Javonte Williams

WATCH: Broncos RB Javonte Williams rushes for 49 yards vs. Steelers

Following Javonte Williams’ big run, the Broncos had to settle for a field goal. Denver now trails the Steelers 10-6.

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams had a huge 49-yard run in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Check out video of the play below, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter page:

'Lil Pinball. 🎳

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/cR8wTErAZL

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 10, 2021

After a penalty and sack, Denver went on to settle for a field goal. The Broncos now trail the Steelers 10-6.

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Broncos run over Jets in 26-0 win, improve to 3-0

After defeating the Jets on Sunday, the Broncos now turn their attention to the Ravens.

The Denver Broncos defeated the New York Jets 26-0 at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season on Sunday afternoon.

Denver improved to 3-0 with the win and New York dropped to 0-3.

The Broncos’ offense was led by running backs Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, who combined to total from 144 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns in the win.

Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater also had another efficient day, going 19-of-25 passing for 235 yards with no turnovers for a third-straight week.

Denver kicker Brandon McManus also converted four field goals and he’s now a perfect nine-of-nine on field goal attempts this season.

Denver’s defense harassed rookie Jets quarterback Zach Wilson throughout the game, sacking him five times. Wilson finished the day with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 42.6 passer rating. After adding a sack on Sunday, Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller now has four sacks through the first three games of the season.

The Broncos’ win was marred by several injuries. Denver wide receiver KJ Hamler left in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return. The Broncos also lost right guards Graham Glasgow (knee) and Dalton Risner (foot) as well as linebacker Jonas Griffith (hamstring) to injuries.

Next week, Denver will host the Baltimore Ravens, who are 2-1 following a 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Baltimore defeated Detroit on a record-breaking 66-yard field goal from kicker Justin Tucker in Week 3.

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Giants vs. Broncos: 6 keys to victory in Week 1

Six keys to victory for the New York Giants as they host the Denver Broncos in Week 1 at MetLife Stadium.

The New York Giants will host the Denver Broncos in their 2021 NFL season opener on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.

Here are six keys to a much-needed Giants victory:

Jets RB Michael Carter has made it his mission to lift others up

Jets Wire Exclusive: Michael Carter finds joy in making other people happy – and he plans on bringing that mentality to New York.

Michael Carter knew something was off with his offensive coordinator.

The typically enthusiastic Phil Longo didn’t appear as cheerful as he normally was before the Tar Heels’ 8 a.m. practice one summer morning in 2019. Though Carter wouldn’t know why until days later, Longo was focused on his Type-1 diabetic daughter, Gianna. She had endured a particularly bad morning, and the North Carolina coach wanted to clear his mind as he walked from the meeting room to the team’s indoor practice facility.

But Carter decided to tag along. By the time their 60-second walk to the field was up, Longo was in stitches.

“I can’t tell you what we talked about. I couldn’t tell you what we laughed about. I couldn’t even tell you anything about the conversation,” Longo told Jets Wire. “But [Michael] had me in a good mood. In a nutshell, that is what Michael’s all about.”

Gang Green’s rookie running back is tailor-made for Mike LaFleur’s offense, but Carter’s positive personality will also fit in at One Jets Drive. Carter’s UNC career is littered with stories like Longo’s, and his goal in life – other than winning a Super Bowl and elevating his game – is to keep everyone around him happy and having fun.

“It was just something that I’ve always done,” Carter recently told Jets Wire. “I think it was kind of my personality more than anything. I hate seeing people down because I know how I feel when I’m down.”

Football is demanding, even for someone like Carter, who has excelled at the sport since he was a child. But he finds the gridiron to be a therapeutic source of joy. He wants those around him to experience the same feeling.

“Football is such a fun game,” said Carter, who believes his actions off the field impact how he plays. “It can be hard just because of like, that’s what the grind is. But I just think that football is – should – be fun. It should be fun at all times, even when it’s hard. So some days people need to lift up.”

Former UNC linebacker Jake Lawler credits Carter for helping him navigate two complicated moments of his life. The first came in 2018 when Carter learned that his roommate’s late-night walks sometimes left him contemplating suicide. Carter took it upon himself to talk to Lawler about his battles with depression.

“Mike really serves as the catalyst, I think, for me getting better and getting help,” Lawler said. “He’s always someone who is a positive person, whose focus and goal is to uplift people.”

The way Carter looks at it, he was just being there for a friend.

“He says I saved his life and I hate it when he says that,” Carter said. “Because I’m like, ‘No, bro. You did. I was just a listening ear.’”

The second moment came in August 2019 when Lawler thought about leaving the football team for a film writing career in Los Angeles. Lawler said he was unhappy, became disassociated with football, and wanted to pursue his passion. A broadcast journalism major at UNC, Lawler had written and produced during his time in college and wanted a career in that field to bolster Black representation in the entertainment industry.

When the two talked about the decision, Carter explained to Lawler the worst thing that could happen: the move doesn’t work out, and Lawler returns to the East Coast.

“His belief in my ability to do something outside of football really sort of propelled me,” Lawler said. “If I’m sitting here and my friend is believing in me this much that this is the opportunity I should take, then I don’t think there’s any reason why I shouldn’t.”

Lawler left the team three months later. Now he’s living out his dream on the West Coast, where he works for Chaotic Good Studios.

Lawler believes Carter’s understanding of himself as a person is what’s helped him become as successful as he’s been on the field. Carter knows that football doesn’t define him, and therefore he doesn’t let it get in the way of his own personal progress.

“For a lot of people, when football is all they have they become extremely jealous,” Lawler explains. “If that’s all you have and all you identify with, then anybody who ascends or is in direct competition with your ability to perform the way you want to perform will always be a threat. Knowing himself, it allowed him to go to the draft. It allowed him to go to the Jets. It allowed him to be, in my opinion, one of the best rookies selected.”

That mentality was put to use when Carter met Javonte Williams in 2018. Despite losing backfield touches to Williams, Carter took the young running back under his wing and even convinced him he could be an early-round draft pick after only receiving one scholarship out of high school. If Williams was downtrodden about a game or a practice drill, Carter was there to turn each mistake into a positive, teachable moment.

“If you’re having a bad day, Mike is going to be the one to pick you up,” Williams said. “I’d definitely say Mike was the reason, honestly, that I got better over the years.”

The backfield competition between Carter and Williams blossomed into a friendship. Carter and Williams looked at each other as brothers rather than adversaries and motivated each other to improve. Both running backs finished with more than 1,000 yards in 2020. So when draft interviews rolled around after the season, the two did what they always did: they helped each other out.

“If I talked to the 49ers, I’d call [Carter] and be like, ‘Yo be prepared for this question,’” Williams said. “Or when he talks to somebody, he’d be like, ‘Hey bro, they asked me this question to try to mess me up.’”

Williams was eventually taken in the second round by the Broncos in the 2021 draft, while the Jets picked Carter in the fourth. Despite being selected later than he thought – Carter said most teams gave him a second- or third-round grade – the Jets running back doesn’t see his draft status as a chip on his shoulder. He doesn’t want to waste time or energy trying to impress those who didn’t think he was good enough in the first place.

Instead, Carter said he’d rather focus on making himself and those around him proud.

“I’m internally motivated because I feel like I’m a premier back in the class,” Carter said. “I’m blessed to be here, so why would I spend time on something so superficial like where I got drafted?”

Carter’s priority now is plain and simple: winning. That includes changing the culture in New York and growing as a player. But at the end of it all, the only thing that matters to him is the number in the win column.

“I want to eat. Of course I do. Dogs eat,” Carter said. “But at the same time, I want to win and be a key part of that. The main part is getting better each day and seeing where we can take this.”

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Sleepers and Value Plays: Running Backs

2021 Fantasy Sleepers – Running Backs

A sleeper running back is a player taken as a backup who ends up worthy of being a starter or at least far outplays the draft slot where you selected him. Average Draft Positions (ADP) are taken from MyFantasyLeague.com using only recent drafts.

The Average Draft order shows a general picture of how your draft will unfold and where values/sleepers and bad values/busts likely exist. Any green highlight means the player is a good value that could be taken earlier. A red highlight signifies an overvalued player that is a bad value or just too high of a risk for that spot.

Average Draft order – Value plays

ADP	Tm	Running Back
1	CAR	Christian McCaffrey	Last year burned many fantasy owners, but his injuries were ankle and thigh, nothing like a torn ACL. When he did play, he was yet again very productive.
2	MIN	Dalvin Cook	Cook always misses two games or so, but dominates when he plays. Grab Alexander Mattison for the two games and enjoy massive fantasy points in all the rest.
3	TEN	Derrick Henry	He was unstoppable last season. Cannot fault the pick but he’s also coming off a monstrous 832 touches over the last two years. That’s the sort of volume ended Terrell Davis’ career. He’s bound to be mortal eventually. Probably. Maybe.
4	NO	Alvin Kamara	Brees is gone but he was diminished the last two years anyway. For the last four seasons, Kamara was Top-4 in all but one when he was injured in 2019. He catches at least 80 passes per year, regardless of quarterback, and a banged up Michael Thomas only means even more dump off passes.
5	DAL	Ezekiel Elliott	Elliott is usually a Top-5 back and even without Dak Prescott, being hurt himself, and losing most of his O-line, he still ended up as No. 9 last season. The gang is all back.
6	CLE	Nick Chubb	Chubb may be the best pure runner in the NFL and he works behind the No. 1 offensive line. Only his lack of receptions holds him down this far.
7	NYG	Saquon Barkley	There are plenty of other backs in the draft. The first round is not where you should be saying “maybe this will turn out okay.” Until more clarity on his health happens – and it almost certainly will not prior to most drafts – then the risk makes Barkley a scary prospect. He never falls far enough to compensate for his risk.
8	IND	Jonathan Taylor	The rookie blew up for 1,468 total yards and 12 touchdowns to be the No. 6 fantasy back last year. The Wentz situation makes it a little less clear, but Taylor runs behind the No. 2 offensive line and Marlon Mack still is no threat.
9	LAC	Austin Ekeler	Four years into his career, Ekeler was better than No. 25 only once. The offense that fed him 92 catches in 2019 is long gone. He’s never ran more than 132 times in a season and stayed healthy for just the one Cinderella 2019 blip.
10	GB	Aaron Jones	This is a good spot for Jones. The return of Aaron Rodgers and great O-line are major positives. The biggest concern is Jones staying healthy and going from the No. 2 rushing schedule strength to the No. 31. Wouldn’t take him any higher.
11	PIT	Najee Harris	There’s plenty to be wary about with a rookie running back on a team with a terrible O-line and a fading quarterback. But Harris was the first back drafted in April and the only rookie stepping into a heavy workload. He was dynamic at Bama with 1,891 total yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior. Expectations are naturally very high.
12	WAS	Antonio Gibson	The hybrid-player with only 77 touches in two years at Memphis broke all conventions when he ended as the No. 13 fantasy back last year. He’s drawing even better reviews from camp this year. Maybe a head-scratcher, but one that scores a lot of fantasy points.
13	KC	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	The Chiefs’ rusher is rising in the rankings for good reason. He missed three games, had no real preseason, and his O-line blew up in 2020. He’s worth a mulligan in the most explosive offense in the NFL.
14	CIN	Joe Mixon	Missing 10 games with a foot injury last year soured him to many, but the Bengals O-line is improved, the rushing schedule is much better, Giovani Bernard left, and the coaches intend to make Mixon into a workhorse. Worth the risk here.
15	BAL	J.K. Dobbins	Dobbins proved a force with 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie, and he’s rock solid here. But he doesn’t catch much and the Ravens are committed to their committee.
16	CHI	David Montgomery	Shocking as it seems, Montgomery was the No. 4 fantasy back last year when Tarik Cohen was hurt and HC Matt Nagy had no other inferior back to steal the carries. The Bears have the No. 2 rushing schedule paired with the same bad O-line. He’s worth higher than this and Cohen is slow to return from a torn ACL.
17	SEA	Chris Carson	Carson has been a Top-20 fantasy back in each of the last three years. The schedule is a little better and Rashaad Penny spent the last three years as an injury waiting to happen. Always solid, never spectacular.
18	DET	D’Andre Swift	Here’s another rookie that struggled in the COVID-19-impacted season. Swift gets new coaches that want to turn him into a Alvin Kamara-like player. The O-line is better than most and so far it appears the Lions’ offense is mostly up to Swift and T.J. Hockenson. Jared Goff was given some sketchy wideouts, so Swift can be a valuable outlet.
19	PHI	Miles Sanders	While Sanders has the talent to produce far better than this, he is also on a team that is committed to a rotation even with new coaches. A rushing quarterback only serves to further diminish what the backfield can do.
20	LV	Josh Jacobs	This is a level equal to Jacobs’ rookie year. He was No. 8 in 2020 but the addition of Kenyan Drake scares away fantasy team owners. That’s probably overrated. This is should be the worst that he’ll do.
21	MIA	Myles Gaskin	The Dolphins did nothing in the draft for the backfield and only picked up free agent Malcolm Brown. Gaskin doesn’t have the pedigree or resume to earn him a starting job. But he has the one thing that trumps all else. He gets the opportunity. And he catches the ball well with 41 catches in 2020. Plus the Fins have the No. 3 rushing schedule. Maybe he disappears in 2022, but he’s poised for a decent year in 2021.
22	ATL	Mike Davis	Another back that had far fewer touches during his first five years on three teams. But one season in Carolina when Christian McCaffrey was hurt and he converted that into a surprising starting gig for the Falcons. It’s a new offense under HC Arthur Smith but Davis caught 59 passes for the Panthers last year and ran 165 times. The Falcons did not bring in anyone else to challenge him.
23	CLE	Kareem Hunt	This may end up as a steal. The Browns intend to run their offense through Nick Chubb and Hunt with the No. 1 offensive line in the NFL. This is the worst he’ll do. With Chubb banged up last year, Hunt finished as the No. 10 fantasy back.
24	JAX	James Robinson	Robinson was a huge surprise when he replaced Leonard Fournette. This season, there is a whole new offense, a new rookie quarterback, a below-average O-line and they added Travis Etienne in the first round. They say the rookie becomes the third-down back, but Etienne twice ran for 1,600 yards at Clemson. Good rushing schedule, though. Just feels risky like Etienne may increase his role while Robinson declines later in the season when you really need him.

Sleepers and overvalued players

ADP	Tm	Running Back
25	LAR	Darrell Henderson	The loss of Cam Akers devastated this backfield that had already parted with Malcolm Brown. Henderson rises to RB1 by default and the former third-rounder of 2019 turned in several nice games last year. But he’s had injury issues including a high-ankle sprain in 2020. The Rams will use a committee approach, so Henderson is not the new Akers. But he should, for now, be the primary back.
26	JAX	Travis Etienne	Jags do not need Etienne to step into a full-time running back role with James Robinson there, but the new coaching staff grabbed Etienne with a first-round pick. So far, the plan is for Etienne to be a third-down back which alone could justify this draft spot. But he’s too talented to not, at least eventually, become a primary back. Could start slower, though.
27	SF	Raheem Mostert	2019 was his magical year and even then only as the No. 25 fantasy back. His other five years never played more than 9 games or ranked better than 47. No thanks.
28	ARI	Chase Edmonds	Risk is here with never more than 850 total yards in a season, but Kenyan Drake is gone and Edmonds stepped up last year as the No. 2 back with 53 receptions. The addition of James Conner could end up as a true two-back system, but ARI has a better O-line, easier schedule and a more mature offense.
29	DEN	Javonte Williams	Williams has climbed draft boards all summer long. Melvin Gordon is still there and maybe the No. 1 back at least to start. But he’s in his final contract year and the Broncos moved up to grab the NCU star that has all the physical attributes and skill set to become an elite NFL back. Denver owns the No. 1 rushing schedule strength so there may be enough for both backs to matter.
30	NE	Damien Harris	Maybe third time is the charm? Two lost seasons for the ex-Alabama rusher but he gained 5.0 YPC on his 137 runs last year including three 100-yard games. Pats backfield has been a mess for a decade, but Harris remains at the top until he is injured yet again. If Mac Jones starts, the offense becomes more traditional and the RB1 will likely account for more.
31	DEN	Melvin Gordon	Gordon was Top-12 every year he did not hold out. But he never stays healthy, only once ever broke 1,000 rush yards in six years and relied mostly on short-yardage touchdowns. Final year of contract and almost certainly gone in 2022. Expectations are that Javonte Williams becomes the primary back sooner than later, so Gordon’s fantasy value is likely to decline as the season progresses.
32	NYJ	Michael Carter	He’s smaller at only 5-8 and 190 pounds, but the Jets added him to a backfield that appears to be devoid of talent. Offense promises to be better under OC Mike LaFleur and Carter should be the lead back here. None of current Jets’ rushers gained more than 254 yards last year. Very low bar to start and Carter adds receiving
33	SF	Trey Sermon	Another rookie that rises in drafts each week. Bottom line – Sermon is likely the best inside rusher on the team but the offense always splits up carries. Has the most upside of any 49ers back. But no runner totaled more than 153 carries in a season since HC Kyle Shanahan showed up in 2017.
34	TB	Leonard Fournette	He was a testament as to why early fantasy drafts are risky. Fournette turned it on later last season, and the Buccaneers head into this year with two rushers. Fournette deserves to go first since he does more as a receiver but Ronald Jones still figures in and technically is the primary back. Buccaneers also fall to the No. 32 rushing schedule, so his receptions should help keep him on the field, unless Giovani Bernard assumes the role.
36	HOU	David Johnson	Texans backfield is crowded with mediocre has-beens and never-weres, and the O-line is still a liability. Worst rushing schedule. That all said, Johnson is most likely to lead the group whatever that means this year. What it mostly means is that you waited too long if Johnson is one of your starting running backs.
37	ARI	James Conner	The backfield in Arizona will be split between Conner and Chase Edmonds and last year the totals were only average for an NFL backfield. Edmonds has the advantage of knowing the offense and catching 53 passes last year. But Conner at 6-1, 233 pounds is likely to take the inside role over the 5-9, 205 pound Edmonds. Cardinals have a lighter rushing schedule this year. Coming off toe surgery but should be fine.
38	BUF	Zack Moss	Had ankle surgery in January but expected to be good to go for Week 1. This was one of the worst backfields in 2020 but Moss was busier at the end of that season. Singletary lost carries to Moss and evolved into a receiving back by the end of the year. Moss should continue to see more carries. Josh Allen running in scores undercuts what Moss could do.
39	GB	A.J. Dillon	Dillon is a must-have for the Aaron Jones owner and should supply stand-alone fantasy value with short-yardage and goal line work. The Packers rushing strength of schedule plummets from No. 2 down to only No. 31 for this season. But the O-line is one of the best.
40	LV	Kenyan Drake	He’s a great handcuff for the Josh Jacobs owner, and may pick up some work as a third-down option. He’s had his shot as a primary back and wasn’t quite up to the task.
41	BAL	Gus Edwards	Ravens just signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract as a part of the rotation. He’ll be No. 2 behind J.K. Dobbins and has no real chance of ever supplying RB1 stats. But – he’s always going to be good for some yardage and a catch or two per game. The Ravens like him and he’s a decent roster stash in case it all goes wrong and you need a consistent – even if minimally – running back. Solid O-line helps.
42	WAS	J.D. McKissic	New quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t likely toss another 110 targets at McKissic like last year. He’s a distant second to Antonio Gibson but will remain a third-down back to use to cover bye weeks.
43	BUF	Devin Singletary	Third-rounder from 2019 hasn’t quite caught fire in Buffalo and Zack Moss is taking more of the rushing load at the least. This deeply, he has enough value to merit a fantasy roster spot but his usage is trending the wrong way with the Bills
44	DAL	Tony Pollard	The Cowboys want to keep Zeke Elliott fresher for the playoffs, and Pollard looked great when he replaced the elite rusher that the defense cared about. He should see at least a tick more use this year and is a capable back if they need him to step up and replace Elliott if needed. Mostly – just the handcuff for the Elliott owner.
45	DET	Jamaal Williams	The Lions intend to use D’Andre Swift and Williams as a tandem backfield and even said “the hot hand” gets the bigger share. But the pair are complementary with Swift the fast, outside rusher and receiver and Williams more of an inside puncher. Lions have an all-new scheme, and set of coaches and skill players, but they also have an above-average O-line. Williams is a handcuff for Swift but could produce fantasy relevant stats even as a stand-alone back.
46	IND	Nyheim Hines	Nothing wrong with swinging for the fence this deep, but there’s a lot to be said about a third-down guy like Hines who catches 60 passes per season and offers about 10 points every week in PPR leagues. He won’t win your league, but he could help keep your team afloat if your backfield has injuries.
47	MIN	Alexander Mattison	Handcuff for Dalvin Cook who always misses a game or two. But short of Cook being out, Mattison offers nearly nothing while Cook handles everything.
48	NO	Latavius Murray	There is conjecture that the Saints will play Alvin Kamara as a receiver more and that Murray sees a spike in rushing from his normal 140 rushes per year. But Taysom Hill may take up carries and touchdowns, and Murray is 31 years old. Saints have a great O-line and Murray could still deliver equal to this level, but he’s getting old to expect much else.
49	HOU	Phillip Lindsay	The Texans’ log jam at running back should clear out a bit by the start of the season, but maybe not by your fantasy draft. Lindsay is just a lottery ticket that likely doesn’t pay off with what appears to be a very bad offense for 2021.
50	NYJ	Tevin Coleman	Maybe Coleman reunites with with his 49ers coaches, and he’s certainly the only veteran that’s done anything in their NFL career in their backfield. But the 28-year-old Coleman hasn’t amounted to much since 2018 with the Falcons. He’s often injured now and the Jets only paid him $2M for one year.
51	CHI	Tarik Cohen	Tore his ACL last year and still not healthy. Nope. Do not draft players that are already injured.
52	SEA	Rashaad Penny	Speaking of injured players, Penny spent all three years getting injured or recovering. Now word is that DeeJay Dallas may take some third-down duty. Going on four years, not drafting Penny has been the wise move.
53	TB	Ronald Jones	He is listed on the top of the depth chart and may end up with more carries than Leonard Fournette, but his final eight games totaled only three catches. And worse yet, Bucs have the worst rushing schedule.
54	NE	James White	No Brady, no bueno. Cam Newton preferred to run rather than dump off to White. If Mac Jones gets the start, White may matter again.
55	CAR	Chuba Hubbard	You can be really sure that if I own the best fantasy running back, I am going to own his backup. And yes, I was torched last year when I did not do this with Christian McCaffrey. The Panthers want to take it easier on McCaffrey and that could help Hubbard, but they always say that sort of thing. Hubbard is worth stealing.
56	LAR	Xavier Jones	That backfield for the Rams became interesting and yet muddy when Cam Akers was lost. Darrell Henderson defaults as the primary back but Jones should see some action. Jake Funk may also be involved. Until it is all sorted out and made permanent, Jones is a worthy final running back draft pick that could surprise.
57	IND	Marlon Mack	Mack tore his Achilles last year and Jonathan Taylor took full advantage, even as a rookie. He’s nothing more than a waiver wire pick if bad things happen to Taylor.
59	NYG	Devontae Booker	Booker is just a backup for Saquon Barkley, but Alfred Morris may also get involved. Barkley seems likely to take it easy to open the year, but Booker is not even a great handcuff, let alone have reliable weekly fantasy value.
60	HOU	Mark Ingram	The 31-year-old Ingram seems to have hit the 30-year-old wall in Baltimore last year and all but disappeared. Landing on a terrible offense with a bad O-line when he’s over the hill doesn’t promote any positive vibes.

Best of the rest

Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) – The Patriots have long used a committee approach to their backfield, and the rookie Stevenson may only be the No. 4 back. But there’s speculation that Sony Michel may be dropped, James White remains an under-used third-down back and primary rusher Damien Harris has been less than durable in his two years. The burly ex-Sooner has impressed and could see more work than expected. An early comparison to Corey Dillon is probably just bluster, but there is some upside here.

Breakdown: Melvin Gordon III vs. Javonte Williams

The rookie Williams looks to displace Gordon as the Top DEN RB

For training camp battles, there are few with more interest to fantasy fans as the rookie Javonte Williams going against the veteran Melvin Gordon. While both running backs are expected to play, the question becomes will either enjoy a larger portion of the workload, or will they evenly swap out?

The winner (and hopefully your fantasy team) will reap the benefits of playing in a backfield that ranked around No. 10 in carries, yards, and touchdowns from their rushers. And it will be the rushing portion of their respective workloads that matters most, since the first year of OC Pat Shurmur only completed 52 passes to the position (No. 29), for 272 yards (No. 31) and only one touchdown (No. 30). All combined, this backfield ran for 1,669 yards and ten scores on 372 carries in 2020.

Their success last season came from running Gordon (215-986-9) and Phillip Lindsay (118-502-1). While Lindsay is gone, Williams is hardly just a plug-in replacement.

The Broncos upgraded their backfield by selecting Williams with their 2.03 pick, which made him the third back drafted. Williams comes in with a solid pedigree, having paired with Michael Carter at North Carolina for a very productive backfield. Williams peaked as a junior last year, rushing for 1,140 yards on 157 rushes (7.3 yards per carry) over the 11 game season. He also tacked on 25 catches for 305 yards and accounted for a total of 22 touchdowns.

Williams was a high school valedictorian, and brings an intelligence to his sizable set of physical talents. He led the NCAA in missed tackles last year, and was second in gains of 15+ yards. Williams is the prototypical size at 5-10 and 220 pounds. He’s a violent runner that is very hard to bring down. Williams offers a beast at the goal line as well, running in 19 scores last season. His pass-catching and blocking skills also improved in each of his three years.

Williams was not overworked and is fresher than most other rookie backs. While he’s not that fast (4.58 40-time), he’s the guy you want to use to beat down a defense and handle all the inside work. The ex-Tar Heel has the proverbial nose for the endzone and could have instantly slotted as a three-down back on many other teams.

Melvin Gordon

The Chargers selected Gordon with their 1.15 pick in 2015, between Todd Gurley and T.J. Yeldon. In fairness, he played behind a poor offensive line for much of his five seasons in San Diego/Los Angeles, but he only saw one season there with more than a 3.9-yard rushing average. His fantasy value stemmed more from scoring and he’s always been good for between nine and fourteen touchdowns every year.

He only broke 1,000 rushing yards only once (2017) as it was the only time he managed to play in all 16 games. He typically has missed two to four games every season. Gordon is 6-1 and 215 pounds, so he’s slightly more lanky than the burlier Williams. Gordon also held out for a portion of 2019 hoping for a long-term contract that never happened. He returned in Week 5 and had one of his worst years.

Though he turned down a contract offer of $10 million a year with the Chargers during his holdout, he was not re-signed by them and accepted a two-year deal with Denver for $16 million that ends next February. His first season with the Broncos resulted in 215 rushes for 986 yards and nine scores, plus a career-low 32 receptions for 158 yards and one more touchdown. They just don’t throw much to Shurmur’s backfield. Gordon only missed one game in 2020 related to a team punishment for his DUI arrest that was later dropped.

Gordon’s fantasy value has always relied heavily on his touchdown scoring and receptions.

The Denver Backfield

The Broncos have made no motions toward extending Gordon’s contract, so he is slated to be a free agent next year at the age of 29. He’ll likely find even less interest in his services. And the Broncos traded up five spots to snag Williams at the start of the second round as a sign that they coveted the much-hyped rusher out of North Carolina.

Here’s the backfield breakdown in 2020 during the first season with Pat Shurmur as offensive coordinator.

Gordon received around 15 to 20 carries in games that went well for the Broncos, but rarely more than two or three receptions even as the primary back. Lindsay would turn in around six to eight rushes per week, with only the occasional catch.

So, the backfield ratio between Gordon and Lindsay was usually about 2:1 or 3:1 favoring Gordon, and Lindsay offered nearly no fantasy value other than the one week that Gordon missed. Shurmur was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings for Dalvin Cook’s rookie season (2017). but that was cut short after only four games. He did give Cook over 20 carries in two of his three full games before his season-ending injury.

The dilemma is that this offense hasn’t relied on a Thunder and Lightning approach under Shurmur because there is minimal passing. Both Gordon and Williams provide the bigger back “Thunder,” and both have been great at the goal line. It’s more like Williams was selected to replace Gordon who is gone next spring. And they moved up to make sure that happened.

The consensus is that Williams takes over the primary rushing role likely in Week 1. But – what does that mean? Last year, Gordon ended as the No. 12 fantasy running back while Lindsay landed as an inconsequential No. 66. Of the total of 372 rushes, Gordon only took 215 of them. He has been a solid receiver in the past, so is it reasonable to assume that he becomes the new Lindsay and yet retains most of the receptions? That’s still going to produce some fantasy value.

And while Williams enters with plenty of pedigree and apparent talent, he is a rookie that only totaled 366 career carries in college. It’s nice that he wasn’t overused, but does that result in a lack of experience that he has to gain while a perfectly good (assuming health) Gordon is on the sideline already accomplished in all facets of the offense?

There is one more major factor to consider. The Broncos rushing schedule strength in 2020 was No. 19. This year, they own the No. 1 easiest rushing schedule strength. Whichever back that runs the ball should look extra good going against that slate of games.

The safest bet, barring any future developments, is that Williams assumes the primary rusher role likely from the start – he was drafted for it and owns all the skills the role needs. But Gordon will remain involved both as a rusher and as the primary receiver out of the backfield, scant as that job has proven to be. The Broncos also have a quarterback competition that could be disrupted if they end up trading for an elite quarterback as has been the raging rumor this offseason.

That light schedule strength is a difference maker. And it could see Williams look so good, that they increase his snaps at the expense of Gordon who will be gone in 2022 anyway.

Besides, what sparks excitement in the fantasy football heart more than a rookie running back? That would be a rookie running back with a decent offensive line and the NFL-best rushing schedule.

Fantasy football draft: Where to target Denver Broncos RB Javonte Williams

Analyzing Denver Broncos RB Javonte Williams’ 2021 fantasy football ADP and where you should target him in your drafts.

University of North Carolina standout Javonte Williams was the third running back selected in this spring’s NFL Draft as the Denver Broncos traded up in the second round to nab him with the 35th overall pick.

Alabama’s Najee Harris (24th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Clemson’s Travis Etienne (25th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars) were the two backs drafted in the first round. Will Williams’ high draft stock equate to a fantasy draft find?

Below, we look at Williams’ 2021 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Williams’ ADP: 38.53

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com)

That’s essentially a mid-fourthround pick if you’re in a 12-team re-draft league.

Among running backs, Williams has been the 24th off the board, on average, so far, falling right behind Etienne (23rd) and significantly in back of Harris (12th overall).

Interestingly, though, Williams currently owns a running back ADP eight spots higher than veteran Broncos teammate Melvin Gordon III, who finished 2020 with the 12th-most standard-scoring fantasy points and 13th-most point-per-reception points at the position, according to data from The Huddle.

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Williams’ 2020 stats

(From his junior year at North Carolina)

Rushing: 157 carries, 1,140 yards

Receiving: 25 receptions, 305 yards

Touchdowns: 22 (19 rushing)

Where should you take Williams in your fantasy football draft?

If we’re talking rookie/dynasty drafts, Williams is a clear mid-first round pick, jockeying for position with the likes of Etienne, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts, Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith and Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle.

The majority reading this are looking specifically for 10- or 12-team re-draft league advice, so that’s our main focus.

Local fan favorite RB Phillip Lindsay is gone, but the Broncos’ backfield remains crowded. The aforementioned Gordon led the team in touches (247) last season in his first year in the Mile High City, while Lindsay (125) and 2018 third-round pick RB Royce Freeman (47) were a distant second and third, respectively.

Former Minnesota Vikings backup RB Mike Boone, who was with new Denver general manager George Paton in the Twin Cities, rounds out the Broncos’ current RB depth chart.

The only real concern, though, for Williams’ rookie fantasy stock is what percentage of the total backfield touches will Gordon command. In 2020 — an injury-filled season for Lindsay, who missed five games — Gordon was on the high end of what was essentially 60-30-10 three-way split with Lindsay and Freeman.

On the basis of their offseason moves, though, the Broncos obviously think more highly of Williams than they did of Lindsay or do of Freeman, and if the rookie can perform in the passing game (protection, receiving), he could command north of 40 percent of the touches.

You still should be drafting Gordon ahead of the rookie — but not by much — and if you’re looking for a RB3 with upside, the seventh or eighth rounds are sweet spots for landing Williams.

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How rookie Javonte Williams can define the Broncos’ running game

The Broncos got a second-round steal in North Carolina running back Javonte Williams, and he could be Denver’s lead back right away.

The Denver Broncos drafted one of the top running backs in North Carolina’s Javonte Williams. He is a strong, physical, downhill runner who can excel in an inside zone run style scheme and also a gap-style pull run game. Williams has patient vision paired with very good anticipation while accelerating through the trenches, the guy has incredible collision balance who runs behind his pads.

Melvin Gordon is the main back for the Broncos, but should he be? The NFL Network have him as the 24th running back out of 32 of the starting running backs in the league. Gordon almost reached 1,000 yards last season, but also put the ball on the ground four times last season and twice in one game; against the Kansas City Chiefs. Is that enough to run him out of town? Not sure, but the Broncos backfield combined for only 52 catches for 272 yards in 2020 and also allowed 19 sacks from only 5 in 2019. So, Gordon isn’t necessarily holding the Broncos back, but he isn’t making them more dynamic, either. Running backs aren’t known for their longevity, and with Williams and Gordon having a similar skill set, it’s Williams’s job to take.

On top of Williams’s running style, he can pass protect and also catch the ball from the backfield. The only question is how the Broncos can use him in their offense. Gordon said himself that he prefers an inside zone run style, but last year the Broncos showed that they are much more.

After Week 11, Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur made it clear that he wants the offense to be a gap and pull run style as well as inside zone. “We still run a considerable amount of zone plays. I think there ‘s a place for all of it.”

Following a lead blocker, a running back has an opportunity to bounce it outside or make a quick cut inside to slide through the defense.

These are the types of blocks that Williams excels behind the most. We’ve watched him follow his blockers to no end and last year he showed that he can go either way to gain yards.

Williams can follow the play to the outside, but also has the skillset to see the opportunity to cut back.

There aren’t a lot of things that set the Broncos backfield apart, but if Williams can continue to gain yards after contact like he did in college, this attribute can be the part of his game that will take him to the next tier among running backs. Per Pro Football Focus, in college, Williams forced 76 missed tackles as a runner in 2020 (the highest total in the country), and nine more as a receiver.

Shurmur may alternate touches early on between Gordon and Williams while running the same plays for each, and the result will help him decide on who is the guy moving forward. With Williams physicality in pass blocking, he could ultimately win over that starting job earlier than expected.

2021 Schedule Swings: Rushing

Comparing schedule strength – 2020 vs. 2021

The fantasy football strength of schedule is a useful tool, comparing the games for each team against what those defenses allowed the previous season. But what is even more useful is to compare that against 2020.

Simply put – you know what a player did last year. Will he face an easier or tougher schedule? Only the extremes are worth noting given how teams and players change from year to year. So, the best comparison is between what their schedule strength was last year versus this year.

Also see:
Schedule Strength – Passing
Schedule Strength – Rushing
Schedule Strength – Receiving
Schedule Strength Swing – Passing
Schedule Strength Swing – Receiving

Swing Points – The positive or negative point change in their schedule strength between last year and this year.

Best Swings

Cam Akers (LAR) – This is an exciting development for the second-year player. After starting slowly and then catching fire late in his rookie year, Akers is the clear-cut primary back for the Rams and trades the No. 30 schedule strength for the No. 8. Add in an upgrade at quarterback, and the needle points upward for the Ram’s backfield.

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) – While normally placing in the Top-5 of running backs each year, Elliott tumbled to No. 9 when the Cowboy’s offense went cold without Dak Prescott. That coincided with facing the No. 31 rushing schedule and Elliott turned in his worst season. Now Dak is back, and the schedule at least rises to only average.

Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams (DEN) – The biggest problem will be relying on either back unless an injury or coaching move produces more clarity for the Denver backfield. The problem is that the Broncos get the No. 1 rushing schedule for 2021, so both backs may look equally as good. This is a good spot to be if either is removed from the rotation for any reason.

Joe Mixon (CIN) – Mixon’s biggest issue has been staying healthy, and working behind an ineffective offensive line for four seasons has not helped that cause. At least the schedule is better, and the offense improved with Joe Burrow last year. The point shift suggests better production, but he’s still facing the No. 10 rushing schedule with durability and blocking questions.

Chris Carson (SEA) – He signed a three-year extension to remain the primary back for the Seahawks but had injury issues last year along with one of the toughest schedules. Carson has been a lock for 1,000 yards and eight to ten touchdowns when healthy, and the schedule becomes a friend for 2021. Rashaad Penny hasn’t been a factor for three years, and Carson takes the look of a solid RB2 addition to a fantasy team.

Worst Swings

Aaron Jones (GB) – The Packers let Jamaal Williams go and promoted A.J. Dillon, so fewer short-yardage rushing touchdowns may go to Jones. And worse yet, he enjoyed the No. 2 rushing schedule in 2020 and ended up as the No. 5 back. But, he incurs one of the most dramatic swings possible, swapping that No. 2 for a No. 31 this year thanks to facing defenses from the NFC West and AFC North. Throw in the Rodgers situation and he looks far riskier this season.

Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones (TB) – Their schedule was only average last year but drops to the worst in the league for rushing in 2021. That won’t make the normal drop in production from a Super Bowl season any easier to avoid. The duo are in a timeshare, and there may be even more hands in the pie with second-year Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Giovani Bernard there.

Jonathan Taylor (IND) – While the Colts do have a significant rise in rushing schedule strength, they still face the No. 11-ranked slate of games. The No. 1 schedule helped the rookie Taylor end up as the No. 6 fantasy back. His fortunes are more sensitive to the effectiveness of Carson Wentz and the passing offense.

2021 Fantasy Strength of Schedule: Rushing

Who has the easiest schedule for rushing?

The strength of schedule for running backs only considers rushing yardage and scores. There is a significant difference between how often teams use them as receivers, and that impacts the stats allowed by a defense. For a simpler and more 1:1 consideration, this is the strength of schedule for only rushing production that was allowed by defenses including each home or away venue.

The extra game in the NFL schedule starting this year won’t help running backs to stay healthy as well.

Total Points

For fantasy contests and such, only total points matter, so below are the total points for each rushing offense derived from their schedule against the average rushing fantasy points allowed in 2020 by those defenses.

Weekly Play

Three different views are below. Week 1 to 17 is the full-season fantasy strength of schedule. “The Dorey Rule” says draft like the season only lasted the first six weeks for a hot start. Finally, Weeks 15 to 17 represent the most common fantasy playoff weeks. “Good” games were when they faced one of the top 22 venues from last year; “Bad” was when they played in one of the worst 22. The middle 20 matchups were neither good nor bad.

Notable schedules

Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams (DEN) – The backfield situation could change from game to game, but whichever back takes the lead will enjoy the most favorable schedule in the NFL. Aside from two midseason games, the entire lineup of opponents is light, and four of the final five matchups go against weaker defenses from 2020.

Myles Gaskin, Malcolm Brown (MIA) – The Dolphins matchup with the AFC South helps to give the otherwise mediocre backfield a chance to surprise if they don’t add another back and start rotating players. The final nine games only contain one tough venue, and there’s nary a bad weather game possible.

Najee Harris (PIT) – The hottest rookie running back takes a further step in the lead with a schedule that can reward a full-time rusher. He gets a fast start with no bad matchups until Week 8 and then three of the final four games face weak defenses right when you need him most.

David Montgomery (CHI) – Hopefully, the spike in production that ended 2020 picks up again this season while enjoying one of the lighter schedules for rushers. Montgomery faces a mixed set of games through midseason but then faces his final tough venue in Week 9. The Bears fortunes should increase in the second half of the year and the passing offense will be hitting a higher gear by then as well.

James Robinson, Travis Etienne (JAC) – The schedule is kind aside from a three-game stretch from Week 11 to Week 13. And then the final four games all face favorable matchups during the fantasy playoffs. The split in workload between James Robinson and Travis Etienne may evolve through the season, but the primary back for December should end the season on a high note.

Jonathan Taylor (IND) – Second-year running back Jonathan Taylor already broke out in 2020 with over 1,100 rushing yards, and he gets a chance to take another step up, facing seven opponents with weaker defenses. The first seven weeks are tough with four bad matchups but then clears up with only one more in the final nine games while playing in five weak venues. A Week 14 bye will hurt in larger leagues and contests, but hosting the Raiders in Week 17 should end the fantasy year with a bang.

Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette (TB) – There’s already a committee backfield that shifts roles, and now the Super Bowl champion’s path to a repeat navigates the worst rushing schedule of any team. They only play in two of the lighter venues from last year while over half of their matchups go against the toughest rush defenses. Starting in October, they face a twelve-game stretch without any weak defenses.

Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon (GB) – The quarterback situation will be resolved, but the rushing schedule never improves for the Packers in 2021. After a mostly challenging stretch through midseason, Aaron Jones not only has a Week 13 bye, but the last six weeks of the season produces only one favorable matchup and yet four of the toughest venues for rushers.

2021 weekly grid

Average rushing fantasy points allowed (points per game)

Fantasy values were derived from 1 point per 10 rushing yards and six-point rushing touchdowns.