Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the team needs a "joker" on an appearance on the "Up & Adams" show. The longtime NFL head coach explained he is referring to a tight end or running back with "exceptional" receiving skills. "They have to be elite receivers that play tight end or running back." Payton expressed confidence in his wide receiver group consisting of Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, and Troy Franklin. While you should always take a head coach's statements with a grain of salt, this could suggest Denver will target a tight end or running back in the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton made it clear last offseason that he was unhappy with the structure of his contract, which at the time had two years left with little guaranteed money. Sutton and the Broncos eventually revised his contract to add $1.7 million in incentives for 2024, ultimately reaching most of them after posting his second 1,000-yard campaign with a career-high 81 catches and eight touchdowns. The 29-year-old is now entering the final year of his contract and has no guaranteed money remaining. He's due $14 million in 2025, which would make him the 24th highest-paid receiver in the NFL. However, he's solid 2024 season suggests he deserves more after ranking 17th among wideouts in catches, 13th in receiving yards (1,081) and tied for 12th in TDs. The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes it's probably safe to assume Sutton doesn't intend to play 2025 as his contract is currently structured.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | The Broncos are not expected to re-sign running back Javonte Williams. Dynasty Analysis: Williams just hasn't been able to recover from his injuries over the past couple of seasons and look like he once did as a promising young prospect. Williams looks like a player who has lost a lot of his explosiveness and Denver really didn't even use him that much this year, leaning on more of a committee than anything else. Now a free agent, Williams will likely look to get a fresh start elsewhere. His dynasty value continues to sink.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

The Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson writes that the Denver Broncos are not expected to re-sign impending free-agent running back Javonte Williams this offseason. Williams, a former second-round pick in 2021 out of North Carolina, entered the 2024 season as the team's unquestioned lead back, but poor efficiency on the ground led to the Broncos going with a committee approach in the backfield halfway through the year that also involved Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. The 24-year-old came into the NFL as a bruising, tackle-breaking lead-back option for Denver, but since suffering a torn ACL in his sophomore season in 2022, he has not been the same, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry while combining for 1,287 rushing yards and only seven rushing TDs the last two seasons. Despite leading Denver with 513 rushing yards in 2024, Williams will likely struggle to find a lead-back role on the open market.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin was a complete non-factor in the team's 31-7 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday on wild-card weekend. Like most of the season, Denver's backfield was stuck in the mud and couldn't get anything going to control the game, with rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading the team with 43 rushing yards on four carries. McLaughlin, who had been the leader of a committee backfield late in the season, had only two rushing attempts for minus-two yards while catching his only target for no gain. It was a dismal end to the 24-year-old's second season in the NFL. He finished with 113 carries for 496 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and only one rushing touchdown in 16 regular-season games while adding 24 catches for 76 yards and two more TDs through the air. Denver will surely look to upgrade their backfield in the offseason to give more help to Nix in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton brought in a team-high five receptions for 75 yards on nine targets during their loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon. Sutton's nine targets were also the most on the team. The veteran wideout was Bo Nix's go-to option all afternoon. His longest reception went for 21 yards. Despite their tough loss, Sutton enjoyed a productive afternoon. The 29-year-old enjoyed a nice bounce-back season as he tallied over 1,000 yards for just the second time in his career and the first time since 2019. Across 17 games, Sutton tallied 1,081 yards with eight touchdowns. Sutton was very productive over the final six games of the regular season, averaging an impressive 17.8 PPR points per game over this stretch.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams tallied 29 yards on seven attempts during their loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon. Williams also brought in both of his targets for 14 yards. With Audric Estime listed as a healthy scratch, Williams led the Denver backfield, as the depth options, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie combined for just four rushing attempts. However, quarterback Bo Nix led the team in rushing with 43 yards. This was another disappointing game for Williams, as he had trouble finding consistency in the Denver rushing attack. Over the final six games of the regular season, the North Carolina product averaged a poor 2.4 yards per carry and only 11.0 yards per game. Williams saw his fantasy value decrease this season after falling into a committee in the Denver backfield and will look to rebound in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. had a quiet showing during their wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills, as he caught just two of his four targets for a mere 12 yards. He also added one yard on two rushing attempts. The Broncos offense has trouble finding their footing after the first quarter, hindering Mims' output. His four targets were the second-most on the team. This was a disappointing showing for the sophomore wideout as he began to enjoy a late-season breakout. Over the final five games, Mims averaged a strong 17.5 PPR points per game with 68.2 yards per game. Over the final two weeks of the regular season, Mims tallied four touchdowns and 77.0 yards per game. The Oklahoma product will look to find more consistency as he enters his third professional season.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix went 13-for-22 with 144 yards and a touchdown during their loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon. Nix added 43 yards on four carries, which led the team on the ground. The Oregon product started out hot completing a 43-yard TD to his college teammate Troy Franklin to give Denver an early lead on their first drive. However, the Broncos could not get anything going on offense throughout the rest of the game as the Bills shut the door after this touchdown. Nix relied on his top wideout, Courtland Sutton, in this contest as he saw a team-high nine targets and brought in five passes for 75 yards, which also led the team. Despite the tough loss, Nix enjoyed an excellent debut season, throwing for 3,7775 with 33 total touchdowns. After an impressive debut campaign, the former first-round selection is a rising asset in dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin caught two of his three targets for 54 yards and a touchdown during their playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Franklin made an impact early, bringing in a 43-yard TD pass from his college teammate Bo Nix to give Denver an early lead on their first offensive drive of the game. Franklin's other reception went for 11 yards in the fourth quarter. Franklin's 54 yards and three targets were both second-most among Denver pass catchers, only less than Courtland Sutton. Throughout the regular season, Franklin struggled to find consistent opportunities as he tallied just 263 yards and two scores on 28 receptions. Franklin will look to earn a larger role in the Denver offense in his sophomore campaign.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix went 13-for-22 for 144 yards and one touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card playoff game. He also rushed for 43 yards on four carries during the game. RB Javonte Williams rushed for 29 yards on seven carries and caught two passes for 14 yards. WR Courtland Sutton was the leading receiver for the Broncos with five receptions for 75 yards on nine targets. WR Troy Franklin caught two passes for 54 yards and one touchdown on three targets during the game, while WR Marvin Mims caught two passes for 12 yards on four targets.

From TheHuddle

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) was activated from Injured Reserve on Saturday and is officially active for the wild-card game at Orchard Park in Buffalo against the Bills on Sunday. As a result, rookie Audric Estime will be a healthy scratch. It's a pretty big surprise for Denver's backfield as they get set to play their first postseason game since winning Super Bowl 50 back in early 2016. The 24-year-old Badie has been on IR since early October but will return to provide RB depth behind Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Given Badie's extended absence, it would be a surprise to see him on the field all that much, which will give both McLaughlin and Williams more fantasy upside on Sunday against a Buffalo defense that has been vulnerable on the ground this year. In three games before going on IR, Badie had only 11 carries for 86 yards while adding three catches for minus-two yards.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) has been activated from the injured reserve on Saturday. Badie has been out since he suffered a back injury in October. The good news is that Badie was able to practice in full this week. He's currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Wild-Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills. If active, Badie would unlikely have much of a role in the crowded Broncos backfield. Jaleel McLaughlin has been getting most of the carries with Javonte Williams and Audric Estime getting mixed in as well. Badie might be able to help out on special teams, but he isn't someone worth looking at in DFS contests.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime is hard to recommend for fantasy lineups against the Buffalo Bills on wild-card weekend this Sunday as part of a three-man RB committee in Denver that also includes Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Estime did have 12 carries in the Week 18 win over the Kansas City Chiefs -- his second-highest total of the year -- but most of his work came in garbage time in a 38-0 blowout. In his first 13 NFL games in 2024, Estime averaged 4.1 yards per carry and only 5.8 rushing attempts per game. Opportunities are surely to be limited again this weekend in a game the Broncos are nearly 10-point underdogs on the road. The 21-year-old will probably only pay off as a flex play for fantasy managers if he finds the end zone, which he was only able to do twice this year. Estime has little upside as long as he's sharing touches with McLaughlin and Williams.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele isn't going to be in many DFS or playoff lineups on wild-card weekend when the Broncos head to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. In his first 13 NFL games in 2024, Vele averaged 6.6 half-PPR points per game on 41 receptions, 475 yards and three touchdowns, putting him tied for 77th among all pass-catchers. Going into the postseason, Vele is essentially Denver's WR3 behind Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. That won't give anyone confidence to use him this weekend, but the Broncos should be in pass-first mode as nearly 10-point underdogs, and the Bills defense has allowed the most half-PPR points per game in the last five weeks, including over 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. If Denver is forced to air it out on Sunday, Vele could be a sneaky flex play with more volume.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams doesn't have much upside at all while involved in a three-man RB committee as the Broncos head to Buffalo on Sunday to face the Bills at Orchard Park in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Especially if the Broncos are forced to throw the ball often -- they are nearly 10-point underdogs in this one -- Williams' workload will most likely be light. It means that he'll probably need to find the end zone, which he's done only four times this season, in order to pay off for fantasy managers using him as an RB2 in DFS or playoff leagues. The 24-year-old had a mediocre 3.7 yards per carry on 139 rushing attempts in 2024 and just did not have the burst he showed early in his career. Williams had only five carries to Jaleel McLaughlin's 16 and rookie Audric Estimes's 12 in the Week 18 win over the Chiefs. Opportunities will be limited for Williams to do damage against Buffalo.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin has been the slight favorite in a three-man committee backfield late in the season in a Broncos backfield that also involves Javonte Williams and rookie Audric Estime. It's really anyone's guess who might get into the end zone for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Buffalo Bills on the road. McLaughlin is the slight favorite to lead the backfield in touches, though, after seeing 18 touches for 41 scrimmage yards in the Week 18 blowout win over the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. The 24-year-old's 16 carries were a season-high. The Bills defense has allowed the eighth-most half-PPR points per game to RBs this year, but negative game script could limit opportunities for Denver's entire backfield with the Broncos being near 10-point underdogs. In 16 games, McLaughlin ranked 59th among RBs with 5.5 half-PPR points per game.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is one of the hottest wideouts in the league heading into a wild-card playoff matchup on Sunday in Orchard Park against the hosting Buffalo Bills. The Broncos made it a point to get Mims more involved in the offense late in the year, and it's really paid off, as the big-play second-year wideout caught all 13 of his targets for 154 yards and four touchdowns in the final two regular-season games. He has essentially become Denver's No. 2 behind target hog Courtland Sutton. Nobody is expecting Mims to score another two times against the Bills this weekend, but given his elevated usage in recent weeks, he's worth eyeing as a fantasy sleeper with WR2 upside against a Bills defense that allowed the most half-PPR points per game in the last five weeks. As nearly 10-point underdogs, the Broncos are expected to throw the ball plenty on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has essentially been a WR1 in fantasy since the midway point of the season, and that shouldn't change on wild-card weekend when the team travels to Buffalo to take on the Bills on Sunday. Buffalo's defense was a middle-of-the-pack matchup for opposing wideouts over the course of the season, but over the last five weeks, they allowed the most half-PPR points per game to receivers, including over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. Sutton was the WR14 in half-PPR scoring during the regular season and ranked 13th among all pass-catchers with 135 targets. He's rookie quarterback Bo Nix's go-to target, and he should have a very safe floor this weekend in a game in which the Broncos are nearly 10-point underdogs. In addition to a safe target floor, Sutton has scored three times in the last four games.

From RotoBaller

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a pretty special rookie campaign after being taken in the first round last April, helping lead Denver to their first postseason appearance since 2015. He finished as a top-10 fantasy signal-caller thanks to 3,775 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 17 games, also adding 430 rushing yards and four TDs on the ground. The Broncos will be on the road on wild-card weekend in Buffalo against the Bills and they'll be almost 10-point underdogs. While nobody is expecting Denver to pull off the upset, positive game script could set Nix up to score nicely for fantasy managers willing to use him as a low-cost sleeper in DFS contests. The Bills defense did allow 226.1 passing yards per game and the fifth-most fantasy points per game in the last five weeks to opposing QBs.

From RotoBaller