Team Profile
Denver Broncos
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-4.7% 18thOff DVOA
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8.6% 20thPassing DVOA
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-12.5% 22ndRushing DVOA
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-10.3% 4thDef DVOA
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-2.6% 5thDef Passing DVOA
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-23% 2ndDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For26.2 9th
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Points Against19.0 3rd
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Yards Per Game325.0 19th
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Yards Allowed Per Game317.0 7th
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (concussion) suffered a concussion in Week 16 that kept him out of the Week 17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but he was able to practice in full on Thursday and Friday and has been cleared to return for the Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. The 28-year-old has had a fabulous 2023 season, catching a career-high 10 touchdowns, which is tied for third among all wideouts. But despite his red-zone prowess, Sutton ranks as the WR27 in half-PPR points with only 58 receptions for 770 yards in his 15 games played. All of his production this year came with Russell Wilson at quarterback for the Broncos, so Sutton probably won't be worth his DFS price for the regular season finale now that Jarrett Stidham is Denver's starter under center.
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jaleel McLaughlin is expected to have a bigger workload in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday with the team already eliminated from the playoffs. Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine will likely still be involved, but it's quite possible that McLaughlin will lead Denver's backfield in touches this weekend. We wouldn't recommend the 23-year-old as anything more than an RB3/flex option in deep season-long leagues, but he could be worth a low-cost dart throw in DFS contests in a matchup against a Raiders run defense that has allowed the 10th-most half-PPR points per game to the position this season. In the last two games, McLaughlin has been much more effective than Williams on the ground, averaging 5.79 yards per carry on 14 attempts for 81 yards while also catching seven passes for 48 yards.
Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams has posted double-digit half-PPR points just four times all season and has only two rushing touchdowns in 15 games. It's been that kind of disappointing year for the 23-year-old. In the last three games, he's averaged 2.42 yards per carry on 38 attempts for 92 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders have nothing left to play for but pride in the Week 18 regular season finale on Sunday, and it's expected that Williams will take a back seat to undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin in the final game of the season. Fewer touches coupled with the lack of efficiency for Williams in recent weeks makes him a clear fade in season-long leagues and DFS contests against Vegas, whose defense has been much stiffer against the run in the last five weeks.
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham will be cheap in DFS contests in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, but there's not a whole lot else to get excited about, even with top receiver Courtland Sutton returning from a concussion that kept him sidelined in the Week 17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. In his first start of the year last week, Stidham went 20-for-32 for 224 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. The 27-year-old got the win and didn't turn the ball over, but nothing else really stood out, and his lone touchdown pass came with receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey basically doing all the work. He'll have a slightly higher ceiling with Sutton playing this weekend, but Stidham will be a low-end QB2 option without much upside against a Raiders defense that has been stingy against opposing QBs in the last five weeks.
New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver A.T. Perry (illness) returned to practice on Friday and participated in full but is still questionable to play in Week 18 against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie did not practice on Thursday due to an illness. His return to practice suggests he will be available on Sunday. Despite numerous injuries to the Saints' other receivers throughout the season, Perry has drawn just 15 targets, making nine catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns. His chances to make a mark in the season finale are slim but could improve if tight end Juwan Johnson (chest) or running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) sit, leaving quarterback Derek Carr short a receiving option or two. In that case, Perry would be a bargain-bin DFS play but otherwise wouldn't hold much fantasy value.