ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- If you want to get a Denver Broncos wide receiver to furrow his brow, shake his head or maybe, in Demaryius Thomas’ case, just chuckle, relay the prevailing wisdom in and around the league that the team’s receivers won’t be as involved in the offense in the post-Peyton Manning makeover.
In short, the Broncos' receivers don’t agree and probably for good reason since Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has vowed “we’re going to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers and those guys are playmakers.’’
Demaryius Thomas
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 85.6 catches, 1,109.5 yards, 6.3 TDs
Over or under: Take the over on yards and touchdowns. Health is a bit of a question at times. While Thomas is tough player who hasn’t missed a game in the past four seasons, he gets banged around quite a bit and sometimes sports the aches and pains because of it. Last season it was a neck injury he suffered in a Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings that bothered him for much of the season. Thomas has looked extraordinarily fit in training camp and has been a matchup problem even for the Broncos’ secondary in practice and that group boasts three Pro Bowl players.
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 76.3 catches, 1,060.3 yards, 4.3 TDs
Over or under: History says, at least in Kubiak’s time as a playcaller with the Broncos – as an assistant on Mike Shanahan’s staff and now as the head coach – the Broncos will have two 1,000-yard pass-catchers if the offense is in the gear he wants it to be, even if the team is among the league’s rushing leaders. So, take the over on yards and touchdowns for Sanders because the Broncos will throw to matchups and with Thomas poised for big things, it is Thomas who will get the doubled and Sanders should work primarily in one-on-one situations.
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 14.6 catches, 165.9 yards, 1.1 TDs
Over or under: Just slightly over. When Fowler recovers from a fracture near his right elbow, he is slated to be ready at, or near, the start of the regular season. And while the Broncos will go with more two-back and two-tight end looks this season, Fowler is the solid No. 3 and has been the guy who has worked out of the slot the most in practice when the Broncos do go three wide. He also has been the first off the bench on the outside when Thomas or Sanders has needed some rest. So, he’ll get some targets because the Broncos are willing to put him in the game at key times.
Who else could see time: The targets will likely be starter-centric, but Cody Latimer will get some snaps, especially since he has been more active in contested-pass situations in practice and seems to have a better handle on the offense. Anybody else will likely be primarily a returner who gets only a handful of snaps on offense with players like Jordan Norwood and rookie Kalif Raymond in that mix. Jordan Taylor could also make the roster if the Broncos choose to keep six players at the position.
