may alternate by series or by situation, with one back for early downs and another for passing downs. The depth chart reflects who is first in line, but not necessarily who gets the most work.
The "or" and other chart quirks
Teams that publish depth charts often use shorthand that confuses readers. The most common is the word "or" between two names at the same position. That tells you the coach has not announced a clear winner, or does not want to give opponents information. It may mean the two players will split snaps, or that the order will depend on the matchup, or that the decision is not final.
A few other quirks:
- Players listed at multiple positions. A versatile player may appear in more than one place. It shows the staff values his flexibility, though he may only play one position in a given game.
- Placeholder entries. A team may list a player at a position only to fill the chart. Early in camp, charts can contain players who will not make the roster.
- Special teams lists. Players who are not offensive or defensive starters may be prominent on special teams. A depth chart that lists only offense and defense can miss what makes a backup valuable.
- Injury designations. A player recovering from an injury may be listed behind another player, even if he is better, because the coach does not know whether he will play.
A depth chart can also be deliberately vague. Coaches do not want to tell an opponent which receiver will line up in the slot, so a chart published before a game may show less than the team knows.
How the depth chart changes during the week
A depth chart is not fixed. It changes constantly, and the week of a game is when it moves most.
On Monday and Tuesday, coaches review the previous game and decide what to adjust. A player who struggled may lose some playing time, and a player who stood out may earn more. Wednesday through Friday are practice days, and the injury report details who is practicing fully, who is limited and who is out. These designations help the staff decide who will be available.
By the end of the week, the staff makes final decisions about who is active or inactive for the game. Only a limited number of players on the roster can be dressed and eligible to play; the others are inactive that day. Active and inactive designations are announced shortly before kickoff, and they can reshape the depth chart. A player who was a healthy backup may become a starter because the player ahead of him is inactive. See the active roster, injured reserve and the rules for returning players for the roster side of this.
You can follow these designations on our injuries page, and a guide to how they matter for fantasy is in reading the injury report for fantasy football.
Matchups and game plans
A game plan can change the depth chart. If the opponent uses a lot of three-receiver sets, the defense may want an extra defensive back available. If the opponent runs the ball heavily from heavy formations, the defense may use more linebackers or a larger defensive lineman. The staff may elevate a player who is especially well suited to the opponent's style, or reduce the role of one who struggles against it.
On offense, the plan might favor a particular tight end because the opposing linebackers struggle in coverage, or a faster running back because the defense is slow to the edge. These adjustments can lift a backup into a major role for one week, and then he returns to a smaller role the next week.
This is one reason coaches sometimes say that a player is "the starter" but still sit him against certain opponents. The depth chart expresses default preferences, and the game plan expresses weekly choices. See building a game plan, week to week.
Injuries and the next man up
Injuries test a depth chart. When a starter is injured, the staff moves up the next player, and sometimes others change positions to cover. A guard who is hurt may be replaced by a backup guard, but if the backups are not ready, the staff might move the center or tackle inside. Those chains of replacements can stretch several levels.
Teams plan for this by developing depth. Backup players learn multiple positions, and the practice squad includes players who can step in on short notice. Teams also keep a few players on the roster who offer flexibility at several spots. Roster management rules shape those choices, as described in the practice squad: rules, pay and why it matters.
A depth chart that has lost a starter at a key position, such as quarterback or left tackle, is a different team. Coaches adjust plays to fit the backup's skills, and fans should expect the offense or defense to change.
Depth charts for fantasy football and fans
If you use depth charts for fantasy football, a few cautions apply.
- The first name is not always the biggest role. A running back listed first may share carries, and a second-listed receiver may play more snaps than the first.
- Check the date. Depth charts change weekly, and early-season charts can be stale.
- Look for corroboration. Snap counts, target shares and practice reports give a better picture than the list alone.
- Use the injury report. A player's status on Friday can change the entire picture on Sunday.
- Be cautious with backups. A handcuff may be valuable only if the starter is injured, and coaches may change plans when that happens.
Beyond fantasy, a depth chart is a way to understand your team's strengths and concerns. If your team is thin at one position, a single injury could change its season. You can check your team's current roster on our team pages and see player information on the players page.
A hypothetical example: an injury at guard
To see the chain reaction, imagine a team whose starting left guard is injured in practice on a Thursday. The depth chart shows a backup guard next in line, a reserve tackle who has also practiced inside, and a center who has never played guard in a game.
The staff has several choices. The simplest is to start the backup guard. If he is a capable player who has taken snaps with the starting line, that may be all that is needed. But the coaches may also worry that the backup has limited experience against the opponent's best interior pass rusher. In that case they might shift the line, moving the center to guard and starting a backup at center, or ask a veteran tackle to play inside.
Each choice has a cost. Moving players around can disrupt the communication that an offensive line depends on, because the center and guards work as a pair on blocking calls. The staff also thinks about which players to make inactive. If a backup lineman plays several positions, he might be kept active even if a healthier but less flexible player would be the better pure choice. The depth chart on a website will not show any of this reasoning, but it is how the team actually decides.
What a depth chart cannot tell you
A depth chart is a snapshot of a coach's intent. It cannot show:
- How much each player will actually play.
- Whether the coach plans to rotate positions.
- Which formations the team will use against a given opponent.
- How much trust the staff has in a player in specific situations.
- Whether a surprise will arrive, such as a player moving to a new role.
The best way to read one is as a starting point. Add context from snap counts, game film, injury reports and the coach's comments to understand who truly matters.
The short version
- A depth chart ranks players at each position for offense, defense and special teams.
- Position coaches recommend, coordinators decide for their units, and the head coach has the final say.
- "Starter" is a loose word, since formations and rotations mean many non-starters play heavily.
- An "or" between names means the order is undecided or intentionally vague.
- Charts change weekly with practice performance, injuries, the game plan and the active and inactive lists.
- Published depth charts are rough guides; use snap counts, injury reports and team announcements to see the real picture.