Broncos' Javonte Williams: Bounces back with 87 yards, TD
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Williams rushed nine times for 59 yards and a touchdown while catching four of five targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 38-6 win over the Falcons.
After getting out-touched 14-3 by Audric Estime in the Week 10 loss to Kansas City, Williams reclaimed the lead role in Denver's backfield, though Estime still stayed involved with 25 scrimmage yards on nine touches. Williams got off to a slow start this season, but he has found his groove in recent weeks, with 80-plus scrimmage yards in five of the last eight games. He'll have a nice opportunity to keep rolling in Week 12 against the 2-8 Raiders.
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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: RBs to Start
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Williams picked a great time to have a good game in Week 7 at New Orleans when he scored 26.1 PPR points, and now Fantasy managers can trust him heading into Week 8 against the Panthers. Carolina is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and 11 running backs have scored at least 12.1 PPR points against the Panthers this season. I like Williams as a borderline starter in all leagues, and Jaleel McLaughlin can be used as a flex given this matchup.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Pair of touchdowns in win
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Williams rushed 14 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns while bringing in all three targets for 23 yards in the Broncos' 33-10 win over the Saints on Thursday night.
Williams put together a season-best effort in the lopsided win, recording his first two touchdowns of the campaign on eight- and five-yard rushes in the second and third quarters, respectively. His rushing yardage total was also a season high, and he extended his streak of games with multiple receptions to six. After a nightmarish start to the season that saw Williams net 52 rushing yards on 24 carries over the first three games, the fourth-year back has bounced back to average 5.1 yards per carry over the subsequent four contests. Williams will have a golden opportunity to extend his productive stretch of play when the Broncos host the Panthers in a Week 8 matchup on Sunday, Oct. 27.
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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: Big second half in road win
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Williams ran for 77 yards on 16 carries against the Jets on Sunday, adding two receptions for three yards on three targets.
It was mostly an encouraging game for Williams, though after running for just 21 yards in the first half it could have been markedly less productive if the game script had gone slightly differently. The Broncos' defense was unexpectedly effective, repeatedly buying the offense more time to lean on the run game and slowly wear down the Jets' run defense. The Jets spent a lot of time on the field, and by the second half, the run defense had begun to wilt, allowing both Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin (nine carries for 46 yards) to break loose as the game went on. If the Broncos' defense continues to thrive it, could allow Denver to lean on the run game similarly in upcoming weeks, supporting the notion Williams might see a sizeable workload against Las Vegas in Week 5.
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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: RBs to Start
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Williams has excelled in training camp and the preseason, and he should do well in this matchup with the Seahawks to be at least a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He'll lead Denver in carries and potentially catches, and last year Seattle was No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. I like Jaleel McLaughlin as a sleeper this week also, but Sean Payton will likely lean on Williams to take pressure off rookie starter Bo Nix in his first NFL start.
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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.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Finds end zone
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Williams rushed nine times for 32 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Raiders. He also caught seven of nine targets for 43 yards.
Williams found the end zone from two yards out during the fourth quarter. That play marked his fifth total touchdown of the campaign, and Williams finished with 217 rushes for 774 yards on the ground and 47 grabs on 58 targets for 228 yards through the air in 16 games. With the Broncos seemingly set to acquire a new starting quarterback this offseason, the team also has a decision to make on Williams, whose current contract expires after next season.
