Denver Broncos Depth Chart
- AFC West
- Stadium
- Empower Field at Mile High
- Head Coach
- Vic Fangio
- Offensive Coordinator
- Pat Shurmur
- Defensive Coordinator
- Ed Donatell
- Special Teams Coach
- Tom McMahon
- Defensive Scheme
- 3-4
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said that backup quarterback Jeff Driskel will be put on the team's Reserve/COVID-19 list. It's unclear if Driskel actually tested positive for the virus, but either way, he's unlikely to be active as a backup in Week 12 against the Saints. Even if Driskel were active on Sunday, he'd likely be the third QB behind starter Drew Lock and Brett Rypien. Driskel made one start for the injured Lock earlier this year in Week 3 against the Buccaneers, going just 17-for-30 for 176 yards with a touchdown and an interception. If Lock were to miss any more time in 2020 with an injury, it would likely be Rypien getting the start over Driskel under center for Denver. The good news is that Lock wasn't considered a close contact of Driskel and can continue to practice in the lead up to Week 12 against the Saints.
The Denver Broncos Defense played a huge part in the Week 11 upset win over the Dolphins, sacking rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa six times and recording an interception to hold Miami to 13 points. They'll face a Saints team this weekend without future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, but that might actually be a bad thing. New Orleans' offense still remains plenty explosive, and Taysom Hill and his versatility under center will present headaches for this undermanned Denver defense. Opposing defenses have scored the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game against the Saints this year. The Broncos D ranks 19th in the league in overall fantasy points and have allowed 30-plus points in four of the last five games. Don't expect them to surprise fantasy managers for two straight weeks.
Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus ranks ninth in the NFL with a 95.2 percent field-goal percentage in 10 games this year, missing just one of his 21 field-goal attempts. He's also missed just one of his 19 extra-point attempts. McManus hasn't missed a kick since missing an extra point in Week 7 against the Chiefs. The only field goal he missed was from 50-plus yards. But the 29-year-old with a big leg has been just a fringe fantasy starter because of Denver's inconsistent offense. It helps that he'll be kicking in the high altitude of Denver again in Week 12 against the Saints, but New Orleans' defense has allowed 19 field-goal tries this year, which is tied for 16th in the NFL. The Broncos most likely won't be able to settle for field goals against the Saints offense.
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver K.J. Hamler has 26 targets in the last three games, which he has turned into 14 catches for 160 yards. Hamler has seen his role increase in the last three weeks, but he has only one touchdown in his rookie season and 25 receptions for 275 yards in eight total games. The 21-year-old from Penn State has seen more production out of the slot and has big-play upside, but Denver is using him as more of a chain-mover than a deep threat. In this inconsistent offense as the third wideout behind rookie Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick, it's hard to put much faith in Hamler in single-year fantasy leagues. He'll be a WR4/flex in deeper leagues against New Orleans this Sunday.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick had his third 100-yard game of the season in last week's win over the Dolphins, and he's been incredibly efficient considering quarterback Drew Lock's struggles in his first full season as the starter. The Saints Defense, Denver's Week 12 opponent, has been more vulnerable through the air than on the ground this year, but their overall defense ranks third in the league. The Broncos should be forced to pass more than they'd like in this one, which is good news for Patrick and the Denver wideouts. The 27-year-old has impressed in 2020, but he's still more of a WR4/flex in this inconsistent offense while going up against strong cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore.