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Denver Broncos to consider for fantasy football in 2019

By Sayre Bedinger

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 18: Wide receiver Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos reacts after scoring a 28-yard touchdown during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 18: Wide receiver Courtland Sutton #14 of the Denver Broncos reacts after scoring a 28-yard touchdown during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 30: Denver Broncos players celebrate with strong safety Will Parks #34 after a first quarter interception against the Los Angeles Chargers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 30: Denver Broncos players celebrate with strong safety Will Parks #34 after a first quarter interception against the Los Angeles Chargers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Defense/Special Teams

Quick history lesson for you — Vic Fangio’s defenses are historically great at taking the ball away. Here are his defenses over the last eight seasons and where they rank in terms of creating turnovers with the rest of the NFL.

2011: 38 (1st)
2012: 25 (15th)
2013: 30 (9th)
2014: 29 (5th)
2015 (Bears): 17 (28th)
2016: 11 (32nd)
2017: 22 (13th)
2018: 36 (1st)

When Fangio inherited that terrible Chicago defense, they struggled for a couple of seasons, but that 36 last season is a significant standout and Fangio’s defenses have ranked in the top 10 four times in the last eight seasons, and in the top 15 six of those seasons.

With all of the talent in Denver’s defense, the safe bet is that they will rank among the league leaders in takeaways, which is one thing you obviously prioritize in a fantasy football defense.

What else do you look for? Well, you have to look for sacks, right?

Here are Fangio’s defenses in that same timeframe and their ability to get to the QB.

2011 (49ers): 42 sacks (T-7th)
2012: 38 sacks (T-11th)
2013: 38 sacks (T-18th)
2014: 36 sacks (T-21st)
2015 (Bears): 35 sacks (T-22nd)
2016: 37 (12th)
2017: 42 (T-7th)
2018: 50 (T-3rd)

There are a couple of fun things about this list. First, it’s funny that 38 sacks ranks 11th in the NFL one season and 18th the very next. Second, even with his worst personnel (2015, Chicago) Fangio’s defense never went below 35 sacks in a season. That’s a fairly low number for recent Broncos standards but it’s not a terrible number, either.

I also think it’s amazing how Fangio was able to manufacture 42 sacks from the 2017 Bears, which didn’t have a Khalil Mack or anyone even relatively close to that stratosphere of player. Then Mack shows up, and the Bears enter the rarified 50-sack air.

Fangio’s defenses have always been good at applying pressure but these numbers (regardless of their league rank) are indicative that he knows how to consistently put pressure on the quarterback and when his personnel includes an elite rusher (Aldon Smith, 2011; Khalil Mack, 2018) his defenses take the leap from very good to great.

Is it reasonable to predict the Broncos for a 50-sack season in 2019? That’s lofty, and the last time Denver did it they won the Super Bowl (Super Bowl 50) but it’s possible with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the roster.

The Broncos also have some really great blitzing defensive backs.

Next. Broncos 2019 roster overview: Edge players. dark

It wouldn’t shock me to see the Broncos as a top 3 defensive unit in fantasy at the end of this season. They have so many guys who can create pressure and create turnovers.

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