After a couple week hiatus I’m back with Fantasy Friday. Football has resumed and Bronco Country is abuzz in regards to the potential of this team. On offense thus far they have looked as sharp as ever. On Defense, this has the looks of a team that can get after the QB and feast on turnovers. Both sides of the ball are getting to know a few new faces, but more importantly a few new weapons.
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Offensively, the Fantasy world knows what they have with Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker. Everyonethinks they know who Julius Thomas is, but they are in for a rude surprise. Early indications out of camp have singled out Julius Thomas as the most improved player on the roster. We are talking about the same player that finished this past season with close to 800 yards receiving and 12 TDs, numbers he put up while missing close to 3 games. If these indications are true, then the league better watch out, for Thomas may enjoy a Jimmy Grahamesque breakout season if he remains healthy. In 2012, Graham finished the season with 982 yards and 9 TDs which were great numbers for a fantasy TE. He made those numbers look miniscule breaking out for 1215 yards and 16 TDs this past season. If Orange Julius so much as sniffs a season similar to the one Graham put up last year, then your fantasy opponents better proceed with caution.
The other offensive players creating buzz are a pair of new toys for “The Sheriff” to use, Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer. During the first day of camp, Sanders had a single drop, garnering a grade described as “worse than an F” from Emmanuel himself. Aside from Sanders harsh criticism, he has been the player the Broncos missed last year; a guy who can run all the routes and a bonafide deep threat. On the other hand, Latimer has seen a grand total of 1 snap with Peyton Manning under center, nothing to mail home about. You can mail home about the 60 yard bomb Latimer caught on that play for a TD.
SideLion Report
Defensively we may be looking at the same team that was a top D/ST scorer in 2012. Through the first 2 days, the Denver D has made plenty of big plays, often at the expense of all world, record setting, future hall of fame QB Brock Osweiler… Ooops typo, Osweiler is a future all world, record setting, future hall of fame QB, but he has been very solid the first 2 days of camp. I’m talking about Peyton Manning. I know it’s a shocker but the defense has been making huge plays at the expense of of Manning during the early portions of camp. This is nothing to be worried about in regards to Manning, he’s gonna be just fine, but it means everything for a defense that was picked apart for the better part of 2013.
Fantasy Owners are in for a treat in 2014 with a Bronco roster that is stacked and although it is early to hand out any trophies, it’s safe to assume that the team may have a few new faces that will have big impacts in the fantasy realm.