The Denver Broncos won seven games and finished in last place in the loaded AFC West last season, roughly middle of the pack in both passing and rushing yards. Running backs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III split time and each approached 1,000 rushing yards, but no wide receiver caught as many as 60 passes or reached 800 receiving yards. Tight end Noah Fant led the team with 68 receptions.
Does any of this matter today? Nope, because, with all due respect, Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock started at quarterback, and they are no longer Broncos (and neither is Fant, for that matter).
Yeah, acquiring Super Bowl-winning quarterback and nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson kind of changes everything. Everything!
Not only do I believe Wilson returns to critical statistical relevancy for fantasy managers, but I seem to be investing in so many Broncos that I may as well have actual stock in the franchise. Nothing against Bridgewater and Lock, but they aren't Wilson. His arrival turns what was a predictable offense into anything but that, and raises the value of the individual options for statistical purposes. Statistics are what we do here in the fantasy football world. Draft Broncos. It should be quite a productive offensive season.
My annual "Do Draft" list is obviously a lot more positive than the oft-misunderstood "Do Not Draft" list. Ultimately, it's not about positive feelings; it still all comes down to value. Wilson returning to top-five fantasy QB status -- he finished No. 3 in 2019 and No. 6 in 2020 -- seems plausible, but don't draft him that way. I remain likely to wait on quarterbacks until the middle rounds.
Williams, entering his second season, should gently push the grizzled veteran Gordon aside a bit and handle a greater percentage of running back touches. No, don't expect 300 touches, because Gordon was nearly as productive last season and should be again, but Williams is clearly emerging. Gordon is a tremendous value pick in Round 13 (or average ESPN drafts), too. I'd take him five rounds prior and, in this situation, a fantasy manager could invest in and activate both Denver running backs and be pleased.