NFL Network's James Palmer had "multiple people" in the Broncos organization tell him that Tim Patrick is "the best football player in that WR room." That WR room also includes Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and second-round rookie Marvin Mims. QB Russell Wilson felt most comfortable throwing to Patrick last offseason, per Palmer. And the belief (hope?) is that Patrick's August torn ACL played a big part in Wilson's ugly 2022 season. Patrick is on track to be ready for Week 1, which is good news for Wilson. But it's tough to see Patrick emerging as a reliable fantasy option barring an injury to Jeudy or Sutton. Patrick is at least worth considering near the end of best-ball drafts.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee earlier this offseason, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The procedure addressed an issue "that had nagged [Wilson] for a few seasons," per Rapoport. Wilson has already resumed training since the surgery and is expected to be available for OTAs. We'll keep an eye on him the rest of the offseason, but it doesn't sound like this news will impact Wilson's 2023 campaign. The 34-year-old has missed five games over the last two years after playing in 144 straight regular-season games to open his career.
Free agent QB Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos have agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $10 million. This deal includes $5 million in guaranteed money and locks Stidham into serving as QB Russell Wilson's backup. Stidham started two games with the Raiders at the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season, tallying 584 passing yards with 4 TDs and 3 INTs. He should carry some appeal as a depth option in superflex leagues should any injury occur to Wilson in what should be a much-improved offense under new HC Sean Payton. Not all backup QBs are worth spending too much time thinking about for fantasy purposes, but Stidham is fairly intriguing here if nothing else.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Broncos and Saints are "finalizing compensation" that would allow Sean Payton to become Denver's HC. The big potential winner here, fantasy wise, is QB Russell Wilson. He'll come off easily the worst performance of his career to work with the HC that helped Drew Brees become Drew Brees in New Orleans. Of course, Brees was just 27 in his 1st season with New Orleans, after the Chargers allowed his rookie contract to expire and Brees to hit the open market. Russell Wilson just completed his age-34 season. Plenty of surrounding talent should remain, with WRs Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy still under contract, TE Greg Dulcich entering Year 2, and WR Tim Patrick and RB Javonte returning from knee injuries. Among his 15 years as Saints HC, Payton had 13 consecutive offenses rank among the top 10 in total yards. His teams also finished top-10 in points 12 times.
Update: Schefter reports that Denver is sending its 2023 first-rounder and 2024 second-rounder to the Saints for the rights to Payton and New Orleans' 2024 third-rounder.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson scored twice on the ground in Sunday's 3-point loss to the Chiefs. He totaled 27 rushing yards on 4 carries, including the TDs from 16 and 4 yards out. Wilson added 222 yards and a TD (plus an INT) passing, finding TE Albert Okwuegbunam for a 25-yard score. WR Jerry Jeudy led the team in targets (8) and catches (7) but collected just 38 yards. WR Courtland Sutton followed with a 4-44 receiving line on 6 looks. Denver closes out vs. the Chargers at home in Week 18.
The Broncos have fired HC Nathaniel Hackett, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. So Hackett doesn't even make it a full season in Denver. His tenure was a disaster from the start and ends with an embarrassing 51-14 loss to the Rams on Christmas. We'll see who the Broncos tab as their interim HC, but we doubt the move has much of a fantasy impact over the final 2 weeks of the season.
Update: Senior assistant coach Jerry Rosburg has been named Denver's interim HC, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The 67-year-old has spent much of the last 2 decades as a special teams coordinator and has no head-coaching experience at any level.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson went just 15-of-27 passing for 214 yards in Sunday's lopsided loss to the Rams. He tossed 1 TD vs. 3 INTs and took 6 sacks in the game. Wilson gave way to QB Brett Rypien for the team's final 2 possessions (1 of which produced a Rams pick-6). We'd bet on Wilson returning to the lineup for Week 17 against the Chiefs but would hope to not have to use him in fantasy football lineups.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson (concussion) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Cardinals. HC Nathaniel Hackett said Friday that Wilson has actually been medically cleared, but the team is holding him out as a precaution. QB Brett Rypien will make his 2nd start of the season this weekend.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson was limited in practice on Thursday. This marks an improvement from yesterday, when Wilson was sidelined. We’ll continue to track his progress through the concussion protocol. If active, he’ll profile as a QB2 against Arizona. Denver’s currently implied for only 19.5 points.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He's looking unlikely to be cleared in time for this weekend's game vs. the Cardinals, which would leave Brett Rypien under center.
Before a concussion knocked him out of Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, Broncos QB Russell Wilson threw for 247 yards and 3 TDs. That marked the 1st time this year he had thrown more than 2 TD passes and just the 2nd time he had tallied more than 1. Wilson reached 20 fantasy points for just the 2nd time all year, adding 57 yards on the ground. We'll see how soon he can make it back from the concussion, but the injury and string of terrible fantasy outings before Sunday makes him tough to pay any attention to in 1-QB fantasy football formats.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson exited early in the 4th quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Chiefs to be checked for a concussion. QB Brett Rypien has replaced him. We'll update Wilson's status when we know more.
Update: Wilson has been ruled out with a concussion.
Broncos TE Greg Dulcich led the team in targets (8), catches (6) and receiving yards (85) in Sunday's loss to the Ravens. He accounted for more than one-third of Denver's totals in each category, in a game that saw QB Russell Wilson go just 17-of-20 passing for 189 yards. WR Jerry Jeudy and RB Latavius Murray tied for 2nd in targets (4) and receptions (4). WR Courtland Sutton left early with a hamstring injury, drawing just 1 target before his departure.
Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett told the team Saturday night that he's passing play-caller duties to QBs coach Klint Kubiak, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. We'll see how much of a difference that makes, but it can only be good news for an offense that has stunk. Denver ranks 22nd in yardage, dead-last in scoring and 31st in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA. Kubiak called plays as OC last year for the Vikings, who finished 16th in DVOA, 14th in scoring and 12th in total yards.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson finished Sunday's game with his 2nd-largest passing-yardage total of the season. His 286 yards were his most since Week 1. But so were his 42 attempts. Wilson completed just half of those, while taking 6 sacks and tossing an INT. He did manage an OK 6.8 yards per attempt, thanks in part to a 66-yard TD connection with rookie WR Jalen Virgil. WR Courtland Sutton led the team with 11 targets, 6 receptions and 66 yards (tying Virgil). Denver was missing WR K.J. Hamler and lost WR Jerry Jeudy during the game. WR Kendall Hinton and RB Melvin Gordon tied for 2nd on the team with 4 catches apiece. Rookie TE Greg Dulcich endured a disappointing day, catching just 1 of 4 targets for 11 yards. The Broncos face a more generous Raiders defense in Week 11.
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