Denver Broncos News

Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton have been elevated ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Humphrey has experience in this system as he played a full season with the Broncos in 2023. He finished with 13 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns last season. The assumption is that Humphrey is going to be extra depth heading into this game, so he probably won't see much time on the field. As for Burton, he should be the starting fullback, but there's not much fantasy value that comes along with that spot. Both players can be kept off the fantasy radar heading into Week 1.

In his first year with the Denver Broncos in 2023, kicker Wil Lutz finished as the No. 18 fantasy kicker by making 30 of his 34 field-goal attempts and 29 of his 31 extra-point opportunities in 17 games. It was enough to get the Broncos to sign him to a two-year contract extension in the offseason after it initially looked like he was about to jump ship and join the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 30-year-old veteran was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and has made 85.2% of his kicks in seven NFL seasons. It's not that he's an unreliable kicking option, but there are just much better options in fantasy to begin the season. The biggest reason why Lutz remains off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks is that he's kicking for an offense that will be led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Consistent field-goal opportunities may be hard to come by for the veteran.

After another injury-plagued year in 2023 in which he managed to play in just two games, Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich went undrafted in most standard-sized, 12-team fantasy leagues. Dulcich opens his third year in the NFL listed as the No. 2 TE on Denver's depth chart behind Adam Trautman, although it's widely expected that he'll end up as the Broncos' most targeted tight end when all is said and done this year. The 24-year-old caught 33 of 55 targets for 411 yards and two TDs in 10 games as a rookie and has shown upside as a fantasy TE when healthy. The problem is he's rarely been healthy. Entering Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, Dulcich will be an upside TE3 stash in deeper fantasy leagues. If he stays healthy and earns the trust of rookie quarterback Bo Nix as a safety blanket, Dulcich could become a waiver-wire consideration in shallower leagues.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds came to Denver in the offseason and essentially will replace Jerry Jeudy in 2024 as the team's WR2 behind Courtland Sutton. A season ago in Detroit, Reynolds finished with a 40-608-5 line in 17 regular-season games. His five touchdowns matched his career-high set back in 2018 with the Rams. Reynolds has never surpassed 618 receiving yards in any of his seven NFL campaigns and not much is expected of him in his first year with the Broncos in an offense that will be led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix. The 29-year-old went undrafted in most standard-sized, 12-team fantasy leagues, therefore he should be on most benches in deeper leagues in a Week 1 tilt in Seattle against the Seahawks. Reynolds dealt with a minor Achilles injury in August but practiced in full earlier this week and is good to go for the season opener.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton found the end zone a career-high 10 times on 59 receptions and 772 yards in 16 games in 2023. But that came with quarterback Russell Wilson at the helm, and now rookie Bo Nix will be leading the offense in a tough Week 1 draw in Seattle against the Seahawks. Fantasy managers should have drafted Sutton with the realistic expectations that he won't score double-digit TDs in 2024. Despite that, they should rest easy knowing target volume shouldn't be an issue. The Seahawks defense was a top-12 matchup for wideouts last year, and Nix could pepper Sutton with targets in his NFL debut in a hostile environment at Lumen Field. Sutton should be considered a WR4/flex with a safe floor in the season opener, and his stock could improve as the season goes on if he's able to establish chemistry with Nix like he had with Wilson last year.

Denver Broncos second-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin did some great things for the Broncos in his first year in the NFL in 2023 despite going undrafted out of Youngstown State. McLaughlin battled for touches with lead back Javonte Williams and third-down specialist Samaje Perine and finished with 410 rushing yards and a touchdown on 76 carries for an impressive 5.4 yards per carry. He also added 31 catches on 36 targets for 160 yards and two more scores in 17 games. McLaughlin enters his second year as the clear backup to Williams, and he's also going to have to fend off rookie Audric Estime. The Broncos have a matchup in Week 1 against a Seattle Seahawks run defense that allowed the third-most half-PPR points to RBs a year ago, but as long as Williams stays healthy, it will be hard to recommend McLaughlin as anything more than an RB4/flex. He belongs on the bench in standard 12-team leagues.

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams broke into the league in 2021 as an impressive tackle-breaking back with three-down potential and a bright future in Denver. Williams' fantasy stock has since tumbled, mainly because of devastating season-ending knee injury suffered in 2022. The 24-year-old didn't look the same in 2023, averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry in what was a below-average Denver offense led by quarterback Russell Wilson. However, Williams quietly played 16 games and finished with 774 yards and three touchdowns, adding a career-high 47 receptions for 228 yards and two more TDs. He heads into a Week 1 matchup in Seattle against a revamped Seahawks defense, although they did allow the second-most half-PPR points to RBs per game in 2023. As the clear lead back in Denver, expect the Broncos to lean heavily on Williams in Bo Nix's debut, putting him on the RB2/3 borderline in fantasy.

Denver Broncos rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix looked great in training camp and the preseason while quickly winning over the coaching staff and being named the starter over Jarrett Stidham. Many analysts thought Denver reached for the Oregon product with the 12th overall selection back in April, but head coach Sean Payton really likes him, and Nix's athleticism and strong arm could help him excel in the system right away. With that said, there is a lot of pressure on the 24-year-old as Denver's first rookie to start the season opener since legend John Elway in the early 1980's. In addition to that pressure, he'll be making his first NFL regular-season start in the harsh environment at Lumen Field in Seattle against the Seahawks. While Nix is an excellent stash in dynasty/keeper leagues, he's only worth a bench spot in two-QB superflex leagues in his rookie campaign as a QB3 heading into Week 1.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix was named one of the team captains for the upcoming season. He's the first Denver rookie to be selected as a captain since 1967. The 12th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft won the starting quarterback job over Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson in training camp. Receiver Courtland Sutton, guard Quinn Meinerz, cornerback Pat Surtain II, linebacker Alex Singleton, and kicker Wil Lutz will also sport captain patches on their jerseys this fall. Nix is RotoBaller's 27th-ranked quarterback for fantasy football this season and only needs to be rostered as a QB3 in Dynasty and Superflex formats while he adjusts to the NFL game. The Broncos travel to Seattle for a matchup against the Seahawks in Week 1.

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II has signed a four-year, $96 million extension with $77.5 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The new deal makes Surtain the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. The two-time Pro Bowl corner saw his contract negotiated by Tory Dandy of CAA. Surtain was the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He was first-team All-Pro in 2022 and has seven interceptions in his three-year NFL career.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele drew praise from head coach Sean Payton when interviewed on Friday. Vele had been one of the standouts of Broncos camp and made the cut this week as Denver whittled down their roster to 53 in preparation for the regular season. When asked about the release of Tim Patrick, Payton remarked on the similarities between him and Vele and how the rookie reminds him of the veteran wideout. "They have like body types. They're big, they have strong hands in traffic," Payton said. "They're smart. They're tough. They catch it well. They block. Devaughn is a guy that I see in a similar way." Given his blocking ability and frame (6-foot-5), the former Utah Ute may see the field in his inaugural season. Additionally, the Broncos have little proven depth behind an aging Courtland Sutton and Josh Reynolds. Vele will compete with second-year wideout Marvin Mims Jr. and fellow rookie Troy Franklin for playing time in Denver's third wide receiver slot but can be safely avoided by fantasy managers for the time being.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is heading into a big season as the number-one receiver on the new-look Broncos offense. He's undoubtedly the leader of the receiving corps after the team opted to go younger by trading away Jerry Jeudy and letting Tim Patrick walk. The coaching staff has noticed improvements that he's made over the offseason and he'll look to help boost up rookie quarterback Bo Nix with consistent performances. Last year, in a volatile offense, the six-year pro posted 772 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 59 of his 90 targets. The last time Sutton was the clear number-one was in 2019 when he caught passes from Joe Flacco and Drew Lock, he finished with 124 targets, 72 receptions, 1112 yards, and six scores.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin showed some lackluster highlights in the first preseason games of his NFL career. After the team let Tim Patrick walk, it was a sign that they still had some confidence in the rookie's progress. According to head coach Sean Payton, the coaching staff is pleased with where Franklin currently sits with his progress and he'll get the chance to keep growing with this new-look offense. When it comes to the depth chart, he's still slotted behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, and Marvin Mims Jr., so he may not see too many snaps to start out the season. Right now, his fantasy relevance is higher when it comes to dynasty formats.

Ah, the sweet siren song of the NFL preseason, where every player is in the best shape of their life and the unheralded rookies shine like diamonds in the rough during drills. It's that time of year when coaches wax poetic about every last guy on the roster, setting fantasy football chat boards alight with speculation and hype. Let's cut through the noise a bit as unfortunately, not every story is a fairy tale here. Players are wrestling with injuries, grappling with inconsistency, and duking it out in fierce roster battles. These aren't always front-page news, but keen eyes on usage and preseason snaps can speak volumes. These under-the-radar signals might just hint at who's slipping down the depth charts. So, who's not living up to the hype? Here's a rundown of players at each position whose fantasy stocks have taken a preseason plunge. That's not to say you shouldn't draft any of these players or that they will be busts in 2024, the purpose of this article is just to point out which way the arrow is pointing for some of these players.   Running Backs Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints It hasn't been the best tenure for Miller since he was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He suffered a knee injury at the end of his final season at TCU that ended up lingering into 2023 training camp and the regular season after Miller pulled his hamstring. Despite starting running back Alvin Kamara missing three games with a suspension, Miller was never able to get on the field and finished his rookie campaign with just 41 rushes for 156 yards and 1 TD to go with 10 receptions for 117 yards. #Saints HC Dennis Allen on Kendre Miller: "All I can go off of is what I've been able to evaluate and, quite frankly, since we drafted him, there hasn't been a whole lot of new information other than what I saw on the college tape, because he hasn't been available." "He's pic.twitter.com/tSRDrAh7nD The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) August 21, 2024 During training camp this summer, Miller suffered another pulled hamstring, and Saints head coach said that Miller is going to have to figure out how to stay healthy during a post-practice interview with the press. As of right now, it appears Miller is in danger of losing his roster spot or of being buried on the depth chart altogether. Many in the dynasty space liked Miller as a prospect, but it appears his head coach's patience is wearing thin. It's likely that Miller would get picked up by another team if he were released, but changing teams this late in the preseason isn't ideal as he'd have to learn an entirely new offense. Perhaps we are all overreacting here, but the drumbeat for Miller hasn't been a solid one at all this summer. Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears There were some rumblings of fellow RB Khalil Herbert getting traded, but those murmurs seem to have faded for the time being. Herbert is an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season, and the Bears would likely get more for Herbert via compensatory picks than they would from trading him at this point. The team is all-in on building around No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams at quarterback and helping to get him as many weapons as possible as a rookie. D'Andre Swift was signed to a free agent deal this offseason and despite showing promise as a rookie, Roschon seems buried on the bench as the team's RB3 at this stage. Johnson averaged 4.9 yards per touch (20th among RBs) in 2023 and also featured a 9.5% target share and is a capable player when he's on the field. However, this backfield is trending towards being a three-way committee with a rookie quarterback under head coach Matt Eberflus, making it a very difficult needle to thread for fantasy football in 2024. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers Jacobs took a tumble in ADP over the summer after reports came out of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur suggesting that he prefers a committee-based approach with multiple backs to keep them fresh for the playoffs. Looking back at LaFleur's running back usage over five years as Green Bay's head coach, he's never given any back over a 62 percent snap share in a season. Green Bay drafted RB MarShawn Lloyd out of USC in the third round of the draft and A.J. Dillon still looms on the depth chart. The fact that Lloyd has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for much of training camp has meant that he hasn't been on the field to get meaningful reps and establish a role for himself in the offense. Despite how much the markets have frowned upon Josh Jacobs over the summer, the reality is he's going to be leaned on heavily, at least early in the season in what could be a very good offense. Buy the dip! AJ Dillon stinger. MarShawn Lloyd's hamstring. Josh Jacobs workhorse 2024. https://t.co/fvUEmaa0Cm Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 21, 2024 Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans Pollard was signed to a healthy 3-year / $21.75 million contract this offseason and many across the fantasy landscape assumed that meant he was going to be the guy. However, the Titans' coaching staff has come out multiple times saying that they view Pollard and fellow RB Tyjae Spears as "interchangeable," a sort of "1-A" and "1-B" in their backfield. Pollard was going well ahead of Spears for a portion of the summer, but now they are both going close to each other in ADP. Neither of them is a bad fantasy pick at this point due to the reality that each of them has contingent-based upside if the other back misses time, but Spears is the younger and more explosive of the two backs. Under new head coach Brian Callahan, the Titans have a chance to improve their offense by leaps and bounds compared to 2023. If you still believe in Pollard, now is a good time to buy the dip. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers After head coach Todd Bowles came out this offseason and suggested that they needed to give White a little bit of a breather and get another running back involved in the offense, many in the fantasy football community panicked. Whether or not to draft White is a huge conundrum for fantasy football in 2024 as there are pros and cons. Drafting White might feel like a good move at first glance, but the guy's averaging a modest 3.7 yards per carry across his career, and his efficiency metrics as a runner were some of the worst in the NFL last season. The plot thickens with the Bucs' latest draft pick, Bucky Irving, fresh off two 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Oregon and known for snagging four passes a game last year. Plus, there's Sean Tucker, who disappointed as an undrafted rookie free agent last season, but the team is still giving him a chance to prove himself. The problem with White compared to last year is that he's being drafted as a fringe RB1, in the same neighborhood as Isiah Pacheco and James Cook. White offers tremendous upside as a pass-catcher, but there are valid reasons to be concerned about him holding down the job again for another full season.   Wide Receivers Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs There's a ton to like about Brown this season as he adds a strong vertical element to the Chiefs' offense that they haven't had since star wideout Tyreek Hill was traded. However, Brown suffered a nasty injury early in the preseason that caused him to be hospitalized. While there is optimism in Kansas City for an early return, one of my favorite medical experts isn't so sure. Writing up Marquise Brown in the fade due to injury breakdown and realizing that people were drafting him ~WR37. ~61.3 overall ADP. He should probably drop at least 2-3 full rounds, even if he's back by Wk2-3. Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 12, 2024 It's no secret that the Chiefs offense has the possibility of being much more explosive compared to the last two years, but there are a bevy of mouths to feed. Stud TE Travis Kelce was just re-signed to an extension, the team traded up for WR Xavier Worthy in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and second-year wideout Rashee Rice is very good. While the outlook is still solid for a healthy Brown overall, his injury might cause him to get bumped down in the pecking order for now. Mike Williams, New York Jets If Jets QB Aaron Rodgers can return to form after his Achilles injury, there is reason for optimism about the Jets offense this year. Outside of stud wideout Garrett Wilson, there isn't anyone out there as the team's established No. 2 pass catcher. Williams has been one of the biggest 'what ifs' in fantasy during his time with the Chargers. Yeah, he's put up some solid numbers but has only cracked the top 30 in full-PPR formats once. Here's the harsh truth: Williams has only seen 100+ targets once, hit 1,000 yards twice, and never reached 80 catches in a season. Now, with a new team and no clear timetable for his return, expecting a breakout in 2024 feels like a long shot, but there is a scenario where he could outperform his ADP, especially in best ball formats. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings It's been a rough offseason for Addison and the Vikings in general. The second-year wideout was arrested for a DUI over the summer and nearly suffered a season-ending injury in training camp on the same day that rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was ruled out for the season after suffering a meniscus tear. Kevin O'Connell confirms that WR Jordan Addison avoided a major ankle injury. "I don't see him missing any extended time," he told reporters at Browns facility. LB Blake Cashman injured a finger yesterday and needed surgery. He'll return once the stitches heal, per O'Connell. Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 15, 2024 Veteran Sam Darnold will step in as the Vikings quarterback for the full season after many had anticipated he would only start the first four games before McCarthy took over following the team's Week 5 bye. Going from McCarthy to Darnold for a full season shouldn't move the needle all that much, but it does remove a scenario where McCarthy would have played much better than Darnold in the second half of the year. You shouldn't fade Justin Jefferson in fantasy because of Darnold, but it's fair to have doubts about him supporting Addison and T.J. Hockenson this year. While there's enough reason to be optimistic about head coach Kevin O'Connell keeping this offense humming, it's fair to have questions about a quarterback on his fourth team in seven years. Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos There was a reason to be hopeful for Franklin despite falling to the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Early on Day 3, the Broncos moved up in the draft to select Franklin and reunite him with his old college quarterback, Bo Nix. Franklin is a taller receiver who is a total burner on the outside but reports out of training camp thus far have suggested that Franklin is struggling to get off press and isn't running routes well. While it's still fine to be optimistic about Franklin for dynasty purposes, he appears buried on the depth chart for now.

The Denver Broncos waived wide receiver Brandon Johnson on Tuesday, according to a source. In addition to Johnson, the Broncos also parted ways with Tim Patrick, who quickly signed with the Detroit Lions, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and David Sills to trim their roster down to 53 by the deadline. Johnson improved in Year 2 with Denver last year by catching 19 of his 30 targets for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (two starts), but he wasn't able to make the final cut this summer after the offseason additions of Josh Reynolds and rookie fourth-rounder Troy Franklin. The 26-year-old rejoin the Broncos practice squad to give the team additional depth during the regular season, though. Johnson joined Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida in 2022.

Running back Samaje Perine was officially released by the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. Perine was previously reported as a cut candidate if the Broncos could not find a trade partner. The Broncos are moving forward with a younger running back group featuring Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Audric Estime. Perine was a productive back with Denver in 2023 after several solid years with Cincinnati. He finished the season with 238 rushing yards and a touchdown on 4.5 yards per carry. More importantly, Perine caught 50 passes for 455 yards. That kind of production is sure to land Perine a job in 2024. His release opens up more opportunities for McLaughlin in the Denver offense. McLaughlin will now jump up to the No. 2 running back spot behind Williams.

Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Phillip Dorsett was released by the team on Monday. With the Broncos already planning to move on from wide receiver Tim Patrick, they continued their overhaul of their wide receiving core with Dorsett's release. Dorsett was buried on the depth chart and unlikely to be much of a factor. He had not caught a pass during the 2024 preseason, and he has not caught a pass in the regular season since 2022. With the Broncos moving forward with a younger receiving core, the former-first-round pick will have to find a new home.

The Denver Broncos are exploring trade possibilities for wide receiver Tim Patrick, according to Broncos reporter Mike Klis. Patrick suffered a torn ACL during training camp in 2022 and a torn Achilles before the 2023 season, so he has not played in a regular-season contest since 2021. After entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Patrick racked up 143 receptions for 2,009 yards and 12 touchdowns in 55 games. Denver is likely to release him if they do not reach a deal to trade him ahead of Tuesday's roster cutdown deadline. Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, and Marvin Mims Jr. are expected to start in three-wide sets for Denver, but Patrick's potential departure could clear the way for rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele to play in reserve roles in 2024.

The Denver Broncos are expected to move on from veteran running back Samaje Perine, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The organization is engaged in trade conversations, but if they do not reach a deal before Tuesday's 4 p.m. EDT roster cutdown deadline, he could be released. This move was expected by many following the acquisition of former Notre Dame running back Audric Estime in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Denver backfield is crowded with Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Estime, so Perine has been viewed as the odd man out. Although Perine is unlikely to have a ton of fantasy value somewhere else, he could affect another running back and negatively impact their standing on the depth chart.

Denver Broncos rookie fourth-round wide receiver Troy Franklin caught his only target for a 21-yard gain and carried the ball one time for nine yards in the team's 38-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field in the preseason finale on Sunday. ESPN's Jeff Legwold wrote earlier this week that Franklin has been slow to adjust to the physicality of NFL defensive backs, but considering the Broncos traded to up select him in the fourth round, he's still on track to make the final 53-man roster. It could come at the expense of third-year wideout Brandon Johnson, who had a team-high 83 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Franklin has experience playing with rookie quarterback Bo Nix from their college days at Oregon, but as things stand now, he's most likely going to enter the regular season as the WR5 behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Tim Patrick and Marvin Mims Jr.