Denver Broncos DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin finished Denver's 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday with two catches on three targets for 31 yards and his first career NFL touchdown. He added one carry for a five-yard pickup. Franklin came into the contest with just five catches on 12 targets for 29 yards in his first five games. The 21-year-old only saw three targets and had a very modest three grabs and 31 yards, but his touchdown is a reminder that both he and fellow rookie pass-catcher Devaughn Vele, who led the Broncos with 78 receiving yards, will see more opportunities with Josh Reynolds (finger) on Injured Reserve and missing at least three more games. The best thing that Franklin has going for him as a dynasty/keeper stash is his chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, dating back to their days playing together for the Oregon Ducks in college.

Things weren't looking great for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton's fantasy managers for most of the Week 6 contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday until late in the fourth quarter. Sutton's final line was four catches on six targets for 53 yards and his second touchdown reception of the year. The 29-year-old's 37-yard TD grab was a highlight-reel catch near the back of the end zone in which he laid out and initially caught the ball one-handed. If not for the amazing catch, though, he would have finished with another very mediocre fantasy day. Sutton will likely continue to be more of a touchdown-dependent WR4/flex for fantasy managers, but the good news is that rookie quarterback Bo Nix has shown improvement in the last five weeks with five touchdowns and only one pick. Sutton will be looking to keep the positive momentum and score for the second straight game in a Week 7 Thursday night clash against the Saints.

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele came out of nowhere to lead the Broncos with 78 receiving yards in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Both Vele's four receptions and six targets were tied with Courtland Sutton for the team lead on a day in which the Broncos' offense did all of its damage in the fourth quarter in comeback mode down 23 points. In his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, he caught all eight of his targets for 39 yards before missing time with an injury and then being a healthy scratch the last several weeks. The 26-year-old seventh-rounder out of Utah appears to have some nice chemistry with fellow rookie QB Bo Nix, and more opportunities will remain with Josh Reynolds (finger) missing at least the next three games while on IR. However, Vaughn should only be a deep-league waiver-wire consideration in Denver's low-scoring offense.

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin had season-low-tying three carries for eight yards in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, adding two catches on two targets for 17 yards through the air. Rookie Audric Estime, who was activated from Injured Reserve to make his NFL debut on Sunday, had two carries for 13 yards. McLaughlin has found the end zone twice in six games, but he's had double-digits in carries just once (back in Week 1) and hasn't topped 46 yards on the ground. It's been a theme this year so far of the Broncos' ground game being stuck in the mud, and that theme returned against a tough Bolts defense. Now that Estime is in the fold as the RB3 in Denver's backfield, it will be even harder for McLaughlin to return any fantasy value in deeper formats. RotoBaller won't be recommending the second-year back for starting lineups in Week 7 against the Saints.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix began his NFL career without throwing a single touchdown pass in his first three games, but in the last three games, he has five TD tosses, including two more in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. A lot of Nix's production -- he went 19-for-33 passing for 216 yards, two TDs and an interception -- came late in the second quarter with the Broncos in rush mode while down by 23 points. The 12th overall pick also used his legs to pick up some big chunk gains for first downs, running six times for a season-high 61 yards to lead Denver in rushing. It certainly wasn't pretty for most of this game, but Nix turned it on late to finish with a respectable performance. He has a 5:1 TD-to-interception the last three weeks and has shown progress running the offense. The 24-year-old's fantasy needle is pointing up slightly as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues heading into next Thursday's matchup against the Saints.