Broncos' Javonte Williams: Surprise leader in targets Thursday
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Williams rushed four times for 24 yards and brought in seven of 11 targets for 29 yards in the Broncos' 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
In a game in which fellow RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quadriceps) was sidelined, Williams saw rookie Audric Estime outpace him carries by five overall, but the former was the surprise leader in targets for the Broncos on the night. The surprising amount of attention Williams commanded from Bo Nix as a receiver led to the 2021 second-rounder tying the second-highest single-game catch total of his career. However, Williams has now logged single-digit carries in six consecutive games, leaving his value primarily to PPR formats despite a favorable Week 17 road matchup against the Bengals on Saturday, Dec. 28.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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The positive for Williams is Jaleel McLaughlin (quadriceps) is out for Thursday's game at the Chargers. The negative is Williams will still share touches with Audric Estime, and this isn't an easy matchup. The Chargers are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and they have allowed just five total touchdowns to running backs all season. Williams had six carries for 23 yards and three catches for 13 yards on six targets in Week 6 against the Chargers, and it's tough to trust Williams at this point in the season, even with McLaughlin not playing.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Modest numbers in platoon role
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Williams rushed six times for 15 yards and caught two of three targets for eight yards in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Colts.
Williams continued his late-season slump, which has seen him exceed 25 total yards only once in his last five games. Jaleel McLaughlin led Denver's running backs with seven carries for 21 yards prior to exiting due to a quadriceps injury, and quarterback Bo Nix finished as the team's leading rusher with eight rushing attempts for 23 yards. There could be more opportunities available for Williams if McLaughlin's unable to suit up against the Chargers on Thursday, though rookie Audric Estime could also see more touches.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Finds end zone on limited touches
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Williams rushed four times for one yard and a touchdown while catching one of two targets for three yards in Monday's 41-32 win over the Browns
Javonte played 30 of the Broncos' 66 offensive snaps Monday, ahead of both Jaleel McLaughlin (24) and Audric Estime (8). Despite seeing the most playing time of the group, Williams saw fewer touches than McLaughlin, who finished the game with 14 carries for 84 yards. A complete disaster was avoided when the 24-year-old Williams was able to score his fourth touchdown of the season on a two-yard run in the first quarter. It appears head coach Sean Payton is committed to using a hot-hand approach with Denver's backfield, so fantasy managers may want to avoid the entire situation down the stretch. The Broncos will host the Colts on Dec. 15 following their Week 14 bye.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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You're better off avoiding the Denver backfield until someone emerges as a featured option, and that's not likely to happen any time soon. Sean Payton seems to enjoy his running back carousel, and a different running back has seen a spike in playing time in each of the past three games with Williams, Audric Estime, and Jaleel McLaughlin. Williams has been the most consistent of the trio, but he scored 2.7 PPR points or less in two of his past three games. The Browns are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Williams will likely only be useful if he scores a touchdown, which has happened just three times all season.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Sleeper RBs
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I'm not sure what Sean Payton will do with Williams and Audric Estime in Week 12 against the Raiders, but both have sleeper appeal. I like Williams as a No. 2 running back in all leagues, with Estime more of a flex. Williams was great in Week 11 against Atlanta, with nine carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 28 yards on five targets. And he had 13 carries for 61 yards and five catches for 50 yards on six targets in Week 5 against the Raiders. Las Vegas is No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and a running back has scored at least 13.3 PPR points against the Raiders in every game this season.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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We'll see what the Broncos decide to do with Williams, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin in Week 11 against the Falcons, but Williams is tough to trust after what happened in Week 10 at Kansas City. He had one carry for 1 yard and caught two passes for 6 yards on two targets. Estime took over as the lead rusher with 14 carries for 53 yards, and Sean Payton seems intent on leaning on the rookie moving forward. That could leave Williams as the main pass catcher out of the backfield, but it makes him tough to trust in the majority of leagues. At best, Williams can be a flex option in Week 11.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: One carry in loss
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Williams rushed once for one yard and caught both of his targets for six yards in Sunday's 16-14 loss to the Chiefs.
Williams had an extremely quiet Sunday against Kansas City, as the fourth-year running back took a clear back seat to rookie Audric Estime as a rusher. While Williams carried the ball only one time and played just 17 of the Broncos' 58 offensive snaps, Estime was relied upon heavily with 14 carries in the contest across his 26 snaps. It appears head coach Sean Payton's recent remarks about Estime taking on a bigger workload were more than just coach speak, so if he continues to pace the backfield in opportunities, Williams' days as a consistent fantasy contributor are likely in jeopardy. The 24-year-old will have his next opportunity to bounce back when the Broncos host the Falcons in Week 11.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams actually did better than expected in Week 9 at Baltimore with 12 carries for 42 yards and two catches for 42 yards on three targets, and he scored 10.4 PPR points. But he might regress in this matchup since the Chiefs are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Jordan Mason's 58 rushing yards and 69 total yards in Week 7 are the most yards Kansas City has yielded to a running back this season, and only three running backs have scored touchdowns against the Chiefs. Sean Payton said Audric Estime could start getting more work for the Broncos, and that's also a potential problem for Williams. At best, consider Williams just a flex option in most leagues for Week 10.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Productive on reduced volume
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Williams carried the ball 12 times for 42 yards and caught two of three targets for 42 yards in Sunday's 41-10 loss to the Ravens.
It was only the second time in the last six games that Williams failed to get at least 17 touches, but the fourth-year RB salvaged his day with a 34-yard reception that accounted for the longest gain of the contest for the Broncos. Williams has reached 80 scrimmage yards in four of those last six games, but he could have a hard time getting there in Week 10 against a stingy Kansas City run defense.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams blew his chance for a big game in Week 8 against Carolina when he had 17 carries for 44 yards and four catches for 8 yards on five targets. That was one of the best matchups he'll have all season, and he scored just 9.2 PPR points. Williams has only scored a touchdown in one game this season, and I wonder if Sean Payton will start giving more work to Jaleel McLaughlin or even Audric Estime soon. For Week 9, Williams is just a flex option at best at Baltimore. The Ravens are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to running backs, and it's hard to trust Williams in a tough matchup when he flopped in an easy one.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Quiet in Sunday's win
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Williams carried the ball 17 times for 44 yards and caught four of five targets for eight yards in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Panthers.
While the 21 touches were a season high, it still was a disappointing showing for Williams against a Carolina defense that has been very generous on the ground this year. Jaleel McLaughlin wound up leading Denver with 47 yards on only eight totes, and he added a receiving TD as well, suggesting Williams' grip on the top job in the backfield may not be as secure as it seemed. Both backs will face a tough matchup Week 9 against the Ravens.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Rough day on nine touches
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Williams rushed six times for 23 yards while losing one fumble and caught three of six targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 23-16 defeat to the Chargers.
Williams not only struggled to produce from a fantasy standpoint, he also coughed up Denver's only fumble in a one-score loss. The 24-year-old has been underwhelming as the Broncos' starter through six games this season, averaging 3.6 yards per carry with no trips to the end zone. Williams doesn't inspire confidence as a fantasy play heading into Thursday's matchup against a stingy Saints defense.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Excellent as pass catcher
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Williams rushed the ball 13 times for 61 yards in Sunday's 34-18 win over the Raiders. He added five receptions on six targets for 50 yards.
Williams' longest gain on the ground went for 17 yards, but he gained at least four yards on seven of his 13 carries to turn in an efficient performance. He's shown flashes as a pass catcher in recent weeks, and that also continued Sunday as he ripped off long gains of 26 and 13 yards as a receiver. After a slow start to the campaign, Williams has at least 18 touches in three of five games, with this marking his first time surpassing 100 yards from scrimmage.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams could benefit if Tampa Bay run stuffer Vita Vea (knee) is out this week, and that's a huge injury to monitor. But even if Vea can't play, it will be hard to trust Williams as anything more than a flex option. He was better in Week 2 against the Steelers (11.5 PPR points) than he was in Week 1 at the Seahawks (3.3 PPR points), and his role in the passing game against Pittsburgh returned with five catches for 48 yards on five targets. But he has 19 carries for 40 yards on the season, and this Denver offense looks awful through two weeks. Almost everyone for the Broncos is worth sitting in the majority of leagues in Week 3.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Garners nine touches in loss
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Williams rushed eight times for 23 yards and caught one of two targets for no gain in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Seahawks.
Williams was out-touched by fellow running back Jaleel McLaughlin (15 touches for 24 yards) as neither back stood out against last year's 31st-ranked rushing defense. Williams should remain a significant part of the Broncos' backfield committee as the team hunts for its first victory against the Steelers next Sunday.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Receiving TD called back Sunday
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Williams rushed three times for 17 yards and caught his only target for 15 yards in Sunday's 27-2 preseason win over the Packers.
Williams also had a would-be 14-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive wiped out by an illegal forward pass penalty on rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Denver's offense has moved the ball well with Nix under center in the preseason, which bodes well for Williams' outlook heading into the regular season. Williams has started the Broncos' first two preseason games, but it remains to be seen if the starting running back will get any usage in next Sunday's preseason finale against the Cardinals.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Five touches in preseason opener
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Williams rushed four times for 15 yards and caught one of his two targets for five yards in Sunday's 34-30 preseason win over the Colts.
Williams played just nine snaps as the starter in the Broncos' first preseason game. The veteran running back was unable to get much going with such little playing time, but his limited usage in the opener should hint at his secure spot atop the depth chart ahead of Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. Williams continues to receive high praise from the Denver coaching staff while his surgically repaired knee could be stronger than it was in a disappointing 2023 season. The 24-year-old also lost weight this offseason in an attempt to improve his conditioning, which could help him to get back to the form of his impressive rookie season.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Suiting up in preseason opener
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Williams is warming up to play with the first-team offense in Denver's preseason opener versus Indianapolis on Sunday, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
The Broncos are set to play most of their starters Sunday, though Williams is unlikely to see the field for more than a series or two. The running back is poised to lead Denver's backfield in 2024 after tallying 774 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 217 attempts along with 228 yards and two more scores on 47 catches across 16 regular-season contests last year. Williams reportedly lost weight in the offseason in an effort to improve his conditioning.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Looks sharp at practice
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Head coach Sean Payton noted that Williams " looked real sharp" at practice Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Payton added that Williams has lost some weight since last season, and Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com relays that the running back currently checks in at around 220 or 221 pounds. Per Troy Renck of Denver 7 News, Williams sought to trim down this offseason based on feedback from Payton, and the 2021 second-round pick's apparent improvements in conditioning can only help him maintain his perch atop a Broncos backfield depth chart that also includes Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime.
