Denver Broncos Fantasy Mailbag: Wide receiver breakdown
By Brett Chaves
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton is coming into the 2021 season with high expectations, especially considering he is back to 100% health.
Sutton was knocked out of the 2021 season early on due to tears in his ACL and MCL. After such brutal injuries, there were questions on if Sutton could return to his original form. However, he makes a bold return to the Broncos roster after being cleared to start training camp. His reps will be managed by coaching staff, but it’s a huge step forward for Sutton.
Before his major injury last season, Sutton didn’t have a true chance to show off his full potential. On and off of the season with other injury-related issues, Sutton only saw six targets from Drew Lock, totaling for just 66 yards and 11 yards per target. His longest catch of the season was 45 yards, meaning Sutton still had the ability to get open downfield for Lock to showcase his arm.
Where Sutton really shines is with his connection with Lock. In Lock’s debut season in 2019, Sutton produced some of the best numbers of his young career. In Lock’s first game vs. the Los Angeles Chargers, Sutton put up four catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Both balls that Sutton caught in the end zone were long tosses toward the sideline.
After Lock took over in 2019, Sutton finished the season with about 150 total fantasy points in P.P.R. leagues. His highest game reeled in about 20 points and considering he was with rookie-form Lock at the time, Sutton successfully managed to impress a large number of people.
Although Sutton appears to have the primary receiver slot locked up, for now, there’s still the ever-looming threat of Jerry Jeudy right behind him.
After an impressive 2020 debut, Jeudy has the opportunity to take the number one spot away from Sutton during the 2021 season. Jeudy had the chance to grow connections with Lock and Rypien, while Sutton sat on the sidelines recovering from injury.
If Courtland Sutton wants to keep his primary job through the 2021 season, he’s going to have to prove he’s the same player he was in 2019, and maybe even better. Fantasy owners should anticipate around 12-15 points per game out of Sutton. Be careful, however, because it appears as though much of Sutton’s success comes off of the arm of Lock.