Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he expects to use rookie running back Audric Estime more down the stretch in 2024. Estime played only 10 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 9 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday but had as many carries (five) as Jaleel McLaughlin and was more efficient with 35 rushing yards. The 35 yards on the ground was a season-high for the 21-year-old fifth-round selection out of Notre Dame, and he's been quite efficient with 6.3 yards per carry on his 15 rushing attempts through the first five games of his career. Estime probably still won't be worth adding in 12-team fantasy leagues, but this statement from Payton is surely bad news for McLaughlin, who has averaged 3.9 yards per tote in 2024 after averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his rookie campaign in 2023.

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz only attempted two kicks in the team's 41-10 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on the road on Sunday in Week 9. Both his field-goal attempt (successful from 37 yards out) and his lone extra-point try came in the second quarter of action, and the Broncos offense wasn't able to score the rest of the day. Lutz has now put up back-to-back disappointing showings for any fantasy managers that have used him as a streaming option -- he made just four extra points in the Week 8 win over the Carolina Panthers. The 30-year-old veteran has missed just one of his 19 field-goal tries in 2024 and has made all 17 of his extra points to make him a top-10 fantasy kicker, but the volatile nature of the Broncos' offense makes him a boom/bust play heading into Week 10 versus the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey contributed very little in the team's 41-10 blowout loss to the hosting Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Week 9, catching two of his five targets for a measly 11 yards. The good news is Humphrey played the second-most offensive snaps among wideouts behind Courtland Sutton, and his five targets were also second-most on the team behind Sutton's 10 in a game in which the Broncos were shut down by a Ravens defense that had been struggling coming into this contest. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Texas has impressive after-the-catch abilities and should continue to have an expanded role for as long as Josh Reynolds (finger) remains out, but fantasy managers just can't trust any Broncos receiver outside of Sutton for weekly production. Through nine games, Humphrey has 21 catches, 188 yards and no touchdowns.

After leading the team in receiving in the Week 8 victory over the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin was barely heard from in the 41-10 blowout loss to the hosting Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Week 9, catching one of his four targets for a 19-yard pickup. He has had more opportunities in the Broncos' passing attack since Josh Reynolds (finger) landed on Injured Reserve, but it's led to only nine receptions on 15 targets for 106 yards and a touchdowns in four games. Rookie QB Bo Nix has spread the ball around quite effectively in recent weeks, and it's clear that it's impossible to trust any receiver beyond Courtland Sutton in fantasy in this offense. The 21-year-old Franklin has a 14-135-1 line in his first eight NFL games and won't be a recommended fantasy play in Week 10 versus the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on the road.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton delivered for fantasy managers in his second straight strong matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in the 41-10 loss in Week 9 on Sunday. Sutton had team-highs in catches (seven), targets (10) and receiving yards (122) while also completing a two-yard touchdown pass to rookie QB Bo Nix on a trick play at the goal line early in the first quarter. He benefitted from the Broncos in catch-up mode all day and recorded his second straight 100-yard game. The 29-year-old is definitely on a roll right now and is Nix's clear top target in the passing game, but Sutton still has bust potential as a WR3/flex heading into a Week 9 matchup on the road against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Sutton has only two TDs through nine weeks after scoring a career-best 10 in 2023. He'll be looking to score for the first time since Week 6.