In advance of Sunday’s Broncos-Jets game, Broncos Wire examines the matchup with fantasy football projections for Denver players courtesy of our colleagues at The Huddle.
Team notes
The third season for head coach Vic Fangio couldn’t start any better. The schedule makers were kind when the season opened with the Giants, Jaguars, and the Jets. Teddy Bridgewater gets the chance to be comfortable in the offense and adjust to replacing Jerry Jeudy for a while. The split backfield turns out over 100 rushing yards per game, and the Broncos haven’t even had a home game. But – the schedule turns dark starting next week when the upcoming opponents are the Ravens, Steelers, and Raiders. This week may be as good as the offense looks for the next month or more.
Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater has yet to be pressed into a comeback drive or desperation passes. In Jacksonville, he posted 328 passing yards and two touchdowns. Not only did Bridgewater throw for two scores in each game, he has yet to turn the ball over. The time is coming when he’ll face great secondaries in games where it’s up to him to move the offense. But that is not this week. Because these are the Jets. Brett Rypien was the starter when these teams met last year. He passed for 242 yards and two scores but lost three interceptions.
Teddy Bridgewater projection vs. Jets
Fantasy Points: 16.5
Passing: 250 yds, 1 TD
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Running back
While fantasy football is less enthused, the backfield split between Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams has been very effective. The rookie totals 27 carries for 109 yards, plus two catches for nine yards. That’s an indication of what he could do if he handled all the work each week. Gordon totals 132 yards on 24 rushes, which received a boost from his 70-yard touchdown run in Week 1. Gordon’s seen slightly more work as a receiver with five catches for 55 yards. This could be the final week with over 100 rushing yards for the next month. Gordon rumbled for 107 yards and two scores on 23 rushes at the Jets in 2020.
Melvin Gordon projection vs. Jets
Fantasy Points: 16
Rushing: 50 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: 2 rec, 30 yds, 0 TD
Javonte Williams projection vs. Jets
Fantasy Points: 16
Rushing: 80 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: 1 rec, 10 yds, 0 TD
Wide receivers
Courtland Sutton was limited to only one catch for 14 yards by the outstanding cornerbacks of the Giants, but he blew up for 159 yards in nine receptions against the Jaguars. Tim Patrick replaced Jerry Jeudy and scored in both weeks with only around 40 yards in each. KJ Hamler hopes to take advantage of more work while Jeudy remains out but hasn’t taken a step forward so far and only caught one pass last week. Patrick may not be in the same class as Sutton or Jeudy, but he’s a rock-solid and reliable receiver when needed. Tim Patrick (6-113, TD) and Jerry Jeudy (2-61, TD) were the only receivers of any note in this matchup.
Courtland Sutton projection vs. Jets
Fantasy Points: 19
Receiving: 5 rec, 80 yds, 1 TD
Tim Patrick projection vs. Jets
Fantasy Points: 8
Receiving: 4 rec, 40 yds
KJ Hamler projection vs. Jets
Fantasy Points: 5
Receiving: 2 rec, 30 yds
Tight ends
Noah Fant is the most targeted receiver after Courtland Sutton. He gained 62 yards on six catches in the opener and then scored a touchdown on his four receptions for 33 yards in Jacksonville. The absence of Jerry Jeudy has prompted a bit more reliance on Fant. Fant caught five passes for 35 yards in the last meeting.
Noah Fant projection vs. Jets
Fantasy Points: 11
Receiving: 5 rec, 60 yds
Match to defense
The Jets defense has been solid against the pass statistically, but they haven’t forced any team to throw more to win their games. This home opener should see the backfield with the most success, going against a defense that’s given up three rushing scores. They’ve allowed over 100 rushing yards per opponent, so both Gordon and Williams are fantasy starters for the week and should be running downhill. If the Denver secondary plays to expectations, there could be a lot of clock-killing runs in the second half to divvy up.
The Jets gave up 279 passing yards to the Panthers in their only other road game. There’s no need for Teddy Bridgewater to throw any more than he did versus the Jaguars and Giants, and likely less. He’s a moderate fantasy play in yardage and may not need to throw more than one touchdown if the running backs do their job. Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant are both fantasy considerations, but a home game versus a weaker opponent should mostly benefit the running game.
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