Denver Broncos: Winners and losers from Week 1 loss to Titans

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Melvin Gordon III #25 of the Denver Broncos catches a ball one-handed as he warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on September 14, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Melvin Gordon III #25 of the Denver Broncos catches a ball one-handed as he warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on September 14, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
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Denver Broncos, Noah Fant
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 14: Noah Fant #87 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after a first quarter touchdown reception against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on September 14, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Biggest winner: Noah Fant

Tight end Noah Fant was great in this game. The tight end position is one that often takes some time to mature into, but Fant is starting to look like he could be as good as projected when the team took him in the first round of last year’s draft.

Fant was targeted six times in this game and caught five of those passes, gaining 81 yards through the air and scoring the team’s first touchdown of the season. He was able to gain separation from the defense often and with the ball in his hands, he is much quicker than your average tight end.

There is certainly plenty to build upon with this guy and if Week 1 was any indication of how this year will go, Fant could post huge numbers by the time all is said and done.

Though Drew Lock has been given plenty of new options on offense, it is clear that he has a high level of trust in Fant. The Broncos have not seen this kind of big-play potential at tight end since Shannon Sharpe was here (yes, that includes Julius Thomas) and that is some very high praise.

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