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Denver Broncos: How KJ Hamler can break out in year two

By Sayre Bedinger

Jun 1, 2021; Englewood, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver K.J. Hamler (1) during organized team activities at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2021; Englewood, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver K.J. Hamler (1) during organized team activities at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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KJ Hamler, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos WR KJ Hamler. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Get Hamler more YAC opportunities

In his rookie season with the Denver Broncos, Hamler averaged 4.4 yards after the catch per reception.

Although that’s certainly not getting tackled immediately after you catch the ball, a baseline for him over the course of the season should be around 6-8 yards after the catch per reception.

Some of the best in the NFL right now after the catch are players like DJ Moore and AJ Brown. Even with high volumes of targets coming their way, they are averaging over six yards after the catch per reception.

Deebo Samuel was tops in the NFL last season at 12.3 YAC/reception, but he had just 33 receptions.

Mecole Hardman of the Kansas City Chiefs might be a good baseline player to look at with Hamler, and he averaged over seven YAC/reception in the 2020 season.

Hamler is not only extremely fast, but he is elusive in the open field with tremendous physicality after the catch. You wouldn’t necessarily know it just looking at Hamler, but he is a bull in the open field and is not afraid of contact. He’s also pretty good at causing missed tackles not just with his elusiveness but with lower body strength and tackle-breaking ability.

There were so many deep drops from the quarterbacks last season and so many longer developing routes for the receivers that a lot of the time if these guys were getting looks it was on deep downfield passes and with defenders waiting to really limit YAC.

The responsibility to make this happen is really going to be on Pat Shurmur’s shoulders. The Broncos have to scheme more quick passing plays as extensions of the running game and specifically to guys like Hamler so his YAC prowess can be put on display.

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