Denver Broncos DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz has a good opportunity for a bounce-back performance in the Week 5 divisional tilt at home in the thin air of Denver against the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to kickers per game so far in 2024. Lutz is coming off his worst performance of the year, missing his first kick of the season. He made just one field goal and one extra point in the 10-9, Week 4 upset over the New York Jets in rainy and wet conditions last weekend. Denver's offense has been among the worst in the NFL so far this year, but Lutz surprisingly ranks as the No. 10 kicker heading into Week 5, thanks to 10 successful field goals and four extra points. The floor will continue to be low for Lutz with quarterback Bo Nix running the show, but Denver's offense should be able to move the ball better this weekend against a Raiders defense that could be without All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (ankle). Lutz is in the streaming conversation at kicker.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton will be looking to score a touchdown for the second straight week in Week 5 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday after finding paydirt for the first time in four weeks in the Week 4 win over the New York Jets. Sutton leads the team in catches (15), targets (36), receiving yards (192) and touchdowns (one) through four games. However, he's also sporting career-lows in catch rate (41.7%), yards per catch (12.8) and yards per target (5.4). Sutton had a career-high 10 scores in 2023 with Russell Wilson, but he hasn't found that same chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix so far. The Raiders defense presents a pretty neutral matchup, as they've been around middle of the pack in passing yards allowed and fantasy points per game allowed to wideouts. Sutton has become a touchdown-dependent WR4/flex in fantasy but has upside for a little more in Week 5 at home against Vegas.

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin does have a plus matchup in Week 5 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, a defense that is allowing the eighth-most half-PPR fantasy points to RBs through four weeks in 2024. That's about where the positives end for McLaughlin, though, coming into this game. He's the No. 2 back behind Javonte Williams, is averaging a lackluster 3.2 yards per carry and is in an offense that has averaged just over 100 yards rushing per game. McLaughlin did have 5.1 yards per carry and 46 yards on nine carries in the Week 4 win over the Jets and found the end zone in Week 3 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He checks in as the RB50 in half-PPR scoring and also ranks 45th in carries (27) and 47th in passing targets (seven). McLaughlin has a better matchup this week, but Denver's low-scoring offense hasn't been able to support one fantasy RB, let alone two.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix will hope to end the franchise's long losing streak in Week 5 on Sunday at home against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Nix comes into this game as the QB23 in overall fantasy points through his first four NFL games. The 12th overall pick out of Oregon has completed only 60.1% of his passes for 660 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, adding two touchdowns on the ground. It's safe to say he's struggled early on, but to be fair, it's not like he has great weapons around him in Denver. The 24-year-old threw for just 60 yards and his first NFL TD in the 10-9, Week 4 upset over the New York Jets. The Raiders defense (possibly without Maxx Crosby) presents a softer matchup at home, but fantasy managers should already know not to expect too much for the young signal-caller. Nix should be considered a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues against a Raiders D that ranks 18th in fantasy points allowed to QBs per week through four games.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is officially questionable heading into Sunday's matchup with the Indianapolis Colts after limited participation in practice all week. The star tight end hasn't played since Week 1, and the Jaguars offense has suffered without him. Brenton Strange has been a solid replacement but hasn't come close to the production Engram was expected to provide entering the season. While the former New York Giant had only one catch in Week 1, fantasy managers should be happy to start him if he returns from injury. His upside is higher than most alternative tight ends, which is all fantasy managers can really rely on at the position so far this season. Engram will have to compete with receivers Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. for targets, but his red-zone threat is something the team sorely lacks without him. The offense has steadily improved week-to-week, meaning Week 5 against a poor Colts pass defense could be the perfect week for Engram to return from injury with a bang.