Denver Broncos Fantasy Football Primer: The Quarterbacks |

Everyone who plays fantasy football craves the title of league champion. That’s true whether it’s a cash prize or simply a success with friends, family, or co-workers.

The Denver Broncos has a bunch of players who can lead anyone’s path to success, but this article focuses on the location of the quarterback.

Numbers in 2020

According to Fantasypros.com, Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock ended the 2020 fantasy season ranked 19th and 23rd and neither player came in for the 2020 season, which was predicted to be among the top 20 for fantasy defenders.

Bridgewater was a more consistent fantasy option, although to say it was really a fantasy property would be an exaggeration. In his last 15 seasons, he managed to move to the 20+ points range five times, but was never able to cover 30+ points.
He also ended the season with very dim numbers, sending just 9.6 and 5.7 points in his last two matches.

Lock had equally volatile fantasy numbers last year, ranked below Carson Wentz and slightly above Daniel Jones. In 13 starts, Lock scored 20+ points four times and exceeded 30+ points once in week 9 compared to the Atlanta Falcons. Lock also scored -1.2 points when forced to leave the match against the Pittsburgh Steelers with an early injury.

While Lock’s predictions didn’t have him in the sketchable range, there were some who believed he was a strong sleeper candidate with a break-out season. The article was even written “In Defense of Drew Lock” on the site dynastynerds.com, which defends the extremely profoundly horrific throughout 2020 by referring to numerous statistics and the impact of COVID-19 on his development.

What to expect in 2021

ESPN’s 2021 fantasy rating does not include Bridgewater or Lock in its top 25 potential list, below players such as Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, Tua Tagovailo and Justin Fields.

This can be due to many reasons, but most of all it is Lock and Bridgewater are currently fighting for a start-up In Denver. Realistically, it is difficult for fantasy gurus to reflect the prospects of a particular quarterback when they are not sure if they are playing meaningful games. So far, through OTA, competition is still neck and neck
but as the training camp wanders along this, it is worth following.

Not only is the uncertainty about who can win a defender’s job in Denver, there are rumors a new challenger could come into the building.

Aaron Rodgers has been frustrated with the Green Bay Packers, and there are several rumors he has clear ties to the Denver Broncos. When a player of that caliber has the potential to be on the move, the guys he can replace will seriously fall into the predicted productivity.

In addition, neither quarterback has given experts and analysts a good enough tape or elite performances on the field to fasten their necks and take them a chance. Even if you take Lock and Bridgewater’s best games from the fantasy season of 2020, they’re still struggling to boost elites like Rodgers, Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson, who always compete to dominate the fantasy.

So far, the argument about listing either Lock or Bridgewater is not very good. With so many strangers in this unknown place, it’s hard to gain the trust of either guy. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be considered.

Teddy’s case

As noted above, Bridgewater was in the top 20 fantasy players last season, and his leading guns were DJ Moore, Robby Anderson and Curtis Samuel. Not a bad trio of assault weapons, but Carolina didn’t offer nearly the same depth and potential as this offensive list for the Denver Broncos.

After returning to Courtland Sutton, another year of experience for Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, Expected appearance of Noah Fant and Tim Patrick’s flat game, Bridgewater’s Arsenal should have a bunch of deadly weapons. All of this should allow him to succeed on the field.

It doesn’t even bring equation veteran Melvin Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams, both of which are adequate if not very good passport interceptors. If he can’t prove to be a fantasy asset surrounded by all these abilities, he struggles to do it anywhere.

Bridgewater was also missing from his most impressive player last year for most of the season at Christian McCaffrey. In the PPR leagues, McCaffrey led all finalists during the 2019 season with 471.2 points, and it wasn’t even close. Aaron Jones came in second with 314.8 points, a total of 156.4 points less than him. One can see why you have injured McCaffrey may have derailed Bridgewater’s productivity to some degree, even though backup engineer Mike Davis was a highly qualified add-on.

Bridgewater is also adapting to the new system with players he has never played before. Even a skilled veterinarian will take the time to build a connection with their teammates and learn a new system, so Bridgewater coming out of the gate can be expected to start slowly.

Drew’s case

Lock had a chance to lead the Broncos last season, and he didn’t pay much attention. The team finished with a record of 5-11 and left the playoffs again for the fifth straight season, resulting in many losing faith in him and their ability to make the leap.

The argument for time lost during COVID-19 can be made by referring to the development of Lock’s overall game. As a young quarterback, the league has one of the most pressured jobs in professional sports, and the more opportunities to learn and create a routine, the more comfortable they can get into the role.

Just as offensive weapons benefit Bridgewater, they should also benefit Lock.

Before Sutton was injured last season in week 2, he and Lock seemed to develop confidence and chemistry. Now they have to get this back on track, but if possible, a Pro Bowl level receiver can give Lock a new level of threat he just didn’t have last season. Repetitions of young recipients Hamler, Jeudy, and Fant should also bear fruit.

Thanks to the elite defense expected in Denver in 2021, Lock should get a lot of chances to get the ball in a good field position. This was often not the case last year. The Broncos had the worst -16 turnover difference in the league, largely due to Lock putting its defenses in the wrong places, but Denver also didn’t backfire.

Healthy sophomores Kyle Fuller and Patrick Surtain II should reinforce an already talented team and a healthy Von Miller will be able to produce much more pressure than they did last year without him, giving Lock more chances to score and
keep the games competitive.

Judgment

Bridgewater and Lock both have something to give, but they have not shown that they are worth the capital. Even if someone sets themselves up as a Week 1 starter, it is likely that they can be added to a vacant office.

If anyone wants to justify taking both guys, Bridgewater is stable, but probably won’t give a stellar performance that Lock could give that high-octane 1-week pearl. However, Lock is just as likely to register a single-digit scoring week. Start one of them at your own risk.

Fantasy football is a bit like meteorology, people predict results based on the data provided, but with one change of wind it can become useless. Because of the list around them, each of these guys could be a sleeper and stop stealing. But the probability that you are either your fantasy football player is thin for anyone.

The only note – the elite to get a fantasy football QB at the Broncos – is Rodgers. If somehow George Paton produces a miracle and Rodgers finds his way to Mile High City, don’t hesitate to put him at the top of the quarterback and consider taking him early. He can take this Denver Broncos game series and any fantasy team to at least the playoffs and give anyone a real shot when they win everything.