Broncos fantasy football outlook for Week 15 against the Bengals

The Denver Broncos absolutely hammered the Detroit Lions in Week 14, and now they play a game which has tons of playoff implications in Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Both teams have a 7-6 record, and both teams are currently outside of the top-seven in the AFC if the playoffs were to start today. This game on Sunday is going to go a long way toward determining if either one can climb the ranks and get into the postseason.

This could be the game where the Broncos feature a balanced offense. They have become a run-heavy team over the last couple of games with one win and one loss. The Bengals are much better than the Lions, so the time is here to air things out a bit more if the Broncos can.

Here is advice for fantasy GMs considering starting Broncos players in Week 15.

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Teddy Bridgewater – QB2

The Broncos have designs on making the playoffs, but getting to the postseason has not come on the back of the passing game. Instead, the Broncos have had to run the ball more in order to put themselves into the best position to win.

This has been a natural progression over the season as earlier in the year the Broncos would not run the ball as much as they needed to. Now, they’ve overcorrected but the reasoning may be due to the fact that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been beat up all season long.

I know Bridgewater is not 100 percent healthy, but as a passer there are times when he does not look like himself. He will still go through his progressions quickly, and he’s generally safe with the ball, but Bridgewater’s timing and accuracy – a hallmark of his game – has been off. I think he’s more banged up than the team is letting on, and even though they could pass more against the Bengals, Fantasy GMs have much better choices than Bridgewater in Week 15.

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Melvin Gordon – RB2 with upside | Javonte Williams – RB2 with upside

Melvin Gordon returned to the lineup last week for the Broncos and played great football. He’s the starter and will continue to get a large workload so long as he’s healthy. Gordon is not a power back, but he runs hard, has a slashing style and can gash a defense time and time again. In addition to his skill as a runner and receiver out of the backfield, Gordon has a proven nose for the end zone – making him a good fantasy play most weeks.

Javonte Williams continues to be a fine fantasy asset even though he’s the “1A” behind Gordon in the pecking order. He has over 1,000 all-purpose yards, the first Broncos rookie to do that since Phillip Lindsay back in 2018 – and Williams is on pace for over 1,000 yards rushing. His intent as a runner is remarkable, and he will not go down without a fight. Williams also has a nose for the end zone, and he’s a better-than-advertised receiver out of the backfield.

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Jerry Jeudy – WR3/flex | Courtland Sutton – flex | Tim Patrick – ‘What the Heck’ flex

Fantasy GMs are in the first week of the fantasy playoffs (in most leagues), and relying on the Broncos passing attack is a risk to be sure. You must play in a deeper league to consider these wide receivers, not because they aren’t talented but because of the way the passing game has been going downhill.

Jerry Jeudy is the favorite target of Bridgewater, and that connection comes from the ability to get open quickly. Bridgewater goes through his progressions quickly, and he’ll come off a receiver if they’re not open when he first reads the field. Jeudy can win early so long as he’s not pressed. Teams have gone to bracketing Jeudy in recent weeks, and that can limit his run-after-the-catch ability.

Courtland Sutton is getting single coverage on the outside, something that he should – and can – beat on a regular basis. With his size and strength, Sutton is always open even when he’s covered. However, Bridgewater is not risk averse and he will stay away from a player who isn’t open. I think Bridgewater needs to take more chances and let Sutton go up and make a play. If he puts the ball up high enough, Sutton has the size and leaping ability that few can deal with or stop. If the Bengals single Sutton on the outside, Bridgewater needs to take a shot.

Insert the same take for Tim Patrick here. Like Sutton, Patrick is getting single coverage on the outside. Like Sutton, Patrick has the size to win on contested catches if he’s given the chance. Like Sutton, Patrick is not getting open quickly and Bridgewater won’t wait around for “second window” throws. That makes him a “what the heck” flex every week for fantasy GMs.

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Noah Fant – High-end TE2

It’s there every week for tight end Noah Fant to do more but it doesn’t come to fruition as often as it should. The Bengals are a defense that has given up the 11th most fantasy points to tight ends in 2021. The Broncos should be able to exploit that, and it would help if Fant did something after the catch.

With the wide receivers getting covered on the outside, and Jeudy getting bracketed on the inside, things are wide open for Fant. His catch-and-fall-down nature does not help this offense, and it’s something that needs to change or the team needs to turn to Albert Okwuegbunam.

Opposing defenses have figured out Bridgewater. Muddle things up for him early and entice him to check it down. That means a lot of looks for Fant as the relief-valve receiver. Again, the potential is there for Fant to be a fine starter but his production and the lack of yards after the catch means he’s more of a TE2 with upside than he is a TE1.

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Broncos Defense – High-end D2

The Broncos defense is going to have their hands full with the Bengals offense. They are sound when it comes to running the ball, and they are explosive when it comes to receiving weapons. Add in a young, superstar quarterback and it may not be an easy day for Denver’s defense.

Joe Burrow is among the best young passers in the league. He’s smart, sneaky athletic and can strike downfield with regularity. Burrow does like to play “hero ball” from time to time, and if the Broncos can pick him off once or twice that will help. The Bengals are the most inconsistent team in the NFL. They’ll either blow a team out of the water or lose a close game – no matter the talent level of the opponent.

Joe Mixon is a strong runner and the centerpiece of what they do on offense. He can soften up a defense inside, and the Bengals will lean on him almost exclusively if they need to. Mixon can score touchdowns and is a hard-charging running back who gets stronger as the game goes on. If the Bengals wanted to beat up the Broncos with Mixon, there’s a chance they could do that.

Burrow has three star – and rising to superstar for one – receivers to throw to. He’s got so many weapons in the passing game that one guy – Tyler Boyd – is barely used. J’Marr Chase is the rookie who is lighting up the stat sheet. He was college teammates with Burrow, and that chemistry from LSU is showing up in Cincinnati. Add in Sutton-like Tee Higgins, and you have a trio of wide receivers who will be difficult to contain.
All these playmakers mean Fantasy GMs have better options at defense in week one of the fantays playoffs.

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