Denver Broncos DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) was activated from Injured Reserve on Saturday and is officially active for the wild-card game at Orchard Park in Buffalo against the Bills on Sunday. As a result, rookie Audric Estime will be a healthy scratch. It's a pretty big surprise for Denver's backfield as they get set to play their first postseason game since winning Super Bowl 50 back in early 2016. The 24-year-old Badie has been on IR since early October but will return to provide RB depth behind Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Given Badie's extended absence, it would be a surprise to see him on the field all that much, which will give both McLaughlin and Williams more fantasy upside on Sunday against a Buffalo defense that has been vulnerable on the ground this year. In three games before going on IR, Badie had only 11 carries for 86 yards while adding three catches for minus-two yards.

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) has been activated from the injured reserve on Saturday. Badie has been out since he suffered a back injury in October. The good news is that Badie was able to practice in full this week. He's currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Wild-Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills. If active, Badie would unlikely have much of a role in the crowded Broncos backfield. Jaleel McLaughlin has been getting most of the carries with Javonte Williams and Audric Estime getting mixed in as well. Badie might be able to help out on special teams, but he isn't someone worth looking at in DFS contests.

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz was one of the most consistent fantasy kickers in 2024, making 31 of his 34 field-goal attempts and all 46 of his extra-point tries in 17 games to put him as the No. 7 fantasy kicker. Since having the potential game-winning kick blocked in Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Lutz has gone 13-for-13 on field goals and 27-for-27 on his extra-point attempts in seven games, so he's bringing a nice perfect streak into the wild-card playoff game in Buffalo against the Bills on Sunday. While the 30-year-old has been money for the Broncos, we'd suggest fading him on the road in frigid temperatures at Orchard Park in a game in which Denver is nearly 10-point underdogs. In addition, Buffalo allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game (5.9) to opposing kickers in 17 games this season.

Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime is hard to recommend for fantasy lineups against the Buffalo Bills on wild-card weekend this Sunday as part of a three-man RB committee in Denver that also includes Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams. Estime did have 12 carries in the Week 18 win over the Kansas City Chiefs -- his second-highest total of the year -- but most of his work came in garbage time in a 38-0 blowout. In his first 13 NFL games in 2024, Estime averaged 4.1 yards per carry and only 5.8 rushing attempts per game. Opportunities are surely to be limited again this weekend in a game the Broncos are nearly 10-point underdogs on the road. The 21-year-old will probably only pay off as a flex play for fantasy managers if he finds the end zone, which he was only able to do twice this year. Estime has little upside as long as he's sharing touches with McLaughlin and Williams.

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele isn't going to be in many DFS or playoff lineups on wild-card weekend when the Broncos head to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. In his first 13 NFL games in 2024, Vele averaged 6.6 half-PPR points per game on 41 receptions, 475 yards and three touchdowns, putting him tied for 77th among all pass-catchers. Going into the postseason, Vele is essentially Denver's WR3 behind Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. That won't give anyone confidence to use him this weekend, but the Broncos should be in pass-first mode as nearly 10-point underdogs, and the Bills defense has allowed the most half-PPR points per game in the last five weeks, including over 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. If Denver is forced to air it out on Sunday, Vele could be a sneaky flex play with more volume.