Fantasy Football 2019 Team Previews: Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
Must Own
Phillip Lindsay, RB (ADP: 44): There’s been some pullback on Lindsay love as of late, as rumblings of a timeshare between he and his higher-pedigree backfield mate Royce Freeman persist. The thing is, even if Lindsay does cede a greater share of the work than he did in 2018, he’s likely to remain a high-impact RB. Lindsay forcefully shoved his way to the front of the line, past Freeman, last season and topped 1,000 yards, scored nine touchdowns, contributed as a receiver, and ran efficiently (5.4 yards per carry). His broken wrist sucked, but it’s not the kind of injury anyone should expect to hinder him moving forward. There’s no performance-based reason to expect Lindsay to see less work, or take a backseat to Freeman. We’re simply conditioned to expect the player on whom higher draft capital was spent to get the nod. Things often shake out that way in the NFL, but it’s rare to see someone as unheralded as Lindsay dominate the way he did. He looked special, and I’m not afraid at all to take him at this point in drafts. In fact, I think it’s a value.
Royce Freeman, RB (ADP: 100): Freeman is no slouch either, and I do expect him to have enough work to be fantasy relevant. He scored five touchdowns last season, which could rise as Denver leans on the running game with Joe Flacco helming the offense. Freeman may also be asked to take the bulk of the red zone work because he’s a bigger body than Lindsay; it should be noted that Lindsay accounted for 10 touchdowns last season, but that could be a route to keeping both players happy. If there’s a 50/50 split, then Freeman would appear to be the greater value in this backfield, but I’m confident enough in Lindsay to say he’s being slightly underdrafted, and Freeman’s ADP is appropriate.
Courtland Sutton, WR (ADP: 97): Sutton is the 38th receiver off the board, going just four spots ahead of Patriots rookie N’Keal Harry. In my opinion, Sutton is one of the steals of the 2019 draft. Sutton averaged 16.8 yards per catch last season, and is now paired with one of the biggest arms in recent memory. An early second-round pick, Sutton has the look and tools of a second-year breakout, and he’s likely to open 2019 as the No. 1 receiver with Emmanuel Sanders attempting to return from a torn Achilles. Sutton may not be a PPR darling, as he does his damage downfield, but a potential breakout deep threat is certainly worth the investment at this ADP.
Fantasy Relevant
Emmanuel Sanders, WR (ADP: 116): Sanders was on his way to one of the best seasons of his career in 2018 before tearing his Achilles, and shedding light on the rookies behind him on the depth chart. He’s consistently aimed to be ready for Week 1, but he’s not participating in drills yet, and it seems unlikely a quickness and elusiveness-based receiver entering his age-33 season will recover that quickly or be himself again. Sanders has long been a reliable WR2, but his last two seasons were injury-marred, and he ain’t getting any younger. This ADP is extremely hopeful, and, to me, unpalatable. I’m not drafting Sanders at all this year, and certainly not at this point in the draft.
DaeSean Hamilton, WR (ADP: 170): Hamilton stands to benefit the most from Sanders falling off a cliff. He’ll be a PPR specialist, as he averaged nearly 10 targets per game in the four games Sanders missed. Hamilton averaged just 8.1 yards per reception, so don’t count on a big breakout, but it’s not hard to see him blossoming into a WR2 in full-PPR, and a FLEX type in half-PPR.
Noah Fant, TE (ADP: 161): Fant, a teammate of fellow rookie T.J. Hockenson (Lions), formed one of the more imposing TE duos college football has seen. Fant didn’t post huge reception or yardage totals, partially due to sharing the work with Hockenson, but he sure had a nose for the end zone. Fant scored 18 touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons, and at 6’4, 249 lbs., he’ll have a real chance at being a fantasy-relevant, TD-dependent TE. That’s fine at this ADP, as the 15th TE off the board.
Handcuffs
Devontae Booker, RB (ADP: 294): Booker’s role as a rusher was reduced to nothing in 2018, but he still frustrated Lindsay/Freeman owners by his presence on many a third down. Booker saw 38 targets last season and carried the ball 34 times. By most accounts, that was 72 touches too many. He’s not fantasy relevant without an injury, and even then he’d only assume a passing downs role at best.
Deep Sleepers
Drew Lock, QB (ADP: 340): Lock is a Flacco-esque prospect with a big arm and some big college numbers. At Missouri Lock threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 44 touchdowns in his junior season, although that TD spike looks like an anomaly compared to his sophomore and senior campaigns. Still, with the level of talent surrounding him here, Lock is intriguing in two-QB drafts, as it’s conceivable that he’ll take over from Flacco at some point this year.