Tag: Greg Dulcich

Fantasy football: 5 sleeper tight ends for 2023 NFL season

Greg Dulcich is being picked as TE17 in fantasy football drafts, which could end up being a steal.

Football season has returned!

The 2023 NFL season will kick off later this week when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

Before the regular season begins, fantasy football drafts will be wrapping up this week and fantasy managers will all have the same question — who are the sleepers to target this season?

Over the next three days, we will be publishing sleepers at tight end, quarterback, wide receiver and running back for 2023. Today, we’re starting with the tight end position.

Each player is listed in order of his average draft spot relative to his position. We consider a “sleeper” to be a player who we expect to outperform his ADP during the season.

Broncos Wire discusses Sean Payton, fantasy football and more on SiriusXM

Broncos Wire’s Brandon Walker discussed Sean Payton, Russell Wilson and more Broncos topics on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Broncos Wire contributor Brandon Walker recently joined Josh Wagner and his crew on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio for a discussion about the 2023 Denver Broncos on the High Stakes Fantasy Advantage show.

At the beginning, the topic centered on head coach Sean Payton’s Denver arrival and how he may be able to restore quarterback Russell Wilson to his former play.

After that, the topics shifted to fantasy football. The hosts asked about running back Javonte William’s stunning progress from his devastating knee injury in 2022, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy’s evolving role in the Broncos’ offense, the decline of targets going to veteran receiver Courtland Sutton, and how second-year tight end Greg Dulcich may become a quintessential target for Wilson in 2023.

Part of the interview can be heard in the above video. You can listen to the full interview on the SiriusXM app.

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Denver has three notable TEs, so does that mean the Broncos have none?

Even if one TE shakes out, will he even have fantasy value?

At this time last year, people were wondering if the acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson would turn the Denver Broncos into Super Bowl contenders. Twelve months later, the question is whether the hiring of Sean Payton can salvage things following a disastrous season that saw Denver finish dead last in scoring while ending with a 5-12 mark.

Even if we don’t see a full resurrection of Wilson’s career, it’s hard to imagine he won’t improve on last year’s disaster when he passed for 3,524 yards and 16 touchdowns. For reference, over his final five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson averaged 3,773 yards, 33 TDs, and eight INTs.

More success would equal more opportunities, and while the tight end position was an afterthought under former head coach Nathaniel Hackett, we could see it rebound under Payton, who oversaw the golden years of tight end Jimmy Graham, a former teammate of Wilson in Seattle. So, is there anyone for fantasy owners to pay attention to in the Mile High City?

Broncos roster series: No. 80, TE Greg Dulcich

After a strong showing in his rookie season, Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich will aim to have an even better year under Sean Payton in 2023.

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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at second-year tight end Greg Dulcich, No. 80.

Before the Broncos: Dulcich (6-4, 245 pounds) was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award — given to college football’s top tight end — in 2021 after catching 42 passes for 725 yards and five touchdowns at UCLA. In his final two seasons with the Bruins, Dulcich totaled 68 receptions for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns in 18 games.

After his impressive senior season, Dulcich ran a 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds and a 10-yard split in 1.63 seconds at the NFL combine last spring.

Broncos tenure: Denver picked Dulcich in the third round of last year’s NFL draft and he went on to catch 33 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games as a rookie (Dulcich missed seven games due to injury in 2022). Now healthy again, Dulcich has already impressed new coach Sean Payton at spring practices.

Chance to make the 53-man roster: Dulcich is a lock to make the team and he could emerge as a key part of Payton’s offense in 2023. He will likely be a popular sleeper tight end for fantasy football managers this fall.

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Broncos’ updated tight end depth chart with new signing

Following the arrival of Tommy Hudson, here is an updated tight end depth chart for the Broncos.

After signing tight end Tommy Hudson last week, the Denver Broncos now have five true tight ends on the 90-man offseason roster: Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, Chris Manhertz, Albert Okwuegbunam and Hudson.

Nate Adkins, an undrafted rookie, might be a tight end/fullback hybrid. If that is the case, he will end up behind Michael Burton on the depth chart.

On the TE-specific depth chart, Dulcich leads the way as the team’s top receiving option entering his second season in the NFL. Behind him, the Broncos just traded for Trautman during the NFL draft. Before that, the Broncos signed Manhertz during free agency.

Okwuegbunam is a wildcard. He could emerge as a key receiving tight end this season or he could end up not making the 53-man roster. Neither scenario would be a big surprise given that Denver has a new coaching staff and a new offense going into the 2023 season.

Broncos (Projected) Tight End Depth Chart

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich will fill a unique role in Sean Payton’s offense

Greg Dulcich isn’t exactly like Jeremy Shockey, Jason Witten or Jimmy Graham, “but he’s got traits that are exciting,” Sean Payton said.

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When Sean Payton was hired as the Denver Broncos’ new head coach earlier this year, he inherited a roster that includes tight end Greg Dulcich, the team’s third-round pick in last year’s draft.

After two weeks of organized team activities, it seems safe to say Payton is excited about having Dulcich in his offense.

“He had a good day,” Payton said when asked about Dulcich last Thursday. “He’s got a unique skill set, and he’s got traits in the passing game. We use the term ‘Joker’ where we can get matchups. The trick sometimes is trying to predict what you’re going to get defensively, if you’re either going to get a nickel package or a base package. But man, he can run, he’s got good ball skills and he had one of his better practices today. Then you begin to build on that. … I think his menu is going to be lengthy in the passing game and there’s enough stuff that we can do in the run game.

“I’ve been lucky enough to — I’ve had [Jeremy] Shockey, [Jason] Witten, Jimmy Graham, and I’m probably leaving out a few guys. I’m not saying this young player [will be just like them], but he’s got traits that are exciting and today was one of those days where you begin to have a vision.”

Payton went on to explain that the “Joker” in his offense is not a receiver but typically a tight end or a running back with exceptional receiving skills – Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara filled the role in the past. This season, Dulcich will have that job.

“Those were all unique players, not just in the running game, but they had passing game skill sets that allowed you to do multiple things, and I think Greg does too.”

Dulcich (6-4, 245 pounds) missed seven games as a rookie with injuries last season. In the ten games he did play in, Dulcich totaled 33 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns.

Now with a year of experience under his belt and playing in what undoubtedly will be an improved offense led by Payton, Dulcich figures to surpass his rookie numbers in 2023. The 23-year-old tight end might even be a candidate to watch for as a potential breakout player this fall.

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Broncos’ updated tight end depth chart after the NFL draft

Here is our projected tight end (and fullback) depth chart for the Broncos following the NFL draft.

The Denver Broncos did not select a tight end in the 2023 NFL draft last week, but they did acquire Adam Trautman in a late-round trade with the New Orleans Saints.

Following Trautman’s arrival, here is our updated tight end depth chart for the Broncos as the team gets set to begin organized team activities this month.

TE1: Greg Dulcich, a third-round pick in 2022, returns as Denver’s primary tight end entering his second season.

TE2: Adam Trautman, who was drafted by coach Sean Payton in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft, instantly becomes the team’s TE2. Payton has spoken glowingly about Trautman’s ability to block and contribute as a receiver.

TE3: Albert Okwuegbunam (receiving) and Chris Manhertz (blocking) have contrasting strengths and neither of them are as well-rounded as a TE as Truatman. The Broncos also signed Kris Leach as an undrafted free agent.

FB: Michael Burton is the obvious choice to start at fullback for Denver this year and he might occasionally have a tight end-type role. The Broncos also signed UDFA Nate Adkins, who could be a candidate for a tight end/fullback hybrid role that Andrew Beck previously held in Denver.

It’s a pretty solid tight end room for the Broncos, with Dulcich expected to have the biggest receiving role in 2023.

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Grading the Broncos’ 2022 draft class one year later

Do you agree with our early grade for the Broncos’ 2022 draft class?

As the 2023 NFL draft looms on the horizon, Broncos Wire is taking a look back at the Denver Broncos’ 2022 draft class. Who made a difference? Who do the Broncos need to see more from going forward?

Broncos found talent at last year’s Senior Bowl

Before joining the Broncos, TE Greg Dulcich, CB Damarri Mathis and RB Tyler Badie played in the 2022 Senior Bowl.

The Denver Broncos are back in Mobile, Alabama this week to scout prospects for the 2023 NFL draft at the Senior Bowl.

We’ve put together a list of five players the Broncos should be closely watching during Saturday’s game. It’s not an exaggeration to say Denver will likely end up drafting or signing at least one player from the 2023 Senior Bowl.

Last year, the Broncos watched UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich impress in practice and then catch a pass during the all-star game. Denver later used a third-round pick to select Dulcich in the 2022 NFL draft.

The Broncos were also impressed by Pittsburgh cornerback Damarri Mathis. After playing in the Senior Bowl, Mathis was selected by Denver in the fourth round of last year’s draft.

The Broncos also signed 2022 Senior Bowl alum Tyler Badie last year. Badie was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round last April and later signed with Denver’s active roster in December. He scored a touchdown on his first touch in his NFL debut in the team’s season finale.

Now the Broncos will be looking for the next Dulcich, Mathis and Badie. Here are the full rosters for the 2023 Senior Bowl.

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Studs and duds from Broncos’ 24-27 loss to the Chiefs

The Broncos lost, but there were some positive takeaways from Sunday’s game.

Week 17 brought a hard-fought battle between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. Ultimately, it resulted in the Broncos’ ninth one-possession loss of the season, this time 27-24 at Arrowhead.

Here are our studs and duds from the loss.