Broncos S Brandon Jones missed much of training camp with a hamstring injury and didn't play in any of the team's three preseason contests. But he said after Sunday's finale that he "should be ready" for the regular-season opener, according to the Denver Gazette. Jones returned to practice last week after sustaining his injury on the first day of camp.
Broncos HC Sean Payton named QB Bo Nix his starting QB on Wednesday. This was the most likely scenario when Denver took Nix with the 12th overall pick of this spring's draft. Nix bolstered his case with two strong preseason outings, completing 76.7% of his passes at 7.0 yards per attempt with two TDs and zero INTs.
Broncos WR Troy Franklin has struggled in training camp, but the Broncos appear to want to keep developing him slowly. With the team preferring veterans like Tim Patrick, Franklin could be in line for a redshirt or special teams year only.
Broncos WR Troy Franklin has been battling drops in camp and appears to be low on the depth chart. Camp reports have him behind the Broncos Seventh Round Pick WR Devaughn Vele.
Broncos WR Troy Franklin is no higher than fifth on the depth chart right now, according to insider Benjamin Allbright. Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, and Josh Reynolds are the top three WRs, with Tim Patrick looking like the No. 4, per Allbright.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton agreed to restructure his contract. He could earn up to $15.2 million with $1.5 million added incentives.
The Athletic's Nick Kosmider chose WR Marvin Mims as the Broncos' breakout player this season. Kosmider notes that WR Jerry Jeudy's departure opens up opportunity for Mims, and that HC Sean Payton promised more work for Mims in his second season.
After a promising rookie year, Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin continued to develop this offseason. Per The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider, “McLaughlin’s offseason program turned heads among coaches, teammates, and onlookers at practice. It would not be a stretch to say he was the Broncos’ most dynamic offensive player during OTAs and minicamp.”
Keep an eye on Broncos TE Lucas Krull as a deep fantasy football sleeper. Last year, he caught only 8 balls in 7 games. But according to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post, the Broncos are "banking on" Krull to "provide some pop" at TE. Greg Dulcich missed the offseason program with a foot injury. Meanwhile, HC Sean Payton has praised Krull for his work at OTAs/minicamp.
ESPN's Michael DiRocco writes that Jaguars TE Evan Engram "plans to become a bigger downfield threat than ever before" in 2024. The TE says he wants add explosive plays to his profile and become more of a red-zone option. Will his situation support that?
Broncos GM George Paton believes QB Bo Nix is "game-ready" to start as a rookie. Paton pointed to Nix's 61 college starts and the fact that he's already 24 years old. That advanced age might be a knock against Nix's ultimate ceiling, but it certainly helps his chances of hitting the ground running this season. With only QBs Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham in his way, Nix has a good chance to win the Week 1 starting job. He's a fine target in both redraft and dynasty superflex leagues.
The Broncos selected Notre Dame RB Audric Estime in Round 4 of the NFL Draft. A four-star prospect, Estime chose Notre Dame over others like Maryland, Rutgers, Virginia, and Nebraska. After a quiet freshman season behind Kyren Williams, the New York native split carries in 2022. The result? Team-highs in yards (920), yards per carry (5.9), and TDs (11). His production then rose across the board last fall. He flashed top-notch power with 4.27 yards after contact per attempt and tallied a strong Elusive Rating from PFF (126.5). The raw numbers turned up several career highs (209 carries, 1,341 yards, 18 TDs). While Estime caught all 26 of his college targets, we don’t forecast much of a receiving ceiling in the NFL. He also lacks the top-end speed to rip off explosives at the next level. Estime’s 4.71 forty-time at the NFL Combine was disappointing, but his Relative Athletic Score of 6.58 shows the strength of his complete profile. At 221 pounds, he tallied an 86th-percentile vertical and an 87th-percentile broad jump. Also note: Estime’s ten-yard split placed him in the 53rd percentile. The rookie joins a crowded backfield in Denver alongside Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Samaje Perine – although Williams and Perine are both scheduled to be free agents next offseason.
The Broncos spent the second pick of Round 4 on Oregon WR Troy Franklin. The No. 3 WR in the 2021 recruiting class broke out as a sophomore in 2022, leading the Ducks with 61 catches, 891 yards, and 9 TDs. He blasted by those numbers this past year, finishing top-6 in the country in receiving yards (1,383) and TDs (14). Franklin’s 3.32 yards per route ranked sixth among 286 qualifying WRs. His 87.3 Pro Football Focus receiving grade ranked 15th. Franklin was dominant going deep, averaging a huge 17.1 yards per catch and ranking top-10 in the nation in catches (14), receiving yards (558), and TDs (7) on targets 20+ yards downfield. He ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the Combine and looks at least that fast on tape. Franklin regularly ran by DBs in man coverage and defeated angles vs. zone coverage. That speed also makes him a weapon after the catch. The concerns: Franklin is a wiry 6’2, 176-pounder and struggles with drops (8.0% career drop rate). He’s not a good bet to emerge as a No. 1 WR in the NFL. But his big-play ability gives him the potential to score a bunch of fantasy points without big target volume. Franklin’s dynasty value obviously takes a big hit after he fell to Round 4. But he landed with the team that drafted his QB of the past two years, Bo Nix, in Round 1. The Broncos traded away WR Jerry Jeudy this offseason. They still have WR Courtland Sutton under contract through 2025. He has been a subject of trade rumors, however, and sports a cuttable dead-cap number ($3.825 million) for the final year of his deal. WR Marvin Mims arrived in the second round of 2023 but has yet to truly break through. Ultimately, there's room for Franklin to earn a prominent role over the next few years. He'll carry upside if he slides far enough in your rookie draft. Expect his rookie ADP to decline vs. where it was pre-NFL Draft. How much that declines will be key to whether you should target him.
The Broncos selected Oregon QB Bo Nix in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Nix hit the college scene as one of the top 2019 recruits. Success never arrived at Auburn, though. Across three seasons, Nix never topped 2,500 yards or 20 TDs. You can put some of the blame on an underwhelming supporting cast. Or a coaching staff that simply didn’t highlight Nix’s strengths. Here’s how ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum reacted after Nix left Auburn. “I think he has an opportunity to have a really big year somewhere, under the right coach,” Finebaum predicted. “Now, who is the right coach? Certainly, someone who can mirror his game. That was really his problem this year, he was playing in a system that really didn’t suit him.” Well, a complete 180 happened in Oregon under HC Dan Lanning. Nix exploded in 2022 with 3,589 yards, 29 TDs, and only 7 INTs. He popped with an 82.3% adjusted completion rate and 8.8 yards per attempt. Nix’s numbers reached another level in 2023, as he enjoyed another campaign alongside Round 1 WR Troy Franklin. One thing to note: Nix wasn’t one to consistently push the ball downfield. 23% of his attempts at Oregon came on screens. And in 2023, his aDOT hit a shockingly low 6.8 yards. On tape, Nix looks like a polished pro whose timing, accuracy, and decision-making give him a chance to stick as a long-term starter. Landing in Denver gives Nix a good shot at starting Week 1, with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson as his (meager) competition. This draft position boosts Nix as a dynasty rookie pick. Check our rookie rankings to see where he lands.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton is skipping voluntary OTAs as he angles for a new contract, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Sutton has just $2 million guaranteed left on his current deal. The 28-year-old is coming off a solid 2023 season, leading the Broncos with 59 catches, 772 yards, and 10 TDs. Sutton has been rumored as a trade candidate for multiple years now, but it's tough to imagine Denver trading him after shipping WR Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland earlier this offseason. We'll see where the contract situation goes, but it's far too early to worry about Sutton's holdout extending into the regular season. The bigger concern for his 2024 fantasy value is Denver's QB situation. Jarrett Stidham currently tops the depth chart.
Oregon QB Bo Nix measured in at just over 6'2, 214 pounds at the NFL Combine. He threw in front of scouts but passed on athletic testing. Nix stayed at college for five years, although his career took off following a 2022 transfer to Oregon. Over the past two seasons, he’s combined for 8,101 yards and 74 TDs (27 games). NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah believes Nix will start "pretty early on," citing his accuracy, decision-making, and experience. While Nix isn't a top-end athlete, he showed flashes of being able to evade heavy pressure on tape. Recent Round 1 buzz suggests at least a chunk of teams view him as a long-term starter. We're just not buying into a high-end fantasy ceiling here.
Niners LB Dre Greenlaw tore his left Achilles' tendon running onto the field in the second quarter of the Super Bowl. It's devastating timing for a devastating injury that puts his 2024 season into question. On top of that, Greenlaw heads into the final season of a two-year extension. His 2024 carries a $9.6 million cap number vs. just $2.8 million in dead cap if San Francisco cuts him, according to Spotrac. That could make him a cap casualty for a team projected to be just $570K under the cap for 2024. We'll keep an eye on both the contract situation and the rehab for a star LB who will be heading into just his age-27 season. The injury also chips away at Greenlaw's dynasty value, though it doesn't necessarily make him an offseason cut for fantasy.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (concussion) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. He has a good chance to be cleared for this weekend's game vs. the Raiders, but we'll keep you updated on Sutton's progress through the protocol.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (concussion) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Chargers. WRs Jerry Jeudy (illness) and Marvin Mims (hamstring) are listed as questionable. Jeudy didn't practice on Friday but should be fine by Sunday. Mims' availability looks much shakier after being added to the injury report on Thursday and then missing practice on Friday. We'll look for updates on those guys on Sunday morning.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He's unlikely to be cleared in time to play vs. the Chargers this weekend, but we'll keep you updated on his progress through the protocol.
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