Royce Freeman Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Broncos are cutting RB Royce Freeman, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The move follows "a couple of waiver claims and the need for space on the roster." We're a little surprised Denver couldn't find a trade partner here and would bet on Freeman landing somewhere pretty quickly. Atlanta seems like an obvious candidate, while several other teams ended up with shallow RB depth charts after cutting rosters down to 53.

Broncos RB Mike Boone (quad) has been placed on short-term IR. He's eligible to be activated starting in Week 4. Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams and Royce Freeman figure to open the season as Denver's top 3 backs.

The Broncos have rescinded the restricted free-agent tender on RB Phillip Lindsay, leaving him free to sign elsewhere. Despite averaging 4.8 yards per carry the past 3 seasons, Lindsay never seemed wanted in Denver. A new home figures to be good news for his fantasy value -- although we'll see exactly where he ends up. The Broncos' RB depth chart now reads: Melvin Gordon, Royce Freeman, Mike Boone. We'll see if they add to the group, but Gordon's fantasy value gets a boost with Lindsay's departure.

RB Mike Boone signed a 2-year, $2.6 million contract with the Broncos, according to insider Mike Klis. Boone averaged a strong 5.3 yards on 71 carries with the Vikings over the past 3 seasons. He joins a currently crowded Denver backfield alongside Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman -- although there's a chance restricted free-agent Lindsay departs. Still, Boone is off the fantasy radar for now.

Broncos RB Royce Freeman (hip) is active for today’s game vs. the Chargers. He’ll serve as the #2 RB with Phillip Lindsay out.

Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay is expected to miss 2-4 weeks after getting a 2nd opinion on his sprained toe, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. So Lindsay will miss Weeks 2 and 3. We'll see about his status beyond that. Royce Freeman will step in as Denver's #2 RB for however long Lindsay is out, but Melvin Gordon figures to pick up extra touches.

Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay (toe) missed practice all week and is out for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. He might be looking at a multi-game absence. Royce Freeman will step in as Denver’s #2 RB, but Melvin Gordon figures to pick up some extra touches with Lindsay out.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay is still in the process of getting a 2nd opinion on his turf toe as of Wednesday morning. "But don't be surprised to see him miss the next few weeks," Rapoport adds. He didn't cite any source for this, but we doubt Lindsay would be pursuing the 2nd opinion if Doctor #1 told him he could run back out and play in Week 2. Rapoport also adds that "it's not considered long term." We'll see about the official diagnosis. In the meantime, keep Lindsay out of your Week 2 plans and upgrade Melvin Gordon a bit for his touch outlook -- albeit in a negative matchup at Pittsburgh.

Broncos HC Vic Fangio announced that RB Phillip Lindsay has a "turf toe type of thing" coming out of Monday's loss to the Titans. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the team hopes it's a "mild" case, but Lindsay will get further evaluation today. If he can't go for the Week 2 trip to Pittsburgh, then Royce Freeman would operate as the #2 RB.

Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay did not return to Monday night's game against the Titans after halftime because of a foot injury. Denver initially deemed him questionable to return but then ruled him out early in the 4th quarter. We'll watch for further updates on his status. Royce Freeman got some 4th-quarter run with Lindsay out.

Broncos QB Drew Lock (thumb) is expected to be activated from the IR, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The rookie has taken the majority of the 1st-team reps in practice this week and seems to be in line to make his debut against the Chargers on Sunday. Lock struggled to a 60.8% completion rate and 5.0 yards per attempt this preseason. Pro Football Focus ranked him 35th in their preseason passing grades among 39 qualifying QBs. Lock is a bottom-barrel QB2 for Week 13. We'll see if he's an upgrade over QB Brandon Allen for Denver's pass-catchers.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero hears that the Broncos are planning to "ride Phillip Lindsay harder" in today's game against the Vikings. Lindsay has been in a near-even timeshare with RB Royce Freeman, out-touching Freeman 143 to 120 through 9 weeks. More volume would obviously be good news for his fantasy stock -- although this remains a tough matchup today.

Broncos HC Vic Fangio announced Monday that QB Joe Flacco will miss Week 9 with a neck injury suffered in yesterday's loss to the Colts. Rookie QB Drew Lock still isn't ready to return from his thumb injury, so it'll be Brandon Allen under center for Denver. The 2016 6th-rounder has never taken a regular-season snap and averaged 6.2 yards per attempt with 0 TDs and 3 INTs this preseason. As poorly as Flacco has played, this is a downgrade for Denver's offense.

Update: Flacco has a herniated disc in his neck, according to insider Jeff Lewold. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport adds that Flacco is expected to miss "significant time." He's droppable in all fantasy leagues.

The Broncos have hired Rich Scangarello as OC. He's bounced around to multiple college programs over the past 2 decades and also spent time with the Raiders, Falcons and 49ers. Scangarello worked under Kyle Shanahan in those last 2 stops, which is promising. He's never called plays at the NFL level, though, making this a tough hire to decipher for fantasy purposes.

The Broncos are set to hire Vic Fangio as their HC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Fangio has 14 seasons of experience as an NFL defensive coordinator but has never been a HC at any level. We'll see who he tabs to run his offense.

Update: Denver has named Gary Kubiak its new OC. Kubiak has 22 seasons of experience as an NFL HC or OC, including 13 with the Broncos. He's landed an impressive 19 units inside the top 16 in total yards and 11 in the top 5.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay will miss Week 17 because of the wrist injury that knocked him out of Monday night's loss to the Raiders. Lindsay will have further testing on the wrist. The worry is a potential scaphoid fracture and ligament damage. We'll see about the extent, but the issue is at least serious enough that he'll also miss the Pro Bowl. It shouldn't impact his 2019, but we'll keep an eye on the situation. For Week 17, Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker should see more work against the Chargers.

Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay left Monday night's game against the Raiders early with a hand injury and has been ruled out. We'll see whether the issue costs him further time.

Broncos RB Royce Freeman (ankle) isn’t listed on the final injury report. He practiced all week, including full workouts on Thursday and Friday. Freeman has averaged 10.1 carries per game so far and might see less work than that against the Chargers this weekend with RB Phillip Lindsay playing well.

Broncos RB Royce Freeman (ankle) is inactive for today’s game against the Texans. That again leaves the backfield to Phillip Lindsay and Devontae Booker. With Freeman out last week, Lindsay carried 18 times and caught all 3 of his targets while Booker handled 9 carries and 4 targets.