Devaughn Vele DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Denver Post's Troy Renck writes that Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Devaughn Vele has been turning heads during voluntary organized team activities this offseason and looks like he could be the future replacement for Courtland Sutton. The 27-year-old was a seventh-round pick (235th overall) last year out of Utah but served as the team's slot receiver in his first year in the NFL for most of 2024, finishing with 41 receptions on 55 targets for 475 yards and three touchdowns in 13 regular-season games (seven starts). Vele is old for a second-year wideout, but if he continues to impress the coaching staff, he could continue to have a big role in Year 2 alongside Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr., but he's going to have to fight off Troy Franklin and rookie Pat Bryant. The Broncos also added tight end Evan Engram, who could very well be the No. 2 receiving target for quarterback Bo Nix.

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.

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele was productive in the team's 38-0 blowout win over the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday, catching all four of his targets on the day for 50 yards and a touchdowns, his third of the year. Vele's touchdown catch was an acrobatic grab in the back of the end zone in the second half in which two Chiefs defenders deflected it first. It was an incredible demonstration of concentration for the seventh-rounder out of Utah who has now scored in two of the last three games. The 27-year-old finishes the regular season as Denver's third leading receiver with 41 receptions, 475 yards and three touchdowns. As the No. 3 in the Broncos offense heading into a wild-card matchup against the Buffalo Bills on the road, Vele will merely be a touchdown-dependent WR sleeper in DFS lineups.