Denver Broncos: Top performers against the Washington Redskins

Emmanuel Sanders, WR

If you need an early favorite in the clubhouse to lead the team in targets this season, it’s got to be Emmanuel Sanders.

While Sanders doesn’t have the same hot tub rapport going with Case Keenum as tight end Jeff Heuerman does, it’s clear over the past two weeks as the first-team offense has gotten its most extensive work that Sanders is a player Keenum has great confidence in.

Sanders has been lighting it up in practice, which should come as no surprise. Prior to his ankle injury last year, he was one of the most consistently productive weapons for the Broncos at receiver despite the team’s issues at quarterback.

In the game against the Redskins, Sanders was heavily featured in the passing game, and then on an end-around play which he took to the house after a beautiful block on the perimeter by Andy Janovich.

Sanders’ playmaking ability didn’t leave him after his 30th birthday or after his bad ankle injury last year.

He’s a stud, and the Broncos are now working him from the slot, where his speed and quickness are almost unstoppable.

There were two plays in this game that would have been back breakers for the Redskins (outside of the touchdown) if this were a regular season game.

The first one was a 3rd-and-15 conversion by Sanders over the middle of the field where he made the conversion look pretty easy.

Another was on a diving catch deep down the left sideline where Keenum put the ball in the perfect spot, and the safety wasn’t able to hit Sanders to try and dislodge the ball because of the NFL’s new rules.