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 running back Melvin Gordon III has more upside as an RB2 this weekend against the Steelers with teammate Phillip Lindsay (toe) week-to-week with turf toe. The matchup is a daunting one, though, as the Steelers Defense held Saquon Barkley in check (15 carries for six yards) in Week 1. But the extra touches that Gordon should receive on Sunday push him from a flex play to more of a low-end RB2. Royce Freeman should help spell Gordon when he needs a breather. In his first game with Denver, the 27-year-old had 86 total yards and a touchdown on 18 touches, but he also had a costly lost fumble in the first half. Gordon had 18 yards in eight carries against Pittsburgh last year while with the Chargers.
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock faces a stiff test in Week 2 on the road against the Steelers Defense. The 23-year-old second-year signal-caller had his ups and downs in the Week 1 Monday night loss to the Titans. His mobility and arm strength were on display, but he was hurt by some drops and overthrows and he also fumbled the ball twice but recovered. His final line was 22-for-33 for 216 yards and one touchdown. Lock should get both Courtland Sutton (shoulder) and rookie K.J. Hamler (hamstring) back for this one, but the matchup is too tough to consider him as anything more than a low-end QB2 in leagues that start two quarterbacks.
Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (toe) is still receiving a second opinion on his turf-toe injury, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him miss the next few weeks based on the nature of the injury and the position he plays. But the good news is that his injury isn't considered to be long-term. Lindsay is almost certainly going to sit out in Week 2 against the Steelers, so you should be making other plans if you were planning on starting him as an RB3/flex. Royce Freeman will spell Melvin Gordon III for however long Lindsay is out, but he doesn't have any real standalone fantasy value. Gordon will be facing a tough Steelers defensive front, making him more of an RB3/flex in his second game with Denver.
Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye (shoulder) doesn't have surgery planned for his dislocated shoulder, according to a source. However, he'll likely be out a few weeks as he rehabs the injury. The Broncos will likely place him on Injured Reserve, which means he'd miss at least three weeks. It's a tough early season blow to a Denver defense that lost Chris Harris Jr. to free agency in the offseason. With a healthy Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers on the schedule for Week 2, Denver's secondary could be vulnerable with two rookies starting. The Broncos Defense looked good in the Monday night opener against the Titans, but Bouye's injury makes them much more risky as a starting unit this weekend.
Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye (shoulder) suffered a dislocated shoulder in the Monday night loss to the Titans in Week 1, according to sources. The question is how much associated damage he suffered. The hope is that the injury isn't that bad and he won't miss much time. With the Steelers and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on the docket in Week 2, Bouye's health is worth watching this week. When Bouye was forced to leave on Monday night, Denver was using two rookies -- Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey in the secondary -- so they could be extremely vulnerable against Big Ben and company in Week 2 if Bouye can't play.