Will Javonte Williams have a big day for Broncos vs Chiefs?
The Denver Broncos will have rookie Javonte Williams featured at running back vs the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football with Melvin Gordon out.
Running back Melvin Gordon has been ruled out for the Denver Broncos matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. Rookie second-round draft pick Javonte Williams is going to get the workload against the division rival.
Williams, who the Broncos traded up five spots for in the 2021 NFL Draft, has shown flashes of great plays in 11 games this season. He’s carried the football 117 times for 568 yards and two touchdowns with a long of 27 yards.
The Chiefs have allowed 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground this season.
Williams has just one 100-yard rushing game this season. It came against the Dallas Cowboys when he ran for 111 yards on 17 carries. In Williams’ 11 games, he has run the football more than 10 times in six games, including two 14-carry games and the Cowboys game. Ultimately, the point here is that he’s not really lacking the experience despite Gordon’s presence.
I think that this is a game in which the Broncos are going to have to just take care of the football with some safe throws but also take a couple of shots down the field to try and keep the Chiefs’ offense honest.
Pat Shurmur should also put Williams in better position to catch the football from Teddy Bridgewater. Williams’ average depth of target, per Pro Football Reference, is an unfortunate -0.5. That just can’t happen, especially against a team like the Chiefs. That’s no way to win.
One plus is that the Broncos activated left tackle Garett Bolles from the COVID-19 list, allowing him to return to game action. On Friday, Bolles, Dalton Risner, and Bobby Massie were all limited participants in practice. Per Massie’s wife, the right tackle is good to go.
Williams has been a fun player to keep an eye on as a rookie in 2021 and hopefully, he gets many opportunities to help the Denver Broncos defeat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night.