Three Denver Broncos general managers must add in fantasy drafts
Aug 25, 2021, 6:28 AM | Updated: 11:12 am
It’s fantasy football season! Many out there are either preparing for their fantasy football drafts or have wrapped up their drafts. Even if one draft is done, the average fantasy player plays in four leagues and the drafts aren’t done!
The Denver Broncos have quite a bit of talent on both sides of the ball. Fantasy general managers across the country may be overlooking the Broncos, but they should not. Instead, fantasy GMs need to be considering certain Broncos at their current Average Draft Position (ADP).
Here are three Broncos players you must add in your fantasy drafts.
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3. Broncos Team Defense
We are going to see a run-heavy offense from the Broncos in 2021. That may lean you towards the backfield duo of Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, but I’m going to point you in a different direction and that’s to the Broncos defense.
Any good fantasy GM knows that a run game is tied to the defense. The better the run game, the better the defense will perform. With a great defense like the Broncos, I believe fantasy GMs should make them their No. 1 target when it comes to picking a defense.
The Broncos defense has a current ADP of D11 (14.07) in 12-team PPR leagues. That means, fantasy GMs see them as the No. 11 fantasy defense and they can be picked up with the No. 7 pick in the 14th round. That’s way too low for the Broncos defense, and it makes them a tremendous value in fantasy leagues. Local leagues in Colorado will see them drafted much sooner, but remember where the nation sees them when drafting in online drafts with fantasy GMs from around the country.
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2. Jerry Jeudy
The Broncos added the best wide receiver in the best wide receiver class in NFL history when they selected Jerry Jeudy in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That’s what I felt about Jeudy last year, and even though his rookie season wasn’t the greatest, I still have a lot of faith in what he can do.
The offense is going to focus on the run, but when they go through the air, Jeudy will be a prime target. He’s a great route-runner and can get open against any coverage. No matter if the quarterback is Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock, Jeudy should be a primary target in the passing game. I believe his chemistry with Bridgewater is stronger, but if Lock wants to impress then he’ll target Jeudy early and often.
Jeudy has a current ADP of WR28 (6.10) in 12-team PPR leagues. That makes him basically a high-end WR3 for fantasy GMs or a flex option on a weekly basis. Even on a run-heavy team, I believe Jeudy can perform like a WR2 with WR1 upside depending on the matchup. Grab him near the end of the sixth round and put him in when the Broncos have an easier game.
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1. Noah Fant
We’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg with Noah Fant. A third-year pro, Fant has continued to grow and improve as a player for the Broncos. The 2019 first-round pick has always had upside, and this season he should finally put it all together to post career-best numbers.
Fant creates mismatches anytime he’s on the field. He’s too fast for linebackers to cover, and he’s too big for corners or safeties to cover over the middle of the field. Fant has become a reliable target for Lock, and he’d be utilized quite a bit by Bridgewater if he wins the starting job. We should see Fant work well when the team gets near the end zone – the place where elite-level tight ends separate themselves.
He’s currently going off the board at TE9 (8.02) in 12-team PPR leagues. That makes him a low-end TE1 in the eyes of most fantasy GMs. I believe Fant could push for a top-five finish this year, especially if he becomes a primary weapon in the red zone. The Broncos aren’t going to fill the air with footballs, but when they do go through air we should see plenty of targets for Fant in 2021.
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To see more of my fantasy football work, check out Footballguys.com.
