Thursday, August 26, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football Projections: Denver Broncos

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Denver Broncos.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Teddy Bridgewater531.1353.23930.120.4511.6843.5165.32.18245.25
Drew Lock5935.7424.82.391.779.434.80.4729.31

Teddy Bridgewater: The QB competition between Drew Lock and Bridgewater is over when it comes to determining the Week 1 starter (Bridgewater), but it's possible that both make starts in 2021. While his upside is low, Bridgewater will provide steadier quarterback play for a team that has a strong roster overall and will compete for the playoffs.

Drew Lock: Lock will enter 2021 as the backup, but as noted above, could certainly make a start or two in 2021. Lock completed just 57.3% of 2020 pass attempts and tied Carson Wentz for a league-high 15 interceptions thrown.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Javonte Williams202.4890.66.8835267.81.6184.22
Melvin Gordon144.8622.65.0721.4150.20.9123.8
Mike Boone37.7169.71.439.771.90.339.39
Royce Freeman16.569.30.376.847.90.117.94

Javonte Williams: Even though he was the third back off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft, some teams viewed Williams as "best back in the draft." With the Broncos moving up to get in front of the Dolphins to select Williams, it's likely that he emerges as the team's lead back sooner rather than later. The 20-year-old back is a tackle-breaking machine.

Melvin Gordon: While only 14 yards shy of 1,000 rushing yards in 2020, Gordon averaged a career-low 4.9 yards per catch. From Weeks 11 to 17, however, elite volume (120 touches, seventh-most) allowed MG3 to rank seventh in yards from scrimmage (618) and ninth in half-PPR scoring during that stretch.

Will the presence of Javonte Williams make Gordon expendable? For fantasy managers that roster MG3, it may be better for a new opportunity than a situation where the Broncos gradually shift a larger share of the workload to Williams as the season progresses, a potentially frustrating development for MG3 fantasy managers.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Jerry Jeudy78.910194.9000170.75
Courtland Sutton71.8949.44.92.49.60.05161.5
K.J. Hamler34424.62.314.1620.3581.56
Tim Patrick31.1378.92.200066.64
Diontae Spencer8.687.10.300014.81
Seth Williams5.154.40.30009.79

Jerry Jeudy: Despite Courtland Sutton (ACL) missing nearly all of 2020, Jeudy underwhelmed as a rookie. A 46.0% catch rate prevented him from capitalizing on a 31.46% share of his team's air yards. Inconsistent quarterback play contributed to the lack of production and all signs point to the potential for a breakout in year two, especially with the Broncos naming Bridgewater as their starting QB.

Courtland Sutton: Sutton had a breakout season in 2019 -- 72 catches for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns -- but missed nearly all of 2020 with a torn ACL. The choice of Bridgewater over Lock likely benefits Jeudy more than Sutton.

K.J. Hamler: Hamler has blazing speed, but he's unlikely to carve out a fantasy-relevant second season with Sutton, Jeudy and Fant (at least) all ahead of him in the targets pecking order.

Tim Patrick: Patrick was productive last season with a career-best 51/742/6 line. While he may once again outproduce expectations, it's also possible that he ranks fourth in WR snaps behind Sutton, Jeudy and Hamler.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Noah Fant62.2659.83.5000118.08
Albert Okwuegbunam20.4204.71.200037.87
Eric Saubert3.939.20.20007.07

Noah Fant: Playing at less than 100% in 2020, Fant averaged only 10.9 Y/R after averaging 14.1 in 2019. Fant's ADOT (7.6 to 6.7) and YAC/R (8.3 to 6.1) both declined year over year, but he also set career highs in receptions (62) and yards (673). Fant is currently dealing with a "leg issue" that isn't believed to be serious or keep him out Week 1.

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