With another AFC West preview, we'll take a look at the Denver Broncos, who are a lock for being one of the most exciting teams in their extremely competitive division.
The new-age Orange Crush is coming off 7-9 season, despite having one of the top-rated defenses in the NFL. The biggest issue for the Broncos was their offense. In 2019, Denver averaged 17.6 points per game, which ranked 28th overall.
With a multitude of changes in their offensive personnel through both free agency acquisitions and the draft, the Broncos seemed poised to shore up their issues from an offensive standpoint.
In the 2020 Fantasy Football Denver Broncos Preview, we’ll dive into the new-look offensive unit led by sophomore quarterback Drew Lock.
2020 Fantasy Football Denver Broncos Preview
Quarterbacks
- Drew Lock
- Jeff Driskel
Last season, Drew Lock became the mile-high starter toward the end of the season. The aging veteran Joe Flacco began the season at the helm, but his first season as a Bronco ended prematurely. The former Super Bowl MVP sustained a neck injury in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Once Flacco ended up on the IR, the Broncos found success in their final five regular-season games, thanks to Drew Lock, who posted a 4-1 record. Last March, the Broncos cut ties with Flacco. The New Jersey native signed with the New York Jets during the free agency period.
Lock has been handed the keys to the Denver offense and Flacco is out of the picture.
🚨 Drew Lock is dealing.#DENvsHOU
(Via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/biKxWgim0W— PFF (@PFF) December 8, 2019
With new weapons on offense, including perennial Pro Bowl running back, Melvin Gordon, and arguably the best route runner coming out of college in Jerry Jeudy, Lock seems like a break-out candidate in 2020.
Lock was a second-rounder in the 2019 draft, and in his five starts, he threw for 1020 yards and seven touchdowns. The early success Lock experienced should carry over to the 2020 season, where he’s bound to be more comfortable with offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur's schemes.
Fantasy owners can expect a big year from Lock and should be worth a look later in drafts.
Running Backs
- Melvin Gordon
- Phillip Lindsay
- Royce Freeman
The biggest acquisition made by the Broncos this past offseason came in the form of a shiny new running back.
Melvin Gordon, who held out for four games in 2019 season over contract disputes with the Los Angeles Chargers, became Denver’s marquee tailback after signing a two-year $16 million deal with Denver.
In 2019, Gordon had a down year, averaging 14.2 PPR points per game, which was his lowest since 2015. Despite this slight dip in productivity, Gordon should still be one of the top running backs in fantasy football.
Missed tackles forced on runs since 2017
1. Derrick Henry - 136
2. Kareem Hunt - 123
3. Chris Carson - 118
4. Melvin Gordon III - 117 pic.twitter.com/zoCOZwIuUw— PFF (@PFF) May 6, 2020
Gordon combines his ability to run between the tackles with exceptional hands to be a threat in both the run and passing game. Since 2016, Gordon has averaged 47.75 receptions per season.
Expect Phillip Lindsay to take a more specialized role within the Denver offense. While he’s bound to take snaps away from Gordon, this shouldn’t affect Gordon’s value. Gordon was in a similar situation while in Los Angeles, as his former teammate, Austin Ekeler was heavily embedded in the team’s scheme.
While Gordon should emerge as the premiere back, given his hefty price tag, Lindsay is certainly no slouch. His 2019 campaign was the second-straight season where he hit the 1000-yard milestone. Competing for snaps with Royce Freeman pales in comparison to the well-established Gordon, but he should still be Fantasy viable.
Expect to see Lindsay go in middle rounds in 12-man drafts. He and Gordon could be a perfect one-two punch as a handcuff combo.
Freeman can be left off draft boards until his role becomes more defined.
Wide Receivers
- Courtland Sutton
- Jerry Jeudy
- KJ Hamler
- Diontae Spencer
Courtland Sutton enters his third NFL season as the top option for Drew Lock. Although Jerry Jeudy has the potential to eclipse his teammate, for the time being, Sutton sits in the WR1 position.
Sutton reeled in 72 catches for 1,112 yards and six scores en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. The chemistry between the six-foot-four receiver and young quarterback, Drew Lock, was evident during the final five games of the season.
Lock looked Sutton's way more than any other receiver during the final five games of the season. The towering wideout averaged eight targets per game during that span. Despite not registering a touchdown.
With the high usage rate, Sutton is bound to find his way to the end zone but is threatened by the hot-shot rookie coming out Alabama.
Only teams to earn an A+ PFF draft grade and above average PFF free agency grade:
Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos pic.twitter.com/5pJ7gR1ukc
— PFF (@PFF) May 9, 2020
Jeudy, coming from Nick Saban's powerhouse Crimson Tide football program was the second receiver off the board in the 2020 draft, which was filled to the brim with offensive talent. Many had Jeudy ahead of fellow Alabama alumnus, Henry Ruggs, so when Jeudy dropped to the fifteenth spot, it was a no-brainer for Denver’s brass, who were looking to add weapons for their newly-found golden boy, Drew Lock.
Jeudy is a route-running technician who lacks elite speed but makes up for it with his ability to make precise cuts and stop on a dime.
In college, Jeudy was a mid-range monster, with 64 receptions over 15 yards since 2018. This led the entire 2020 draft class.
The Broncos didn’t stop with Jeudy, selecting KJ Hamler with the 46th pick.
Hamler adds another option for Lock while shoring up the previous void of slot receivers for the Broncos passing game. Hamler, who is smaller in stature (five-foot-nine) has the chance to play in multiple roles. Hamler’s positional versatility could lead to multiple looks for the speedster.
The Penn State product has blazing speed and while he didn’t run at the NFL combine, it’s reported Hamler once posted a 4.27 40-yard dash time. This kind of speed can be used anywhere on the field, especially in the return game. Fantasy owners can expect Hamler to be one of the most explosive Broncos, with bonafide boom-or-bust potential.
Hamler has the chance to be one of this year’s top sleeper candidates. Fantasy owners take note.
Tight Ends
Noah Fant has the skillset to be one of the most impactful tight ends in the league. Last year, however, this potential didn’t exactly come to fruition. In 16 games, he was only able to muster 40 catches for 562 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
As a tight-end who ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at the combine, you’d expect him to be ripping up seams, posing matchup nightmares for defenses, game-after-game.
While he had spurts of excellence, including a 75-yard touchdown catch and run in week 9, many fantasy owners felt short-changed by Fant.
Noah Fant 75 YARDS💨#CLEvsDEN
(via @NFL)
— PFF (@PFF) November 3, 2019
This year, there’s likely going to be a change in the guard, since Drew Lock is now at the helm. Most rookie quarterbacks benefit from having a solid tight-end option, especially in redone and short-yardage situations.
While Fant will open the season as TE1 for the Broncos, he’ll have fourth-round draft pick Albert Okwuegbunam nipping at his heels.
Okwuegbunam is deadly in the red zone, having scored 23 touchdowns in 33 college contests. Although he might not immediately make a huge impact, the youngster has the potential to see fantasy-viable stats down the stretch, especially if injuries occur.
Have Okwuegbunam on your fantasy radar, but at this time, there’s little upside in drafting the Missouri alumnus.
Final Verdict
The Denver Broncos have the potential to make waves in the AFC West. They’re miles behind the Chiefs when it comes to talent, but the well-established defensive unit, as well as new toys on offense, should make Denver highly competitive.
If everything goes right for the Broncos, they’ll be fighting for a post-season spot while having numerous fantasy-viable players within skill positions.
For fantasy owners, the biggest question mark revolves around whether Jeudy can overtake Sutton as the top receiver. Jeudy is unproven in the NFL. Sutton has established himself as a mainstay in fantasy circles. With Jeudy’s talent level, owners might be able to steal one of the most skillful route runners later in drafts.
Visit the F6P Fantasy Football page for more advice to get you prepared for the 2020 season.
1 comment
[…] seasons. Great, right? Melvin Gordon is now his running mate and will more than likely lead the Broncos is rushing attempts. Lindsay has lost some of the luster he carried into the off-season, but a […]