The beleaguered, dysfunctional Denver Broncos limp into their Week 7 home game with the Green Bay Packers having won only one of their first six games this season, and things seem unlikely to improve anytime soon. Broncos fans are surely frustrated, whether it was the 70 points the team allowed in Week 3 to the Miami Dolphins, or the meager eight points the offense provided in a loss last week to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Things aren't going well, and fantasy managers have noticed, too.
After all, each NFL team features at least one or more of its players rostered in at least 85% of ESPN standard leagues, all but -- you guessed it -- these Broncos. Ah, there we go, fantasy imitates life or art, or something like that.
Even with six NFL teams with byes this week, fantasy managers don't figure to be in much of a hurry to activate Broncos players to their lineups, but if they did, who would they choose? Would you believe WR Courtland Sutton is now the most rostered Bronco in ESPN leagues (84%)? Would you trust Sutton, averaging 12.1 PPR points per game and 30th among wide receivers, when only seven teams permit fewer fantasy points to wide receivers than the Packers? Quarterback Russell Wilson is 11th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring, but last week he scored only 6.9 PPR points. Running back Javonte Williams was supposed to thrive, but two other Broncos running backs boast more fantasy points. Yikes!
This is why it is reasonable to place all relevant Broncos -- and the term "relevant" may be pushing it in fantasy -- on the proverbial Hot Seat for this week, because if fantasy managers can't trust them in this matchup, they will likely start ignoring them more. After hosting the Packers this week, the Broncos have a rematch with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and they have to face the difficult Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns in two of their next three games. The schedule isn't why the Broncos are 1-5, but it gets more challenging before it improves.
New coach Sean Payton was supposed to fix Wilson and the struggling offense, and other than Week 5, things haven't been so bad. Wilson tossed multiple touchdowns in four of the first five games, surpassing 300 passing yards twice, and many fantasy managers bought in. Now Wilson is among the most dropped QBs in ESPN leagues, and rumors swirl around the franchise looking to replace him.
Meanwhile, Wilson was producing modest fantasy numbers not with presumed No. 1 option Jerry Jeudy, but with Sutton. Jeudy, the No. 15 pick in the 2020 draft, nearly reached 1,000 receiving yards last season, despite the mess around him, but a hamstring injury cost him Week 1 this season, and he has averaged only 7.7 yards per target in his five games, well below career norms. The barely targeted Lil'Jordan Humphrey and TE Adam Trautman have TD receptions from Wilson. Jeudy does not.
To be fair, no Broncos went within the first nine rounds of ESPN average live drafts, which again makes them quite unique. Every other NFL team was represented earlier. Jeudy was a 10th-round selection, with Williams not far behind. Williams, a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, looked like an emerging star last season, until suffering ACL and LCL tears in Week 4. The Broncos said they would be cautious with him this season, and perhaps this is so. Williams saw 17 touches in Week 1, but the number drops each week as upstart Jaleel McLaughlin has performed much better, averaging 6.6 yards per rush and scoring twice on receptions. Even this week, ESPN Fantasy projects similar production for McLaughlin and Williams. That was not expected.
Ultimately, the Broncos have a lot to figure out as they play for a high pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Perhaps they covet one of the top college quarterbacks. Denver has already started to shed talent for draft picks, and perhaps Sutton or Jeudy go to new teams. It may make them more attractive to fantasy managers. For this week, it is hard to trust any Broncos in fantasy, and soon we may see more Broncos on ESPN's most dropped list.
Quarterbacks on the Hot Seat
Seahawk Geno Smith and 49er Brock Purdy each struggled in tough road losses in Week 6, but here they are as top 10 passers in easier matchups for Week 7. We trust Smith and Purdy, but they need better outings versus the Cardinals and Vikings, respectively.
Denver's defense permits a staggering 440 yards per game, so Packer Jordan Love, coming off his bye week, should have no excuses to approach 20 fantasy points. Love scored 4.98 points in Week 5 versus the Raiders. If it happens again, fantasy managers move on.
It seems unfair to place Viking Kirk Cousins on the Hot Seat since he has to face the 49ers on Monday night, but two single-digit fantasy outings in the past three weeks, and no Justin Jefferson, directs panic.
Both quarterbacks in the Falcons-Buccaneers game have fantasy managers questioning them. Desmond Ridder has thrown five interceptions the past three games. Baker Mayfield has interceptions in three consecutive games. We could use a shootout here but if each quarterback struggles, we may see their backups.
Running backs on the Hot Seat
Colts star Jonathan Taylor is averaging 2.6 yards per rush through two games. Zack Moss is not. Fantasy managers are wondering when we see the 2021 version of Taylor, if ever. Running on the Browns is not easy, so we may be discussing this in future weeks as well.
The Steelers come off their bye week to face the Rams with an unclear running back situation. ESPN Fantasy ranks Jaylen Warren a bit better than the proven Najee Harris, so Warren, averaging 10 PPR points per game, is the one with expectations.
Few will actually move on from Packers star Aaron Jones (hamstring) if he struggles in his first game since Week 4, but the Broncos are easy to run on and everyone will be relying on him this week.
The Lions should be without David Montgomery, and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) has seen inconsistent volume this season. Does anyone want to see Craig Reynolds out-touch Gibbs?
Commanders starter Brian Robinson Jr. earned 20 touches in each of the first two games. He has 22 touches in the past two games combined. The issue isn't another running back taking them. Sam Howell seems to throw on nearly every down. Perhaps this changes versus the Giants.
Wide receivers/tight ends on the Hot Seat
Do not read much into the Eagles signing future Hall of Famer Julio Jones as a sign they no longer love DeVonta Smith. Adding Jones is a depth move, but Smith is averaging only 39 receiving yards over the past four games, as A.J. Brown gets all the love. Fantasy managers are not moving on, and wisely, but how long can that last?
Week 6 was the first disappointing game of this incredible Puka Nacua season, and we still rank him as a top 10 option. That will change if he doesn't produce versus the Steelers.
Purdy and the 49ers should be able to attack the Vikings through the air, and even if they don't, few would give up on WR Deebo Samuel or TE George Kittle. However, should you trade for these fellows knowing their injury histories?
Hyped Chargers rookie Quentin Johnston caught nary a pass in Week 6 and, even with the Mike Williams absence, is barely a factor in the offense.
Cardinals TE Zach Ertz has two receptions in three of the past four games. It's getting tougher to keep him rostered in fantasy.