Denver Broncos Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Broncos RB Javonte Williams led the backfield in snaps, carries, and targets in Week 1, his first regular-season game since October's multi-ligament knee injury. Williams played 48% of the offensive snaps, carried 13 times for 52 yards, and caught four of six targets for five yards. That's 19 total opportunities to RB Samaje Perine's 12 and RB Jaleel McLaughlin's one. It was encouraging usage for Williams coming off that devastating injury. His volume should only grow going forward.

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich has been ruled out of Sunday's opener vs. the Raiders with a leg injury. We'll look for further details. His absence leaves Adam Trautman as Denver's clear-cut lead TE.

Cecil Lammey and Andrew Mason of Denver Sports expect Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin to have a role on offense in Sunday's opener vs. the Raiders. Lammey threw out a prediction of a 40/40/20 split between Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, and McLaughlin. "Jaleel is trusted on those passing downs ... situations where you need that big play," Lammey added. It's certainly worth remembering that HC Sean Payton often deployed 3-RB committees with the Saints. McLaughlin is certainly not a Week 1 fantasy option, but garnering even a few touches would put a dent in Williams and Perine's fantasy value.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams is not listed on the Week 1 injury report. He'll play on Sunday vs. the Raiders -- his first regular-season game since last October's multi-ligament knee injury. HC Sean Payton said Wednesday that Williams will have a "big role" this weekend. "I haven’t put together a [snap] number for him," Payton added. "He’s moving well. He’s strong and healthy." We're still expecting Williams to at least open the season in a fairly even committee with RB Samaje Perine. But Williams should see enough work to at least be a RB3 or flex play in Week 1.

The Broncos swung a trade for K Wil Lutz from New Orleans. Lutz reunites with former Saints HC and current Broncos HC Sean Payton. How strong a fantasy option Lutz will be this season depends entirely on whether Payton can help lead Denver's offense to a bounce-back season.

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich's preseason usage has been a bit worrisome. But The Athletic's Nick Kosmider still expects him to play a big role in the passing game this season. "The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder has been an active target in training camp, stretching the defense in all parts of the field," Kosmider writes. "The Broncos acquired veteran tight end Adam Trautman in a draft-day trade, and he brings experience with Payton’s offense. But Dulcich will remain the top tight-end target, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him end up as the team’s third-leading receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy." We're expecting Dulcich's production to be a bit volatile from week to week -- but very few TEs are consistent producers. Dulcich remains an intriguing fantasy pick at his reduced-cost 13th-round ADP.

Broncos OC Joe Lombardi "indicated Javonte Williams' load could be limited a bit at the start of the season," according to the Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson. Lombardi added that Williams will eventually settle into an expanded role. Williams has beaten all expectations by presumably being ready for Week 1, so it's no surprise that his volume will be limited out of the gate. Consider him a risky RB3 or flex play in Week 1 fantasy lineups. And we'll keep a close eye on how his usage trends.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams played in Saturday night's preseason game -- his first live action since last October's multi-ligament knee injury. He carried three times for 12 yards and caught four of five targets for 18 yards. Williams didn't do anything spectacular but certainly didn't look limited coming off the injury. "I just wanted to get tackled again and see how it goes," Williams said afterward. "That’s the biggest hurdle I feel I have left.” He added that he feels "100 percent" and is "good to go" for Week 1. Williams still figures to be limited at least early on this season. But he continues to trend in a positive direction.

Broncos QB Russell Wilson completed seven of 13 pass attempts before leaving Friday night's preseason opener. He hit WR Courtland Sutton three times, WR Jerry Jeudy twice, and TE Adam Trautman twice. Afterward, DNVR's Zac Stevens tweeted, "Those three are THE starters on the depth chart." No surprised for Sutton and Jeudy. But the work for Trautman does line up with his appearance ahead of Greg Dulcich on the "unofficial" depth chart. Dulcich looks like a guy with breakout potential based on his college production, some intriguing efficiency and usage from last year, and HC Sean Payton's words ahead of training camp about using Dulcich in a "Joker" role. But if Trautman continues as the No. 1 TE, Dulcich would see his playing time and opportunities limited. We'll certainly keep watching this situation through August but might have to consider knocking Dulcich down the fantasy football rankings a bit.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams confirmed last night that he’ll play in Week 2 of the preseason. Denver faces San Francisco next Saturday. Ultimately, we’d be surprised if Williams plays more than a couple of series in his first game since October 2.

Speaking with CBS reporters Thursday, Broncos HC Sean Payton said RB Javonte Williams is "100% right now." He added that he doesn't know how much he'll play Williams in the preseason opener. But that Payton is even considering playing Williams in the exhibition aligns with all the positive reports on Williams' return from the 2022 knee-ligament tears. The RB has been climbing ADP charts lately but remains at the bottom of RB2 territory -- and still outside it in many places. There will still be risk to drafting Williams, but we're on board at cost. Williams has moved up our RB rankings since the start of training camp.

Broncos WR Courtland Sutton has "consistently been quarterback Russell Wilson’s top target in training camp," The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes. "He is fully healthy and has demonstrated more explosiveness than in any training camp since 2020, when he was dominant in practices leading up to his ACL injury." Kosmider adds that HC Sean Payton believes that Sutton can "thrive as an outside receiver in his system." Jerry Jeudy was Denver's best WR by basically any metric last season. But it's worth noting that the target split between Jeudy and Sutton was relatively close -- 69 to 61 in favor of Jeudy in their nine healthy games together. Jeudy sits well ahead of Sutton in our 2023 fantasy football rankings. But Sutton could certainly prove to be a value at his WR40 ADP.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Broncos RB Javonte Williams is expected to play in preseason games. HC Sean Payton has said the coaching staff is still determining whether or not the third-year back will make his debut in the first or second game but that they "like how he's progressing." A torn ACL and LCL in Week 4 cut the former second round pick's 2022 campaign short, but it seems the ailment isn't slowing him down in his comeback effort this season. Agreeing to play him in the preseason is Williams' most significant vote of confidence to date after he avoided the PUP list and was cleared to contact at the beginning of camp. Fantasy managers hoping for a resurgent season from Williams ought to feel encouraged. We're still cautiously optimistic yet, but Williams has received a slight boost in our RB rankings.

Per NFL Network's James Palmer, Broncos RB Javonte Williams "hasn't been limited in any capacity so far in camp" as he returns from a torn ACL and LCL suffered in Week 4 of last season. Palmer also adds that despite being given an off day tomorrow, Williams plans to dress in full pads and engage in conditioning on the side. It's only the beginning of August, but to see a player returning from a multi-ligament injury being given the green light is just about the best news possible. Williams, who we have lower down in our current RB rankings, is starting to put together a case for being a riser up draft boards. We'll be cautiously optimistic for now. There's still a lot of time between now and Week 1 of the regular season. Hopefully, Williams doesn't press himself too hard and risk a setback. Check back for further updates on the third-year RB.

The Broncos waived WR K.J. Hamler with a non-football illness designation. Hamler announced that he's been diagnosed with pericarditis, a mild heart irritation. “I’ve got a great treatment plan with medicine and am taking a quick break to get this all taken care of so I can get back to doing what I love," Hamler said. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that Hamler is expected to miss "weeks, not months" and that the Broncos would eventually like to bring him back. We'll keep you updated on Hamler's status, but he's off the fantasy radar for now.

Broncos WR Tim Patrick suffered a "complete tear" of his left Achilles in Monday's practice, insider Mike Klis reports. It's the second straight year Patrick has suffered a season-ending injury in August, following last year's torn ACL. Patrick was battling with rookie Marvin Mims for Denver's No. 3 WR job this season. This injury gives Mims a clear runway to that job -- and officially puts him on our 2023 sleeper radar.

Broncos rookie WR Marvin Mims returned to practice on Monday. He had dealt with a hamstring issue. If Tim Patrick’s leg injury is serious, Mims will become a staple in Denver’s 3-WR sets.

Broncos WR Tim Patrick was carted off with an apparent non-contact leg injury. Reporter Mike Klis tweeted that the injury “appears” to be to Patrick’s left leg. The veteran sustained a right ACL tear nearly one year ago. We’ll let you know when more details emerge.

Update: HC Sean Payton said Patrick is being evaluated for a left Achilles injury. We'll keep an eye out for more information.

Per James Palmer of NFL Network, Broncos RB Javonte Williams has been cleared for contact to open training camp. Williams, who tore his ACL and LCL against the Raiders in Week 4 last year, also avoided landing on the PUP list to begin camp just seven months after surgery. These pieces of news certainly bode well for his chances to make a fantasy impact as the lead back in a Sean Payton-led offense. Any RB returning from a multi-ligament injury requires keeping a close eye on, so we'll be sure to watch his progress as we get closer to the beginning of the season. We have Williams placed conservatively in our current RB rankings, but he could be a riser if we get further positive reports further into August.

Broncos WR Marvin Mims is out with a hamstring injury, HC Sean Payton said Wedesday. Mims dealt with an injury to his other hamstring earlier this offseason. Payton expects Mims to be back in action in "about four days, five days, maybe a week." We'll see when the rookie returns to the field. He can't afford to miss too much more time if he wants to push for an early-season role.