Denver Broncos: Pass Catcher Breakdown

Tags: Denver Broncos, Premium, Vanek Premium, Wide Receiver, WR Breakdown

Denver Broncos: Pass Catcher Breakdown Sean Payton has found the quarterback he wanted in rookie Bo Nix, whose playing style aligns perfectly with what Payton values. Payton wants his scheme to give you a throwing window early, and you make that read and the throw. Nix may not have the strongest arm in terms of velocity, so there isn't much film of him driving the ball into tight windows. However, he delivers throws with great touch, allowing his wide receivers to make plays. Last season wasn’t a great start for the Payton era in Denver, but they won three more games than they did the year prior and ended the season 7-4 with wins against the Bills, Chiefs, Packers, and Browns.

Projected Schematic Changes in 2024 Sean Payton's scheme isn’t going to change much, but what they do with Bo Nix will be very different from what we saw from Russell Wilson. Wilson wasn’t a fit for what Payton wants in a quarterback, and Nix can become more of the player that Payton wants running his offense. I will not spend a ton on an offense throwing 150 targets to runningbacks, but at the current draft position, there’s one wide receiver I want a lot of in this upcoming year.

Target 1: Courtland Sutton, My Rank: WR60 Sutton failed to reach 100 targets last season and relied heavily on his 10 touchdowns for fantasy production. He never reached 100 yards in a single game and only had two games with more than 10 targets. As of June 2nd, he is being drafted as WR49 on Underdog. Despite this ranking, I would still prefer to choose other players over him, including one of his own teammates.

Target 2: Marvin Mims, My Rank: WR62 Payton mentioned that Jerry Jeudy was playing the position intended for Mims, and now he’s no longer here, opening the door for Mims. Mims will move into the slot, where he averaged an impressive 2.65 yards per route run last season. This change means he'll run a more varied route tree instead of just Go routes, increasing his reliability and ensuring he sees more playing time. At WR77 on Underdog, Mims is one of my top picks for best-ball formats. If Mims maintains a role similar to Jeudy's numbers, here's what we can expect from him in his new role:

Target 3: Greg Dulcich, My Rank: TE28 Dulcich is currently being drafted as TE31. If you decide to punt the tight end position on Underdog and draft three tight ends, Dulcich is a solid option. He's a talented player who has been hampered by injuries over the past two years. While he isn't a must-have pick, he offers potential value and is worth considering if you're looking for a late-round tight end.

Target 4: Troy Franklin, My Rank: WR86 Franklin is currently ranked above Mims on Underdog, and I have to disagree with that assessment. Despite having Franklin rated higher than his NFL Draft position, his draft capital makes it hard to justify picking him over Mims. This season, Franklin faces a tough challenge in securing a role with his team. Given that the team targeted running backs 150 times last season, it's not worth investing in someone who is likely to be the fifth option at TE/WR.

Target 5: Josh Reynolds, My Rank: WR103 Reynolds should be the number four target on this roster, and it’s a meaningless role. I wouldn’t bother targeting him in any format.

Summary: In summary, while the Denver Broncos passing game will see some adjustments under rookie quarterback Bo Nix, certain players stand out for fantasy consideration. Marvin Mims is a top pick, expected to thrive in a slot role with increased route diversity, making him a valuable asset at WR77 on Underdog. In contrast, Courtland Sutton, despite his WR49 draft position, remains less appealing due to inconsistent performance. Greg Dulcich, at TE31, offers potential value as a late-round tight end if you decide to punt the position. Meanwhile, Josh Reynolds is not worth targeting, and Troy Franklin faces significant competition, making him a less favorable option.