Courtland Sutton quiet on five targets in loss

Nix during his postgame presser defended offensive play caller Davis Webb, who took over for head coach Sean Payton this offseason. “The players did not make it easy on [Webb] today,” said Nix, who completed 17-of-28 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Monday night’s loss to Kansas City. “Pretty pitiful, actually.” Denver had the league’s second lowest drop back EPA of Week 1; only the Falcons were worse. Nix, meanwhile, ranked 28th out of 32 qualifying QBs in Week 1 accuracy. “We called exactly what we prepared for and what we wanted to get to and we just didn’t execute,” Nix said. “Then we were behind.” Webb and the Broncos will look to bounce back in Week 2 against a tough Jaguars defense.

Sutton did not practice at all over the past two days. He participated in a walkthrough and individual drills today, but sat out team drills. Broncos coach Sean Payton says he is not dealing with an injury, and Sutton said the protocol was set in place due to the fatigue that set in late last year. It sounds like this really is all part of a management plan for the 30-year-old veteran. He warrants FLEX treatment, entering his new role as the Broncos’ WR2.

“I don’t think that we have any individuals or personalities in our offense that are saying, ‘Hey, I need this, I need that,’” Sutton told The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider. “I think we have a bunch of guys that are willing to put their pride aside and say, ‘What do I need to do for this team to be successful?’” Kosmider guesses that the Broncos won’t have two 1,000-yard receivers this year as they spread the ball around. Sutton is coming off the board around the WR35 mark, surrounded by rookies and other players with real usage or injury questions. This is a great quote for Broncos fans, but fantasy managers would probably prefer a squeakier wheel from Sutton. He may fade into the WR4 picture if the Broncos decide to feature new additional Jaylen Waddle.

Broncos OC Davis Webb will add elements to Denver’s offense this season. Last year, the Broncos attempted the sixth-fewest (51) passes thrown 10-plus yards downfield and between the painted numbers. For reference, the league-leading Lions attempted 102 passes in this area of the field. Evans did not provide an average target depth in today’s report, but we are pleased to hear Webb is focusing on the middle of the field, regardless. Passes thrown in this area give the pass catcher more room to work, both before and after the catch, which helps them score fantasy points. Even a moderate increase in targets thrown to this area of the field would be great for QB Bo Nix and his pass catchers, like WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Courtland Sutton.

Astute readers might notice that Evans did not put the Broncos’ longtime WR1, Courtland Sutton, on that list. The cost to acquire Waddle from the Dolphins was not cheap, so anointing Waddle as the WR1 makes sense. The former Dolphin spent his career in Miami playing sidekick to WR Tyreek Hill, so it was fair to wonder if he might be slated for a WR2 role in Denver as well. If anything, this could be a 1A/1B situation, with Waddle operating as the 1A. Regardless, Sutton appears unbothered by Waddle’s presence, saying the Broncos’ offense is comprised of “guys that are willing to put their pride aside,” and celebrated the importance of selflessness. Waddle profiles as a WR2 while Sutton is perhaps best viewed in the WR3/FLEX tier.

The Dolphins had spent the past month halfheartedly denying Waddle was available via trade during the team’s tear-down rebuild. The Broncos had to part with premium draft picks to acquire Waddle in a move that boosts the otherwise ordinary Denver receiving room. Waddle, who frequently struggled with injuries, has just 122 receptions for 1,654 yards over the past two seasons in a run-first Miami offense. The trade leaves Tutu Atwell as the Dolphins’ top wideout for now. Last year Waddle, 27, averaged 56.9 receiving yards per game, leading the Dolphins with a 41 percent air yards share and a 22 percent target share. In Denver he’ll join an offense that last year ranked fourth in pass attempts and 11th in passing yards. While Waddle could emerge as the team’s de facto No. 1 wideout, Courtland Sutton could retain that role thanks to his chemistry with Bo Nix.

Sutton found the end zone for a six-yard score in the first quarter, which was the only points the Broncos could muster in Sunday’s defeat. The veteran receiver turned in another solid season for the Broncos in 2025, leading the team with 74-1,017-7 on a team-high 124 targets. Sutton surpassed 60 yards in 10 of the 17 games he appeared in. Sutton has now missed just one regular-season game since 2023 and has enjoyed back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons under Sean Payton. He remains under contract with the Broncos through 2029 and will be 30 at the start of next season. He’ll be primed for another strong season in 2026, much to the delight of both the Broncos and fantasy managers.

Sutton was matched up against the Bills’ top cornerback, Christian Benford, for much of the day and was held in check for most of it. He did make a few key catches near the end of the fourth quarter and could shoulder a heavy burden next week with both Pat Bryant (concussion) and Troy Franklin (hamstring) banged up. However, with Jarett Stidham at quarterback, it’s hard to get overly excited about Sutton next week.

Sutton simply ran cardio in this one. The Broncos’ No. 1 wide receiver led the receiving corps with 46 offensive snaps, yet earned just two targets. His lone reception occurred with roughly six minutes left in the third quarter. To Sutton’s credit, he successfully forced a missed tackle after QB Bo Nix dumped off to him on 3rd-and-8. Unfortunately, Sutton was unable to pick up the first down. He goes on bye next week with the Broncos having secured the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

Sutton easily led the Broncos in targets, earning a 26 percent target share in total. While an eight-point floor in PPR formats is nice, he could have put a gift under the tree for fantasy managers with a score at the end of the first half. Bo Nix hit him right in the hands on an in-breaking route in the end zone. Sutton initially corralled the pass, but a hard hit from Chiefs safety Bryan Cook jarred the ball loose. It wasn’t Sutton’s only drop of the night, though it was his most costly. Sutton is still the clear No. 1 receiver for Denver and should be able to put the drops behind him next week. With a bye week on the line versus the Chargers in Week 18, Sutton will remain in the WR2 ranks.