• Javonte Williams carries the Denver Broncos to victory: Williams scored two touchdowns and was one in every of their greatest receivers in addition to their most impactful runner.
•New Orleans Saints decimated by harm: Fifteen gamers missed some apply time this week, seven of which missed this recreation, whereas left guard Nick Saldiveri along with cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo suffered game-ending accidents Thursday night time.
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Estimated studying time: 5 minutes
PFF’s fantasy soccer recap focuses on participant utilization and stats, breaking down all of the very important data it is advisable to obtain fantasy success in 2024.
Denver Broncos @ New Orleans Saints
Saints depend on backups at huge receiver: Both of their typical beginning huge receivers missed this recreation, main the group to depend on rookies.
The Saints have been down their prime two huge receivers. Rashid Shaheed was positioned on injured reserve Thursday after having surgical procedure to restore his meniscus, so his season is over. Chris Olave suffered a concussion final week and, ideally, gained’t be out long-term.
Fifth-round rookie Bub Means and undrafted rookie Mason Tipton have been the first huge receivers, whereas veteran Cedrick Wilson combined in. Despite the blowout, the Saints caught with a number of two tight finish units to maintain their greatest gamers on the sphere. For the primary 40 minutes of the sport, the three huge receivers have been held to at least one catch for 10 or fewer yards every. Most of their manufacturing got here as soon as the group was down three scores.
Going ahead, we are able to anticipate Tipton to be Shaheed’s main alternative, whereas Wilson additionally performs some snaps. Means has been Olave’s alternative, as each huge receivers spend over 60% of their snaps lined up on the skin of the formation and on the road of scrimmage, whereas Shaheed, Tipton and Wilson spend lower than 40% of their snaps from that spot. From Weeks 1-4, Wilson and Tipton performed rather more than Means. Tipton is the receiver price rostering in deeper leagues.
Kendre Miller returns to the Saints lineup: Miller missed almost all of coaching camp and the primary six weeks of the season as a consequence of a hamstring pressure.
Over the season’s first 5 weeks, Alvin Kamara was the clear starter, enjoying 73% of New Orleans’ offensive snaps. Jamaal Williams was the clear backup at 21%, and Jordan Mims was the third-stringer, enjoying lower than two snaps per recreation. Last week, Mims ended up enjoying 16 snaps to Williams’ three, though 9 of Mims’ snaps got here within the final two minutes of the sport.
Mims was the one wholesome inactive for the Saints Thursday, permitting Miller to debut. He performed three of the Saints’ 4 snaps on their second drive, however he didn’t see the sphere once more till the third quarter. He led the group in speeding yards with 36 on six carries, largely due to 4 carries on their last drive, together with a 16-yard carry whereas they have been down 30 factors.
Miller may get a bigger function over time, which may very well be particularly massive late within the season if the Saints are out of the playoff image and need to see what they’ve as they put together for 2025 and past.
Troy Franklin’s function expands: Franklin set a career-high in receiving yards, breaking the 31-yard mark he set for himself final week.
Over the final two weeks since Josh Reynolds landed on injured reserve, the Broncos have usually used Courtland Sutton, Franklin and Devaughn Vele on passing performs, whereas Sutton and Lil’Jordan Humphrey are used on run performs.
During these two weeks, Franklin has led the group in targets (9) and receptions (seven). Thursday night time, he caught 5 receptions for 50 yards, main the Broncos. While Sutton has always been on the sphere, he wasn’t focused in any respect on this recreation. Franklin was the sixth-wide receiver on our large board between Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey and now, he’s enjoying the variety of snaps wanted to be a fantasy starter. He’s price a waiver-wire goal as a result of there’s an opportunity he’ll lead the Broncos in targets over the remainder of the season.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Saints tight finish Taysom Hill missed his third-straight recreation as a consequence of a rib harm. He was restricted in apply this week after not training final week, so he at the least is taking a step in the fitting course to play.
- The Saints signed undrafted rookie Jermaine Jackson to the 53-man roster long-term to take Rashid Shaheed’s roster spot, whereas Equanimeous St. Brown was a apply squad elevation for this recreation, however neither performed a snap on offense. St. Brown didn’t play his first snap till the top of the third quarter, whereas Jackson didn’t play on offense.
- Broncos tight finish Greg Dulcich was a wholesome inactive for a 3rd straight week.
- The Broncos launched working again Blake Watson to make room for different gamers getting back from injured reserve. This left Denver with three working backs on the roster.
- Broncos huge receiver Marvin Mims set a season-high in receptions (two) and receiving yards (18), whereas rookie working again Audric Estime set profession highs in carries (5) and speeding yards (29).
Table Notes
- Snaps embrace performs known as again as a consequence of penalties, together with offensive holding or defensive cross interference. The different three stats have these performs eliminated.
- Targets might differ from official NFL sources. The most definitely discrepancy can be from a transparent thrown-away cross, the place the NFL might give the goal to the closest receiver, whereas this knowledge won’t.
- Carries are solely on designed performs. Quarterback scrambles gained’t depend for the whole variety of carries within the recreation.