Denver Broncos DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury during pre-game warmups on Sunday and has been ruled out for Week 2 against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Fantasy managers that had Engram in their starting lineups for this weekend are going to have to adjust on the fly. In Jacksonville, Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell will now battle for targets in the passing game with Engram sidelined, but neither player is an acceptable starting replacement for Engram. The most likely scenario is that wide receivers Christian Kirk, rookie Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis will see more targets through the air against a tough Browns defense. The 30-year-old Engram had a rough season debut last week as well, catching only one of four targets for five yards in the loss to the Miami Dolphins. There's no guarantee he'll be able to play in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills.

Even though Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz had a surprisingly decent Week 1 performance fantasy-wise, you really shouldn't be very interested in using him as a sleeper kicker in Week 2 against a swarming Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Lutz went 3-for-3 on his field goals and also made his only extra-point attempt in the season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which he benefitted from some good starting positions for a Denver offense that just couldn't get much going in rookie quarterback Bo Nix's NFL debut. The 30-year-old veteran was a Pro Bowler in 2019 with the Saints and has made 85.3% of his 232 field goals attempted in 115 games, so he's been pretty reliable when called upon. However, Denver's offense with a rookie QB at the helm isn't expected to provide Lutz with another kicking opportunities to make him a worthwhile streamer on a weekly basis.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a team-high 12 targets and played 91% of the offensive snaps in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but that led to only four receptions for 38 yards in rookie quarterback Bo Nix's wobbly debut. Sutton is fully expected to lead Denver's wideouts in targets by a wide margin in 2024, and volume shouldn't be an issue this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially with rookie Devaughn Vele (ribs), who had eight targets in the season opener, ruled out. However, Sutton is going to need to be more efficient with Nix to be a worthwhile WR4/flex play on a weekly basis for fantasy managers. The Steelers held Falcons WR1 Drake London to only two catches for 15 yards last week and present another difficult matchup for Nix and this new-look Broncos offense. Don't be surprised if Sutton struggles with efficiency again in the team's home opener.

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin said he will be active for his NFL debut in the Week 2 home opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers with fellow rookie Devaughn Vele (ribs) ruled out this weekend. Franklin was inactive in the season-opening loss on the road to the Seattle Seahawks but will now get his chance to provide receiver depth for the Broncos behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds and Marvin Mims Jr. The 21-year-old out of Oregon was paired with rookie quarterback Bo Nix in April's draft in the fourth round, but it's unlikely that he'll have much of a role in his first regular-season NFL contest against a tough Steelers defense. Franklin is a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues but is unlikely to make an impact in single-year fantasy formats in a Broncos offense that will be inconsistent under a rookie signal-caller.

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin surprisingly out-touched Javonte Williams 15 to nine in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his 15 touches (10 carries, five receptions), only led to 28 total yards in a day where the Denver offense was stuck in the mud under rookie quarterback Bo Nix in his first career start. McLaughlin also played only 35% of the offensive snaps. The Broncos could look to stick with the running game longer in a Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would favor both McLaughlin and Williams, but it sets up as another difficult day for the Broncos' offense after the Steelers D shut down the Falcons in Week 1. While McLaughlin isn't a recommended fantasy starter this weekend, his touch total in the season opener bodes well for his continued involvement in what looked more like a committee to begin the year.