The NFL training camps are open, and for millions of people worldwide their fantasy football preparation has begun in earnest. Here at Sports World News we will break down all 32 NFL teams in terms of their fantasy value. Readers will find the must-own players in every format, the sleepers in specific formats, and hidden gems only necessary for those in very deep leagues.
Today's preview will be on the Denver Broncos. As always, average draft position (ADP) is pulled from FantasyPros.com.
Breaking Down The Broncos Running Back Committee
Must Owns
Demaryius Thomas, WR (ADP: 9): Thomas’ ADP is right where it should be, or it’s too low. Every season for the last three years he’s topped 1,400 yards receiving and scored 10-plus touchdowns, and there’s no reason he won’t do it again.
Peyton Manning is back, and if anything, he may look Thomas’ way more since TE Julius Thomas and WR Wes Welker are gone. There’s a strong case for Thomas as the No. 1 WR. Antonio Brown is deserving as well, but Thomas is a consistent double-digit TD threat, and he also is around 100 catches annually. Brown will out-pace him in receptions, but he’s not as reliable for scoring.
C.J. Anderson, RB (ADP: 13): Anderson is a strong choice near the end of Round 1, and there are few situations better for running backs than a Manning-led offense. He isn’t without risk, however. Anderson has yet to prove durability; he missed time last season, and his career-high for starts is seven. Of course he’s young, but there are safer options going after him. He’s a little more speculative than some owners believe.
Denver’s situation also means that if he goes down, and Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman, or Juwan Thompson run with the job, they become the new C.J. Anderson. Not many players have as much upside as Anderson, but he’s not a lock to return No. 13 overall value.
Peyton Manning, QB (ADP: 28): It’s kind of hard to hear some of the things being said about Peyton. The concerns about his age and arm strength are yawn-inducing. He’s never had premium arm strength, and he’s been old for about five years. His late-season dip is being wielded as evidence that his days of being a top fantasy QB are behind him, but don’t buy it. He was hurt. Before that, he was statistically beating out Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers, the two QBs going ahead of him. Drafting him at No. 28 is a bargain, and he may even go later in your drafts.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR (ADP: 30): Many are saying Sanders won’t repeat his breakout 2014, but I say why can’t he? Sanders is a natural slot receiver, and will spend more time there with Welker out of the picture. He can move to the outside too and do damage. Like Thomas, he will see increased targets with the missing weapons from a season ago, and he has red zone chops despite his small stature. .
Connor Barth, K (ADP: 167): Barth isn’t amazing, but this offense is.
Sleepers (Best Format)
Owen Daniels, TE, Standard (ADP: 115): TE is such a crapshoot that consistency, even if it’s low-ceiling, is valuable. Daniels should offer that in Manning’s offense. He is no Julius Thomas, but Daniels should score between six and eight touchdowns, and that’s a top-10 TE for sure.
Defense/Special Teams, Standard (ADP: 157): This defense is completely overlooked because of the offensive firepower, but this defense was top-5 vs. the run and the pass in 2014. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware on the edges cause quarterbacks to have nightmares, and the CB pairing of Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. is among the NFL’s best. There’s no way this group should be the 13th D/ST off the board.
Cody Latimer, WR, Standard (ADP: 160): Latimer, a second-year man, should get first crack at playing opposite Demaryius Thomas. There’s no guarantee he will get the role, and he’s completely unproven, but being in this offense has built-in upside. Take a flier on him, and he could be a top-30 guy in no time.
Montee Ball, RB, Standard (ADP: 148): Ball was the starter entering last season, and will likely get the first call if something happens to Anderson. For now though, he’s a pure handcuff in a good system, and he has never been particularly good in his brief NFL career. If he gets touches, don’t expect him to be quite as good as Anderson.
Deep Finds (Best Format)
Juwan Thompson, RB, Standard (ADP: 272): Thompson had small moments of success last season, but hasn’t gotten much of an opportunity to play. He’s a stash-type option if you believe Anderson can’t stay on the field, and Ball is overrated.
Ronnie Hillman, RB, PPR (ADP: 293): Hillman is more versatile than either Ball or Thompson, and provides Manning a weapon out of the backfield in the passing game. There’s too many RBs in Denver’s backfield right now, and Hillman may get cut, but we will hear from him again..
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