Broncos fantasy football outlook for Week 1 against the Giants
Sep 9, 2021, 6:23 AM
The Denver Broncos kick off the 2021 regular season with a game on the road against the New York Giants. I’m not expecting a high-scoring game from these two teams who should focus on defense. However, there are some offensive players who could come through in Week 1 from a fantasy football perspective.
Fantasy general managers, especially those who are Broncos fans, are wondering what to expect from the team in their 2021 debut. I’ve gone through and made projections, so I decided I would share what I think the Broncos are going to do on Sunday.
Here is advice for fantasy GMs considering starting Broncos players in Week 1.
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Teddy Bridgewater – Sit
The Broncos are going to be facing a tough defense on Sunday. The Giants aren’t great on offense, but they present challenges. Their defensive line is the strength of what they do, so expect Teddy Bridgewater to get some pressure up the middle.
The Broncos want to run the ball early and often against the Giants. That means their form of “bully ball” won’t lead to a lot of points scored through the air. Fantasy GMs didn’t draft Bridgewater, so he’s not a choice for most – unless you play in super-deep, two-QB leagues. Bridgewater is best left on your bench or on the waiver wire where he’s likely at anyway.
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Melvin Gordon/Javonte Williams – Flex Plays
The backfield is a strength for the Broncos and should be the centerpiece of their offense this season. Melvin Gordon is the starter, but rookie second-round pick Javonte Williams is going to get plenty of work. This has the looks of a talented 50-50 committee that is going to frustrate fantasy GMs most of the year.
Gordon looks good in space and can use his speed effectively as a receiver out of the backfield. Williams is more powerful as a runner and could be featured when the Broncos get near the end zone. This means both players should be considered flex plays or low-end RB2s in Week 1 against a Giants defense that could be tough to run against.
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Courtland Sutton/Jerry Jeudy – Flex Plays
I think we’ll have a back-and-forth every week between Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. With Bridgewater as the starter, I lean towards Jeudy as the primary wide receiver for fantasy GMs to rely on. However, that should be only as a low-end WR2 or flex play.
Sutton has the size to be a factor in the red zone. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Jeudy get more catches but Sutton match his fantasy output with a touchdown against the Giants. I see Sutton as a WR3 or flex play for fantasy GMs this week.
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Noah Fant – Low-End TE1
Check the injury report on Friday for Noah Fant’s status. He’s been dealing with an undisclosed leg injury that has me concerned. Fant should be able to start, play and handle his normal workload.
Against the Giants tough defensive front, Bridgewater will be looking for outlet receivers like Fant quickly. So long as he’s healthy, I think Fant should produce and can be trusted as a low-end TE1 for fantasy GMs in Week 1.
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Broncos Defense – Start
I think the best fantasy asset for the Broncos could be their defense in Week 1. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Denver defense scored more than the Giants offense on Sunday. They’ll be able to rush Giants quarterback Daniel Jones all game long. The pressure on Jones could lead to rushed throws, strip/sack/fumbles and interceptions.
The Denver defense is the best fantasy play from the Broncos roster. If you play in an IDP league, look for Von Miller to get pressures and maybe more than 1.0 sack. Also, expect inside linebacker Alexander Johnson to keep racking up the tackles like he did last year.
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For more of my fantasy football work, check out Footballguys.com.
