Wondering how the Broncos’ stars will fare statistically against the Jaguars? The Huddle offers fantasy projections for Sunday’s game.
In advance of Sunday’s Broncos-Jaguars game, Broncos Wire examines the matchup with fantasy football projections for Denver players courtesy of our colleagues at The Huddle.
The Broncos are coming off of their road win at the Giants to open their season. The Jaguars were able to make the Texans look like a formidable force this year, so a bounce-back game would smooth over the bad feelings that their beatdown in Houston generated. The Broncos are not bringing anything special on offense, but the Jaguars defense looks just as bad as it did in 2020. If the Jaguars can just stay in the game and not allow the Broncos to control the game from start to finish, that would be victory enough.
Team notes
The 27-13 win over the Giants was solid enough to boost the confidence in the offense. Losing Jerry Jeudy to a high-ankle sprain is reminiscent of Courtland Sutton’s injury last year, though Jeudy is expected to return. The debut of Teddy Bridgewater went well otherwise and the backfield tandem shows no signs of favoring either back. This game and then next week hosting the Jets gives the Broncos a chance to start 3-0 before the schedule starts doling out the Ravens and Steelers.
Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater passed for 264 yards and two scores with no turnovers at the Giants for a solid start. His passing favored tight ends though that was more about the coverage by the Giants secondary on the wideouts. These next two weeks give Bridgewater a chance to hone his passing before facing elite secondaries. He’ll also have to figure out how to compensate for the loss of Jerry Jeudy, who was the leading receiver last week.
Teddy Bridgewater projection vs. Jaguars
Fantasy Points: 19
Passing: 260 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: 20 yds, 0 TD
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Running Backs
The fantasy world saw just what they feared in Week 1. The tandem backfield of Melvin Gordon and the rookie Javonte Williams was effective, but neither back shined aside from the 70-yard touchdown jaunt by Gordon later in the game. He ended with 101 yards and the score on ten carries, which would have been 31 yards on nine runs. Williams had 14 carries for 45 yards but lost four yards on his only catch. Gordon added three receptions for 17 yards so both ended with around 14 touches. At the Giants, the results were solid though not spectacular other Gordon’s scoring run.
These next two games should make the backfield even more productive, though that may only cement the committee approach if both are successful.
Melvin Gordon III projection vs. Jaguars
Fantasy points: 16
Rushing: 60 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: 2 rec, 20 yds 0 TD
Javonte Williams projection vs. Jaguars
Fantasy points: 15
Rushing: 60 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: 2 rec, 10 yds 0 TD
Wide Receivers
Courtland Sutton was held to only one catch for 14 yards in Week 1, thanks to the great corner play by the Giants. Jerry Jeudy ended with six catches for 72 yards but suffered a high-ankle sprain that will keep him out “for weeks.” In his place, the Broncos will rely on a rotation of KJ Hamler (3-41) and Tim Patrick (4-39, TD), who continues to exceed expectations despite trying to replace him. Hamler is in his third year and can provide exciting plays, but at only 5-9 and 178 pounds he’s not likely to step into any heavy volume. The 6-4, 212-pound Patrick presents a much bigger target.
The injury to Jeudy provides Sutton a chance to reassert himself after missing all but one game last year. But it also makes him more of a marked man when facing the better defenses without a complement that the secondary has to respect.
Courtland Sutton projection vs. Jaguars
Fantasy points: 21
Receiving: 6 rec, 90 yds, 1 TD
Tim Patrick projection vs. Jaguars
Fantasy points: 8
Receiving: 4 rec, 40 yds, 0 TD
KJ Hamler projection vs. Jaguars
Fantasy points: 7
Receiving: 2 rec, 50 yds, 0 TD
Tight Ends
Noah Fant (6-62) opened the year with a team-high eight targets thanks to the Giants defense limiting the wide receivers. Albert Okwuegbunam (3-16, TD) caught the touchdown but won’t be a factor in games unless the wideouts are shut down. Fant’s connection with Bridgewater is a positive that should continue to pay off.
Noah Fant projection vs. Jaguars
Fantasy points: 9
Receiving: 4 rec, 50 yds, 0 TD
Match to the defense
The Jaguars’ defense once again proves to be a blessing to fantasy football. Their crushing loss to the Texans made one of the worst offenses look all-world. All of the Broncos’ fantasy plays are locks for this week. Bridgewater faces the defense that gave up 291 yards and two scores to Tyrod Taylor, arguably a clone of Bridgewater. He won’t produce a monster game because there is no need, but Sutton gets a chance to stretch his legs playing the same position as Brandin Cooks who posted 132 yards on five catches last week.
Both Gordon and Williams are moderate to good starts. The Jags gave up 120 yards and two scores on 37 rushes to the Texans who were not known to have running backs. The split means both backs offer moderate to good prospects and either – or both – could score. This is a great chance to involve Sutton and see what the backfield can do in one of the lightest matchups of the year.