Tag: Javonte Williams

Bo Nix had a great quote on Javonte Williams’ touchdown run

Javonte Williams’ touchdown run demonstrated “one united team that is going for one goal,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said.

In the second quarter of Sunday’s 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams was stood up at the five-yard line and then pushed into the end zone by his teammates for a touchdown.

After the game, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a great comment on how that play exemplified the team bouncing back from Week 10.

“It is effort,” Nix said of the touchdown. “I think that play is kind of the epitome of this week. I think we have been wanting to get over a hurdle. He stopped there for a minute and everybody just kind of pushes around him and gets him in the end zone. Those are the plays you love to see from an offense and a team. It almost looks like one united team that is going for one goal.

“Nobody who was pushing or blocking cared who got the touchdown. They were just pushing from behind. I think it was a great team effort that pictures what this week has been for us. Find ways to get effort and intensity and maximize the opportunity that we have. We have to continue to build, grow, keep fighting and finding ways to score touchdowns and find success.”

That’s exactly the kind of mentality Denver needs going into the final stretch of the 2024 season. Up next is a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Javonte Williams had a great reaction to being pushed into end zone by teammates

“The cavalry came,” Broncos RB Javonte Williams said of being pushed into the end zone. He knew Quinn Meinerz was involved.

In the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams met Falcons safety Justin Simmons at about the five-yard line and was stood up.

Williams kept his legs moving and teammates soon arrived to help push him into the end zone for a touchdown.

“They just seen me and J-Sim one-on-one kind of at a stalemate and after that, the cavalry came,” Williams said of the play after the game.

Williams was picked up by his teammates and escorted into the end zone.

“I was in the air,” Williams said after the game. “That was all the o-line. From like the five-yard line on, that was all the o-line because my feet were in the air. So all the credit to them.”

After an eventual 38-6 victory, guard Quinn Meinerz detailed how pushing the pile dates back to his time in college.

“Pushing the pile, I’m going to give a shout-out to my offensive line coach at [Wisconsin-] Whitewater, Coach Brent Allen,” Meinerz said. “That was something that was instilled in us as Whitewater offensive linemen that — it was push the pile every time. Get to the pile, push the pile. We had tons of plays like that in college.”

Denver’s social media team had Williams break down the play after the game:

Williams knew Meinerz was involved during the play.

“Yeah, when my feet came out the ground and I was still moving, I said, it must be Quinn and somebody, because I know Quinn is going to be the one push,” Williams said.

Williams ended the day with nine carries for 59 yards and one touchdown. He also added four receptions for 28 yards as the Broncos improved to 6-5 with a convincing victory at home.

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Broncos players lined up to hug Justin Simmons after beating Falcons

Broncos players lined up to hug Justin Simmons after beating the Falcons on Sunday. Simmons also thanked fans after the game.

After the Denver Broncos defeated the Atlanta Falcons in a blowout 38-6 win over Sunday, safety Justin Simmons exchanged post-game hugs with many of his former teammates.

Romi Bean of KCNC-TV shared a 30-second video on Twitter/X showing Broncos players lining up to embrace Simmons. The video shows kicker Wil Lutz, running back Javonte Williams, cornerback Riley Moss (who Simmons called “White Lightning”), safety Devon Key and wide receiver Marvin Mims exchanging hugs after the game.

Simmons, 30, played for the Broncos from 2016-2023 before being cut earlier this year. Ahead of Sunday’s game, Simmons dropped a f-bomb on his former team during a pre-game speech. The safety probably didn’t expect cameras to pick up the audio of that pre-game huddle.

After the game, Simmons sang a different tune.

“It was emotional,” Simmons said of returning to Denver. “Obviously, I played the last eight years here. A lot of good memories and it was bittersweet. First, I’m thankful for the warm embrace with the fans and (I) got to see some of my old teammates. It stinks being on the opposite side and coming away with the loss, a bad loss at that.

“We didn’t execute nearly well enough on defense to give us a chance to win this game. That’s a credit to their offense and how they were operating. It makes the whole thing bittersweet, but I did want to say thank you to the fans and the people that I got to see. The staff that I’ve known and gotten to know the previous eight years. I am super grateful and I’m also standing up here with a heavy heart of a really tough loss.”

Simmons ended the day with five tackles, including one tackle behind the line of scrimmage. He was on the opposite end of Javonte Williams’ touchdown run in the second quarter. “I was trying to tell them this boy run hard,” Simmons told Williams after the game.

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Bo Nix makes NFL history as Broncos cruise past Falcons in 38-6 win

Broncos QB Bo Nix matched a Peyton Manning stat in a convincing 38-6 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos (6-5) cruised past the Atlanta Falcons (6-5) in a convincing 38-6 victory at home on Sunday afternoon.

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix made history in the win by throwing for at least 200 yards and two touchdowns in four straight home games. Nix is just the second rookie player in NFL history to accomplish such a feat, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (1998).

Nix finished the day 28-of-33 passing for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions before Jarrett Stidham took over in the fourth quarter.

On the game’s opening series, Nix led a nine-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end/fullback Nate Adkins to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Falcons matched that score with a 41-yard Younghoe Koo field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.

In the second quarter, Denver running back Javonte Williams was met by Atlanta safety Justin Simmons at the five-yard line on a 14-yard run. Williams kept his legs moving and teammates pushed him into the end zone for a touchdown to make it 14-3. After that, Koo converted a 51-yard field goal to draw the Falcons within a score, 14-6.

The Broncos never looked back from there as Nix led a 10-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard screen pass to receiver Marvin Mims, who scored to make it 21-6.

In the third quarter, Denver went 45 yards on 10 plays and Nix threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to receiver Troy Franklin to extend the lead to 28-6. On the next drive, Broncos linebacker Cody Barton intercepted a pass from Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins, but the turnover did not lead to any points.

Denver kicker Wil Lutz added a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 31-6. Nix later threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey to extend the lead to 38-6, which held as the final score.

Up next for Denver is a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12. The Broncos previously beat Las Vegas 34-18 at home in Week 5.

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WATCH: Broncos players push Javonte Williams into end zone vs. Falcons

Javonte Williams kept his legs moving and Broncos teammates pushed him into the end zone to make it 14-3!

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams scored on a 14-yard touchdown run against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

Williams got a lot of assistance from teammates on the final few yards of the run as he was pushed into the end zone in a pile-up.

Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter/X page:

At the time of publication, Denver leads Atlanta 14-3 in the second quarter.

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Fantasy Football: Audric Estime seems to be the Broncos’ new RB1

Broncos coach Sean Payton liked what he saw from Audric Estime on Sunday. “I was encouraged. He’ll continue to get more reps,” Payton said.

The Denver Broncos appear to have made a change in their backfield.

After coach Sean Payton hinted last week that Audric Estime would be more involved in the second half of the season, the rookie led the team’s running backs in snaps (26), carries (14) and rushing yards (53) against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

“We keep wanting to get him involved,” Payton said after the game. “He is a handful.”

Estime’s production was modest as he only averaged 3.8 yards per carry, but if he remains the team’s primary running back going forward, the rookie will quickly become relevant for fantasy football managers.

“I thought he ran well yesterday,” Payton said Monday. “I thought [Marvin] Mims gave us some juice as well. [We’re] just trying to find different roles and different ways to utilize these players. I was encouraged. He’ll continue to get more reps.”

Estime, who was picked by Denver in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft out of Notre Dame, appears to have leapfrogged Javonte Williams in the RB rotation. Williams will likely remain involved in passing situations (he is the team’s best blocking RB) and Jaleel McLaughlin will continue to mix in, but Estime appears to be the new RB1.

This week, Estime will face an Atlanta Falcons defense that ranks in the bottom half of the NFL against the run, allowing 4.5 yards per carry and 129.4 rushing yards per game. Take note, fantasy football managers.

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Fantasy Football: 12 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Audric Estime is the top running back to target on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

It looks like there’s been a changing of the guard in the Denver Broncos‘ backfield.

Broncos coach Sean Payton hinted last week that rookie Audric Estime could be more involved in the second half of the season, and that’s beginning to play out. Estime led the team’s backfield in snaps (26), carries (14) and rushing yards (53) on Sunday. Javonte Williams (one carry and two targets) seems to have been relegated to passing-down duties.

Estime could be Denver’s new RB1 going forward, and he should be considered a top priority on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Elsewhere on the waiver wire front, wide receiver Cedric Tillman (50%) should be rostered, Dawson Knox (1%) is a streaming tight end option and quarterback Bo Nix (50%) has quickly become fantasy-relevant.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Audric Estime (1%): Estime’s efficiency (3.8 yards per carry) wasn’t great on Sunday, but Payton seems to be a big fan of the rookie, so his workload (14 carries) will likely trend up in the coming weeks.

2. RB Gus Edwards (21%): Edwards (10 carries for 55 yards) split time with J.K. Dobbins (15 carries for 50 yards) on Sunday. Playing in a run-heavy offense, both RBs could be fantasy-relevant going forward.

3. RB Tyler Allgeier (50%): Bijan Robinson remains the star, but Allgeier (11 carries for 59 yards) isn’t going away. Allgeier has standalone flex value and he’s an extremely important handcuff in case Robinson is ever unavailable.

4. RB Trey Benson (16%): James Conner (17 touches for 113 yards) and Benson (12 touches for 87 yards) were both productive on Sunday as the Cardinals cruised to a comfortable win over the Jets. That won’t happen every week, but Benson should be rostered. Note that Arizona has a bye in Week 11.

5. RB Tyjae Spears (42%): Spears (10 touches for 51 yards) wasn’t far behind Tony Pollard (13 touches for 63 yards) in Week 10. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues.

6. RB Braelon Allen (22%): Breece Hall is obviously the RB1, but Allen (seven carries and one target) remains involved. Allen could be a flex option if you’re desperate.

7. RB Cam Akers (16%): Aaron Jones had an injury scare on Sunday before later returning to the game. Akers is worth adding in case Jones does end up missing any time. With Jones missing part of Sunday’s game, Akers got 14 touches for the Vikings in Week 10.

8. RB Ray Davis (19%): He’s just a handcuff behind James Cook at this point, but Davis proved earlier this season that he’s a capable fill-in option if called upon in Buffalo.

9. RB Blake Corum (16%): The Rams have been giving Kyren Williams a heavy workload, and Corum could be an extremely valuable handcuff down the stretch if Williams gets banged up.

10. RB Kenneth Gainwell (2%): Saquon Barkley steps aside when the Eagles have big leads, giving value to Gainwell and Will Shipley (1%) when Philly is a big favorite.

11. RB Keaton Mitchell (5%): The speedy running back returned to action in Week 10 and the Ravens now have a “three-headed monster” at running back. Mitchell is worth stashing, especially in deep leagues.

12. RB Jaylen Wright (5%): De’Von Achane remains the RB1 in Miami, but Wright might be taking the RB2 role away from Raheem Mostert. Wright got the second-most carries (five) on Monday. Mostert was targeted three times as a receiver out of the backfield but got no carries.

Bonus: RB Jaylen Warren (62%) is already rostered in most leagues, but double-check just to make sure he’s not still available in your league. 

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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5 takeaways from the Broncos’ 16-14 loss to Chiefs in Week 10

The sky is not falling. Here are five quick takeaways from the Broncos’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 16-14 on Sunday after their last-second field goal attempt was blocked. Here are five quick takeaways from the loss.

1. Audric Estime in, Javonte Williams out: Hopefully fantasy football managers listened when coach Sean Payton hinted last week that Estime would be more involved in the second half of the season. Estime dominated the team’s backfield on Sunday with 14 carries for 53 yards. Jaleel McLaughlin mixed in with two carries for 12 yards and even wide receiver Marvin Mims got three carries for 17 yards. Williams only received one carry (for one yard) and just two targets as a receiver out of the backfield. Estime might be the new RB1 going forward.

2. Bad officiating did not cost Denver the game: Yes, there were some questionable calls on Sunday, but the Broncos can’t blame the officials for the loss (more on that in a moment). KC’s formation on the field goal block was legal, and Denver squandered opportunities to win the game in the second half. Blame for the loss falls on the Broncos, not the referee.

3. Denver’s offense disappeared in the second half: After taking a 14-10 lead into halftime, the Broncos’ offense proved to be mostly ineffective until the final drive of the game. Denver’s defense continued to hold up, allowing just two field goals, but the offense didn’t do its part.

4. Alex Forsyth cost the Broncos the game: Listen, this is not a green light to harass players on social media, which is never acceptable. But there’s accountability in professional sports, and players are spotlighted for mistakes (in a professional manner). The Chiefs identified Forsyth as a weak link on kicks earlier in the game, noting that he was too light on his toes and susceptible to a bull rush. KC exploited that on the final play of the game and drove Forsyth back to block the field goal attempt. Forsyth accepted blame after the game, and he’ll probably never make that mistake again.

5. Denver is oh-so-close: After the game, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix said, “I feel like we’re right there, just have to get over that hump.” He’s right. The good news is that Denver just went toe-to-toe with the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team, the defending Super Bowl champions. The bad news is that the Broncos weren’t able to complete the game. “It really played out exactly how we wanted it to, like exactly with the ball, the clock, in complete control of everything,” Payton said. “We just couldn’t finish it.” If the Broncos get over the hump that Nix referenced, they will be a legitimate playoff contender this fall. And they’ll see KC again when the Chiefs visit Empower Field at Mile High in Week 18. Denver was knocked down on Sunday, but the Broncos weren’t knocked out. There’s a lot of football left to play.

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Sean Payton says Broncos WRs need to have high football IQ for these scenarios

“Generally, guys with good football IQ do well in scramble drills,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has made some big plays on the ground this season, rushing 58 times for 295 yards, 27 first downs and four touchdowns through nine games.

Nix’s mobility puts a huge strain on defenses, especially when the quarterback buys time and then finds a receiver down the field. Last week, he did a great job finding running back Javonte Williams in the middle of the field for a first down on a scramble drill.

Scramble drills involve improvisation, but Broncos coach Sean Payton has said there’s a method to the madness.

“Well, we coach a scramble drill,” Payton said on Wednesday. “We have rules. Widest, flush, clear, second. Certainly, you want guys moving in the direction of the quarterback. Javonte kind of came out of it, and so there’s a point at which we’re not going to throw it all the way back.

“That was a heads up play and generally, guys with good football IQ do well in scramble drills. Generally, guys maybe that aren’t so tuned in maybe struggle with it, but it is something especially when you have a quarterback like Bo.”

This week, Denver will face one of the NFL’s best scrambling quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs star has given the Broncos plenty of headaches over the years on scramble drills. Nix and Co. will look to return the favor on Sunday.

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Sean Payton hints at more playing time for a Broncos running back

Take note, fantasy football managers: Audric Estime could get more carries from the Broncos in the second half of the season.

Take note, fantasy football managers.

During his conference call with reporters on Monday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked if rookie running back Audric Estime could get a bigger workload in the second half of the season.

“I think that’s a good and fair question, and one that I think I would answer, ‘Yes,'” Payton said.

Estime (5-11, 227 pounds) was picked by the Broncos in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft out of Notre Dame. He spent four weeks on injured reserve earlier this season with an ankle injury and he had some hiccups with two fumbles, but Estime’s stock is now trending up.

The rookie got five carries on Sunday, tying his career high. That’s certainly not a big number, but it could increase in the coming weeks.

On a small sample size of 15 carries, Estime has a better yards per carry average (6.3) than starter Javonte Williams (3.8) and change-of-pace back Jaleel McLaughlin (3.9). Estime’s average will likely go down with a larger sample size, but the rookie has earned more opportunities.

Estime is probably worth stashing on your fantasy football bench in case his workload does increase down the stretch.

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