Broncos WR Courtland Sutton hauled in 4 of 5 targets for 66 receiving yards and a TD in Week 11 vs. the Vikings. The wideout has now scored in five straight games. Through Week 11, Sutton ranks tied for fourth in red zone targets (14) among WRs and first in TDs (8). As magical of a run as he’s been on, Sutton will have a tough test in Week 12 against a Browns defense that ranks as the third-toughest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed in 2023. He’ll be worth a look as a WR2/high-end flex option, but his success will be predicated on finding the end zone.
Jets QB Zach Wilson was benched in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Bills for QB Tim Boyle. Wilson went 7 of 15 for 81 yards, one TD, and one INT, leading the Jets to just 106 yards of total offense. We'll see how Boyle fares the rest of the way -- and what the Jets do at QB going forward. It won't be pretty no matter what they decide.
Broncos HC Sean Payton made good on his promise to get rookie WR Marvin Mims more playing time coming out of the Week 9 bye. Mims ran 28 routes among 37 Russell Wilson dropbacks in Monday night's win over the Bills. That 75.7% rate checked in just 2 routes behind WR Jerry Jeudy for second on the team and more than doubled Mims' previous high for the season. He didn't garner a single target, which will be kinda important going forward if he's going to actually catch passes. But the big boost in playing time shouldn't be ignored. Denver gets a favorable passing matchup with the Vikings in Week 11 and potential shootout spots vs. the Chargers (twice) and Lions among the final four weeks for most fantasy football leagues. Mims makes sense as a stash in deeper leagues, though you probably still can't start him yet.
Broncos rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin grabbed attention with some high-efficiency performances earlier this season and briefly moved ahead of Samaje Perine in playing time and usage. McLaughlin has continued to garner a lot more carries than Perine, leading the veteran 22-4 in the four games since Javonte Williams returned from injury. But Perine has played more snaps than McLaughlin each of the past three games, including Monday night in the win over Buffalo. Perine's primary role obviously lies in passing situations, where he's splitting time with Williams. That hasn't meant more than 3 targets in a game since Williams returned. But it will limit McLaughlin's opportunities. McLaughlin has remained the touch leader between them over the past three games, but neither looks usable vs. Williams' current role -- unless you're desperate for an RB.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams racked up 25 touches in Monday night's win at Buffalo. That included his second straight game of 21+ carries and third straight game with at least 3 receptions. Williams has seen his three largest touch counts of the season -- 18, 30, 25 -- over the past three games. The receiving work has stayed in line with earlier performances, while the carries have climbed significantly. Winning three straight games has certainly helped. Denver spent a surprising amount of time leading both the Chiefs and Bills the past two games. The defense seems to have improved quite a bit, delivering its four best weekly DVOA ratings over the past four games. That included the best performance of any defense -- by a wide margin -- in Week 8 against K.C. If that continues, it'll help Williams' chances of continued higher rushing volume. The Broncos get negative RB-scoring matchups with the Vikings and Browns the next two weeks, but expect competitive games to help Williams' touch counts. He'll likely land comfortably inside RB2 range in our rankings for those two contests, with greater matchup upside over the final five fantasy weeks.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton secured 8 of 11 targets for 53 receiving yards and a TD in Week 10 vs. the Bills. The veteran has quietly put together a very solid fantasy season to date. Through nine games, Sutton has posted 7 TDs (including a score in four straight games) and ranks as the WR29 in PPR points per game (13.4) in 2023. It’s difficult for fantasy managers to count on TDs on w weekly basis, but it’s worth mentioning that Sutton ranks tied for fourth among WRs with 13 red zone targets this season. It’s reasonable to anticipate he’ll return WR2 or flex-level value again in Week 11 vs. a Vikings defense that ranks as the eighth-easiest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Jets QB Zach Wilson completed 33 of 49 passes for 263 yards with no TDs or INTs in Week 9’s loss vs. the Chargers. He also added 7 rushing yards in the contest. Fantasy managers probably didn’t expect much from Wilson, the QB34 in fantasy points per game (10.1) in 2023. That said, some of his poor numbers can be attributed to the fact that Wilson was sacked a season-high 8 times on Monday night. Next week’s showdown vs. the Raiders won’t be much easier for him. The Las Vegas defense ranks as the third-toughest QB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Has continued light usage for Broncos rookie WR Marvin Mims frustrated you? Well, HC Sean Payton might be ready to change that coming out of the Week 9 bye. "I'm looking at my notepad and his number on it," Payton said Monday, according to Denver7's Troy Renck. "We are going to work our tails off to move that needle [to get him more involved]." Mims saw season highs in total snaps (28) and snap share (39%) his last time out. But he also hasn't seen more than 1 target in a game since Week 4. And he has exceeded 2 targets just once through eight games. So Denver and the rookie will have to show significant changes before Mims can approach fantasy-starter contention. But coming out of the bye should enhance the potential for big changes. Mims is down to 14% rostered in Sleeper leagues. Consider picking him up in your Week 10 waiver wire runs. If nothing meaningfully changes, we can always drop him again.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams stayed busy with 27 carries in Week 8. He wasn’t efficient, mustering only 3.1 YPC against a Kansas City unit down LB Nick Bolton. Still, adding 3 targets, Williams easily set a season-high in touches. He even added a receiving score on a designed screen. With his health and role trending up, Williams profiles as a clear RB2 going forward. He’ll face Buffalo after a Week 9 bye.
Jets QB Zach Wilson completed 17 of 36 passes for 240 yards with 1 TD in Week 8’s win vs. the Giants. He also contributed a team-leading 25 rushing yards in the contest. Sunday’s performance marked only the second time this season that Wilson has surpassed 200 passing yards in a game. Don’t be looking to start him in Week 9 vs. the Chargers outside of superflex leagues.
The Broncos placed WR Brandon Johnson (hamstring) on IR. Johnson has seemingly been standing in the way of a full-time role for WR Marvin Mims. But before you get too excited about the rookie, we need to tell you that Denver elevated WR Tre'Quan Smith from the practice squad in a corresponding move. Smith, of course, has a history with HC Sean Payton from their New Orleans days. We'll keep a close eye on Mims' usage vs. the Chiefs on Sunday, but he'd still be a total flier in Week 8 fantasy lineups.
The Commanders have ruled LB Cody Barton out for Sunday's game against the Eagles. It's the move we've been expecting after Barton left last week's game with a walking boot on his sprained ankle. Expect a full-time role for Jamin Davis and LB2 duty for David Mayo.
Broncos WR Brandon Johnson (hamstring) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game vs. the Chiefs. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then didn't practice on Friday, so he looks legitimately iffy for this one. Johnson isn't a fantasy factor, but his absence might force Denver to put WR Marvin Mims in something close to a full-time role.
Commanders LB Cody Bardon (ankle) sat out Wednesday's practice. He came away from Sunday's loss to the Giants with a walking boot on the ankle he sprained early in the game. We're betting Barton will miss Week 8 but will keep an eye on his status throughout the week. LB Jamin Davis will likely get full playing time if Barton sits, with David Mayo the next LB up.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams posted a mini breakout in Week 7. On a season-high 15 carries, he gained 82 yards (5.5 per attempt) while adding 3 receptions. Williams easily led the way in snaps (31) and narrowly edged Samaje Perine in routes (13 to 10) and targets (4 to 3). Jaleel McLaughlin remained a factor with 2 targets and 5 catches. Ultimately, Williams’ health looks to be on the rise, so there’s reason for optimism going forward. He’ll look for his first TD of 2023 this week vs. Kansas City.
Commanders LB Cody Barton left in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Giants with a left ankle injury and did not return. The Athletic's Ben Standig reports that Barton was in a walking boot after the game. We'll watch for more on his status, but that all doesn't seem to bode well for Barton's chances of being ready for a Week 8 home date with the Eagles. If Barton misses further time, Jamin Davis looks like the full-time LB, with David Mayo taking on Davis' usual role. That could mean anywhere from 65-90% of defensive snaps, based on Davis' playing time to date and how much Mayo played Sunday.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton tallied 6 grabs, 76 yards, and 1 score in Week 7. That makes 5 total TDs for Sutton on only 31 catches. He saw a 20.6% target share in this one, enough to lead the team. Next Sunday turns up a rematch with Kansas City. Sutton tallied 4-46-1 (6 targets) against the Chiefs in Week 6.
Broncos TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) has been placed on IR. Again. He missed Weeks 2 through 5 on IR with a hamstring injury and will now miss at least another four games. Denver has a Week 9 bye, so we won't see Dulcich again until Week 12 at the earliest. He can be dropped from all redraft rosters.
Broncos TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Packers. He reinjured his hamstring in his return last week and figures to be looking at another multi-game absence. Dulcich is droppable (again) in most fantasy leagues.
Broncos TE Greg Dulcich injured his hamstring in Thursday’s loss to Kansas City. He finished the game with 1 catch for 3 yards. Dulcich had just returned from a hamstring-related IR stint, so we might be looking at an aggravation. We’ll see if he’s able to get on the practice field next week.
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