Denver Broncos: How might targets be divided among playmakers?

The Denver Broncos have a new offense, playmakers ready to step into prominent roles and only one ball to go around. How might targets be distributed?

The 2019 Denver Broncos aren’t going to be breaking the records set by their 2013 group in points scored in all likelihood. They also probably won’t have five different skill players with 10 or more touchdowns.

Those were the days…

With a new offensive coordinator in Rich Scangarello, an offense predicated on having a successful running game, and a bunch of skill players on the rise, how will the Broncos distribute targets in 2019 if everyone is healthy?

Based on Joe Flacco’s 2014 season in the Gary Kubiak offense (when he attempted 554 passes) here’s how I think we could see targets distributed for the Broncos in the passing game in 2019.

Emmanuel Sanders: 110

Emmanuel Sanders, if healthy, should still be taking up most of the targets for the Broncos’ offense. He’s still an elite playmaker in his early 30s and could be Flacco’s most trusted target in this offense.

Courtland Sutton: 100

Sutton had 84 targets last year, so a bump to 100 doesn’t seem substantial but it will when Sutton greatly improves on his 50 percent catch rate. I expect him to catch at least 65 balls in 2019.

DaeSean Hamilton: 80

Hamilton’s role with the Broncos should also be substantially increased. He was targeted just 45 times. 80 targets is five targets per game on average and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Hamilton have one of the highest catch rates in the NFL this season.

Noah Fant: 60

The Broncos’ rookie tight end should lead the team at his position in targets. Why else would you draft him in round one? Giving him 60 targets seems about right, especially since he will do a ton of work in the red zone and on third downs. But he’s the third or fourth option in this offense at this point, no question.

Jake Butt: 50

This might be on the high end to estimate for Butt, but I do think the Broncos will use a lot of “12” personnel and I think Butt is going to see a lot of work in the passing game. This might be a bold prediction but we’ll see. I think he could easily have 35-40 catches this season.

Phillip Lindsay: 35

How can you get through this season without giving Lindsay at least two targets per game in the passing attack? He had 47 targets last year but there are more weapons to help him out this year.

Tim Patrick: 35

This could be on the high-end for a WR4 in this offense, but Patrick has special talent and even if he only catches 50 percent, he could go for a big play per game and a touchdown every three or four.

Jeff Heuerman: 20

I think Heuerman’s targets will dip in 2019 but he will still play a significant role as a blocker. His presence on the field gives him a chance for targets.

Andy Janovich: 20

Someone, please make sure Janovich gets at least one target per game.

Misc: 40

This is where it gets tough. Where do guys like Devontae Booker (51 targets last year) and Royce Freeman (20  targets last year) fit in? The 550 projection was an arbitrary number based on the fact that I think the Broncos will emphasize the running game quite a bit, but you could easily add 50 more targets to this.

Case Keenum threw 586 passes last year, so perhaps 550 is on the low end.

Obviously, the Broncos will find targets for those two players as well as hopefully guys like Troy Fumagalli and rookie receiver Juwann Winfree.