Denver Broncos: Looking ahead for the stellar 2018 rookie class

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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 25: Royce Freeman #28 of the Denver Broncos attempts to elude Anthony Chickillo #56 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Royce Freeman, RB

If not for the emergence of Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman probably would have been a much bigger story for the Broncos as a rookie.

Because of how good Lindsay ended up being, Freeman’s touches were a bit limited even though he won the starting running back job out of training camp and looked phenomenal in that role.

He finished with 521 yards and five touchdowns on 130 carries and also added 14 receptions for the Broncos in his rookie season out of Oregon.

Freeman runs with great power and balance and is much quicker than his size would indicate. Even though some may be writing him off as just a backup now with Lindsay’s emergence, I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Freeman yet and I believe he’s going to be a major asset for the Broncos moving into the future.

He didn’t generate as much hype as Lindsay because he didn’t have the same type of insane production, but Freeman would have been a 1,000-yard back if the Broncos had featured him all year, I have no doubt about it.

He averaged 10 touches per game this past season, a number I think he will easily top in 2019.

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