Denver

Broncos

The Broncos’ two-time-defending Pro Bowl cornerback is on track to return in Week 8 after missing Week 7 with a concussion. He should be good to go as long as he remains symptom-free. The Broncos take on a Panthers’ offense now led by Bryce Young this week.

Fresh off his first NFL touchdown, Franklin posted new season highs in catches, yards and targets. This, on an evening where Courtland Sutton was not targeted. We wouldn’t read too much into that Sutton fact, but coach Sean Payton is clearly trying to get fourth-rounder Franklin more involved in the offense following his slow start. There is such limited upside in this run-first attack with a shaky rookie quarterback, but you could see Franklin coming into WR5 relevance in deeper leagues. The Panthers are a plus Week 8 matchup.

The five carries doubled the fifth-round rookie’s previous season total, but his fourth quarter fumble could be the only thing coach Sean Payton remembers. Trying to put the game away, Estime instead gave the Saints a lifeline when he let the ball get ripped out. Estime carries were a point of emphasis when he was in the game, as PFF charted him as getting the rock on 5-of-6 snaps. Good, but almost certainly outweighed by the bad of the giveaway looking ahead to Week 8 against the Panthers.

Once again a distant No. 2 behind Javonte Williams, McLaughlin did remain ahead of Audric Estime. That should remain the case for at least Week 8 against the Panthers after the rookie lost a fumble this evening. Held to nine scoreless touches over the past two weeks, McLaughlin isn’t looking like much of a hold in 12-team re-draft leagues since even a Williams injury would probably just result in a committee.

The doughnut was not only Sutton’s first of the season, it was the first time he drew fewer than four looks. With the game never really competitive, Bo Nix seemed more focused on attempting to develop a connection with fellow rookie Troy Franklin. As usual, the Broncos’ offense badly bogged down in the red zone. You would think they might have looked Sutton’s way there, but we digress. Sutton is going to produce WR4 statlines more weeks than not, but the ceiling potential is so limited in this offense that he’s not really someone you want to be jamming into your lineup on a weekly basis. That being said, the Panthers are an A+ Week 8 matchup.

The scoreless start was Nix’s first in four weeks, but the 75 yards rushing were a new career high and give him 136 over the past two games. He is averaging 8.5 yards per carry in the process. That was the highlight. The lowlight was Nix missing multiple wide-open receivers in the first half, including several down the field. He missed Lucas Krull for what probably would have been a 41-yard touchdown on the Broncos’ opening drive. No matter, as the Saints and Spencer Rattler were so, so much worse. Nix’s limited supporting cast has been a huge hurdle to him gaining true dual-threat QB2 status, but he seems like he’s building toward a potential fantasy eruption. Maybe it will come in Week 8 against the Panthers’ bottom-barrel defense.

Coming off an awful day against the Chargers, Williams rebounded with just the second two-touchdown game of his career, and first since 2021. His 111 yards from scrimmage matched his season high from two weeks ago against the Raiders. Perhaps most promisingly for Williams? Rookie Audric Estime lost a soft fumble this evening and seems unlikely to challenge Williams’ early-down supremacy any time soon. Williams is severely game-script sensitive in this limited offense, but the Panthers are a cake Week 8 matchup that should get him into the top 24.

It would appear it’s never been more over for the 2022 third-rounder in fantasy. Coach Sean Payton prefers Lucas Krull for his 46-man game-day roster. Joining Dulcich on the shelf are CB Patrick Surtain, QB Zach Wilson, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, OT Alex Palczewski, EDGE Dondrea Tillman and EDGE Eyioma Uwazurike.

This one comes as a bit of a surprise for a team with as many concerns as the Broncos have a running back. Despite his UDFA status, Watson is a talented rookie who made the Broncos 53-man roster out of training camp. The former Memphis product amassed more than 3,200 yards on the ground in his five-year college career, and added another 113-928-6 through the air. Watson would make for an intriguing signing for several teams in need of help at the position. If he clears waivers, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him revert to the Broncos’ practice squad.

McGlinchey is returning from an MCL sprain he suffered in Week 2. The veteran lineman started two games this season, earning a PFF blocking grade of 64.3 while allowing one sack on five pressures. He’ll resume his role along the right side of the line against a Saints defense that allowed 51 points to the Buccaneers just four days ago.