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Denver Broncos Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Fantasy Football News 2023

Most Recent Fantasy Football News & Updates

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.

"A trimmed down Russell Wilson hinted that we are going to see him move around more this season and use his legs more frequently," NFL Network's James Palmer says. He adds that HC Sean Payton is encouraging it and believes "it's still a strength" for the 34-year-old QB. Wilson posted his fewest (13.1) and third-fewest (18.5) rushing yards per game the past two seasons. Although Palmer's report doesn't specifically speak to Wilson rushing for yardage, pursuing mobility more often should help that area. And any rushing boost would help Wilson's fantasy floor and ceiling. He's going at a low-risk, all-reward level in fantasy football drafts so far. See where Wilson sits in our 2023 QB rankings.

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 HC Sean Payton fully believes that QB Russell Wilson will bounce back this year. “He’s still got gas in the tank," Payton said, blaming Denver's ugly 2022 season on the previous regime. “There’s so much dirt around that. There’s 20 dirty hands, for what was allowed, tolerated in the fricking training rooms, the meeting rooms. The offense. I don’t know [former HC Nathaniel] Hackett. A lot of people had dirt on their hands. It wasn’t just Russell. He didn’t just flip. He still has it. This B.S. that he hit a wall? Shoot, they couldn’t get a play in. They were 29th in the league in pre-snap penalties on both sides of the ball.” On top of what should be a much-improved coaching staff, the Broncos also bolstered their offensive line with the additions of Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers. And the pass-catching corps remains strong. In short, all the pieces are in place for a Wilson bounce back.

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.

The Broncos have placed Edge Baron Browning on the active/PUP list to start training camp. He had arthroscopic knee surgery late in the spring to treat a partially torn meniscus. We'll see whether Browning will be ready for the start of the regular season. Denver recently signed veteran Edge Frank Clark to reinforce a group that will start Randy Gregory on one side. Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto also stand as options.

Broncos WR K.J. Hamler has been placed on the non-football injury list to open training camp. He's still recovering from March's partially torn pectoral. Hamler was expected to miss 4-6 months, which has his availability for the start of the season in jeopardy. Hamler has no place on redraft fantasy rosters.

NFL Network’s James Palmer reports that Broncos RB Javonte Williams (knee) is not expected to start training camp on the PUP list. That would mean there’s no chance for him to open the regular season on the PUP. That’s obviously great news for his early-season outlook and the overall status of Williams’ knee. He’s been going at a low-risk level in early fantasy football drafts

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich revamped his offseason workout plan "with a focus on increased flexibility," according to The Athletic's Nick Kosmider. The hope is that'll solve the hamstring problems that Dulcich dealt with throughout his rookie season. (Check out Dulcich's full injury history.) When he was healthy last year, Dulcich scored as a top-10 fantasy TE. With better health -- and a likely improved Denver offense under new HC Sean Payton -- Dulcich has breakout potential in 2023.

Broncos QB Russell Wilson is coming off a tough 2022. He averaged just 235 passing yards and 1.1 TDs across his 15 games and posted career lows in completion rate, PFF passing grade, and his 7.3 yards per attempt was his second-worst mark among 11 NFL seasons. But don’t forget about how much the Broncos improved this offseason. The team spent big money on RT Mike McGlinchey and LG Ben Powers in free agency and brought in former Saints HC Sean Payton to help right the ship. Plus, fantasy managers did see a slight bounce back from Wilson after the team fired HC Nathaniel Hackett, averaging 24.9 fantasy points per game between Week 17-18. We feel that Wilson can be a quality QB2 in lineups this season. See where he comes out in our current QB rankings.

Broncos RB Javonte Williams says “the plan” is for him to be medically cleared in time for training camp. No surprise there, as Williams put in some work at OTAs. He wouldn’t commit to suiting up for Week 1, saying it’s the Broncos’ decision. The team will certainly use the next two months to assess his readiness. We’ll track Williams’ progress closely in training camp, but for now, our RB rankings assume 14 games for the former Round 2 pick.

Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy missed two full games and most of three others with injuries last year. But in the other 12, he averaged 7.7 targets, 5.2 catches, 74.7 yards, and 0.5 TDs. His scoring averages in those games would have ranked 13th among WRs in PPR points and 14th in half-PPR. Jeudy also ranked seventh among 80 qualifying WRs in yards per target and 12th in yards per route. He's improved in both of those metrics across each of his first three NFL seasons. Still just 24, Jeudy should still be ascending. And he gets a significant coaching upgrade this season with HC Sean Payton replacing Nathaniel Hackett. If QB Russell Wilson can bounce back from an ugly 2022, Jeudy is primed for a true breakout season.

NFL Network's James Palmer had "multiple people" in the Broncos organization tell him that Tim Patrick is "the best football player in that WR room." That WR room also includes Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and second-round rookie Marvin Mims. QB Russell Wilson felt most comfortable throwing to Patrick last offseason, per Palmer. And the belief (hope?) is that Patrick's August torn ACL played a big part in Wilson's ugly 2022 season. Patrick is on track to be ready for Week 1, which is good news for Wilson. But it's tough to see Patrick emerging as a reliable fantasy option barring an injury to Jeudy or Sutton. Patrick is at least worth considering near the end of best-ball drafts.

Broncos WR Courtland Sutton ranked just 40th among WRs in PPR points per game and 41st in half-PPR last year. HC Nathaniel Hackett and QB Russell Wilson were problems. But Sutton finished well behind teammate Jerry Jeudy in fantasy points per game, as well as yards per target (9.7 to 7.6), yards per route run (2.18 to 1.55), and Pro Football Focus receiving grade (77.9 to 69.7). HC Sean Payton should be a significant upgrade for Denver's offense in 2023. But Wilson remains a question mark. And Sutton faces additional target competition with the addition of rookie WR Marvin Mims and the return of WR Tim Patrick (ACL). It all makes Sutton a fairly uninspiring fantasy pick, even at his WR39 ADP. He sits considerably lower than that in our updated WR rankings.

Broncos RB Samaje Perine left practice on Wednesday with a thumb injury. Perine walked to the locker room with Denver’s training staff, although HC Sean Payton downplayed the injury later on. We’re not expecting Perine to be limited for the start of training camp.

UPDATE: Perine's injury was a thumb bruise. Carry on.

Per Broncos insider Troy Renck, WR Tim Patrick “continues to make steady progress” in his return from a right ACL tear. The injury popped up last August. Patrick looked like a deep sleeper prior to the injury following a 53-734-5 line in 2021. Now, he’ll struggle for looks in a WR corps that includes Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and exciting Round 2 pick Marvin Mims. Even in deep best ball formats, Patrick isn’t a recommended fantasy target.

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