• Audric Estime leads the Denver Broncos in dashing: Jaleel McLaughlin’s harm left extra alternatives for Estime, however the Broncos nonetheless utilized a three-man rotation.
• Gus Edwards scores twice for the Los Angeles Chargers: Edwards helped the Chargers keep within the recreation, and a 43-yard run late within the fourth quarter helped the Chargers safe a victory.
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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 important info you must obtain fantasy success in 2024.
Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers
- Gus Edwards: 11 carries, 28 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 reception, 3 receiving yards
- Ladd McConkey: 6 receptions, 87 receiving yards
Broncos keep on with committee with out Jaleel McLaughlin: The second-year working again was inactive as a result of a quad harm.
The Broncos have used three halfbacks on offense in all 15 video games this season. Early within the season, it was typically just for just a few snaps, however beginning in Week 7, Audric Estime typically performed between 5 and 10 snaps. With McLaughlin out, Estime acquired a slight enhance in snaps, however he cut up these backup snaps with Blake Watson.
The undrafted rookie out of Memphis began coaching camp as sixth on the depth chart, however the Broncos launched Samaje Perine, and Tyler Badie suffered a season-ending harm early within the season. McLaughlin’s harm pushed him as much as third.
Estime made his first profession NFL begin, however on the primary drive, it was clear that Javonte Williams was nonetheless the primary working again. Watson got here in six performs into the primary drive, which is sooner than Estime would often become involved when the highest three backs had been wholesome.
Whereas Williams led the group in snaps and was efficient as a rusher, Estime led the group in carries. Williams, however, led the group when it comes to targets. Even when McLaughlin misses one other recreation, will probably be arduous to belief any of the working backs subsequent week in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a median matchup, however there’s a respectable sufficient probability that both Williams or Estime could lead on the group in touches.
The Broncos backfield might be one of the crucial talked about backfields this offseason, as there’s a respectable probability they add a participant who could possibly be the starter.
Marvin Mims Jr. steps up: The Broncos’ second-year receiver performed a season-high in offensive snaps.
Early within the season, it was shocking that Mims was a transparent fifth on the depth chart. That seemed to be true no matter which 4 extensive receivers had been forward of him, because the group let go of Tim Patrick or others had been injured, and rookies would merely overtake him on the depth chart.
Mims taking part in time has slowly however absolutely trended up all season to the purpose the place he’s rotated with Troy Franklin in three-receiver units. After being held to twenty yards or much less in every of the primary 10 video games, Mims gained not less than 40 receiving yards in three of his earlier 4 video games and scored two touchdowns.
This week, he performed considerably extra snaps, taking part in forward of Franklin as a rule. This meant he was one of many three foremost receivers in three-receiver units. Mims caught a 53-yard go, which introduced the Broncos near scoring and likewise had a catch the place he was introduced down on the one-yard line. He ended up main the group in receiving yards.
The Broncos will possible have Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, Mims and Franklin on the roster subsequent season. Given Sean Payton’s historical past of rotating extensive receivers, this group will possible be irritating for fantasy managers not less than via 2025.
Hayden Hurst returns to a small position: Hurst was activated off injured reserve earlier within the day.
Hurst had final performed in Week 10, lacking the final 5 video games as a result of a hip harm. Hurst had began the season because the Chargers’ major receiving tight finish, however he suffered an harm in Week 6. In that point, Will Dissly took over as the first receiving tight finish. Hurst returned to a really restricted position in Week 9.
Dissly suffered a shoulder harm in Week 14 that’s stored him out the final two weeks, which has given Stone Smartt time to step up. Smartt continued to be the first receiving tight finish on this recreation, taking the identical snaps we anticipated out of Hurst early within the season and anticipated out of Dissly for a lot of the season. Tucker Fisk remained the blocking tight finish, a task he gained as soon as Dissly moved from blocking tight finish to receiving tight finish. This left Hurst third on the depth chart, as he was largely utilized in blocking conditions in a number of tight finish units. As the sport progressed, Hurst began working just a few go routes in Smartt’s place.
Hurst has performed for 5 completely different groups within the final six years and can possible have to make it a sixth completely different group if he needs to increase his NFL profession. Both Dissly or Smartt will possible rank as a top-20 fantasy tight finish subsequent week, however not within the top-10 for anybody determined for a decent finish throughout fantasy championship weekend.
Miscellaneous Notes
- After Kimani Vidal was the clear third-down again final week, Hassan Haskins returned to taking part in in a lot of the clear passing conditions. This left Vidal as simply the early down backup. Whereas Vidal was a waiver-wire pickup in previous weeks in case he grew to become the lead working again, he will be lower this week as a result of he isn’t somebody value beginning in Week 17.
- The Chargers positioned backup extensive receiver Jalen Reagor on injured reserve earlier within the week. He had been the Chargers’ fourth extensive receiver over the previous month since Simi Fehoko landed on injured reserve. The Chargers changed Reagor with a participant at a unique place, leaving Derius Davis and D.J. Chark as the one backups.
Desk Notes
- Snaps embody performs known as again as a result of penalties, together with offensive holding or defensive go interference. The opposite three stats have these performs eliminated.
- Targets might differ from official NFL sources. The most definitely discrepancy could be from a transparent thrown-away go, the place the NFL might give the goal to the closest receiver, whereas this information is not going to.
- Carries are solely on designed performs. Quarterback scrambles gained’t rely for the whole variety of carries within the recreation.
