Ranking the Top Denver Broncos Fantasy Weapons for Week 3

Sep 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) hands off to running back Montee Ball (28) in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Colts 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos are supposed to be the cream of the crop when it comes to fantasy football. Through two weeks, they’ve been very good, but not necessarily the most elite performers. This comes against two so-so defenses in the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs, too, which could have many fantasy owners a tad concerned as they head into Seattle for a Super Bowl rematch with the Seahawks.

That game didn’t go so well. Peyton Manning and co. didn’t score until late in the second half and wound up getting trounced, 43-8. Part of it was Denver being a little soft, and a lot of it was just the Seahawks seemingly knowing exactly what the Broncos were going to do.

Regardless of the actual reasoning, Denver seemed a step slow on every play early on, and it led to a huge hole and inevitably a horrible loss. People say teams aren’t out to exact revenge for a title game loss like that. This is the regular season and winning this game doesn’t make up for losing that game. No, it doesn’t, but it’d surely help.

No one can be sure if the Broncos will come into Seattle and whip the ‘Hawks around like their divisional foes, the San Diego Chargers, did just a week ago. We know it’s at least possible, as we just saw it happen and by all accounts, Denver is a much better team than San Diego.

But the Broncos winning the game isn’t what’s at stake here for fantasy football league managers, anyways. With pure stats and production in mind, let’s rank the top Denver Broncos fantasy football weapons for Week 3 and see who has the best shot at paying off despite the brutal matchup”

(1)  Peyton Manning (QB)

You can’t sit Manning. It’s that simple. And if anyone is going to put up numbers against Seattle, it’ll be him. After all, he put up over 300 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Even if the Seahawks dominate the Broncos again, Manning will have to throw the entire second half and will get some kind of production. And on the off-chance he just destroys them like Philip Rivers did last week, well, you win there, too.

(2)  Montee Ball (RB)

Ball was hyped up pretty good before the year, but so far he’s done very little to show he’s some elite fantasy back we all should have scrambled to get on our team. Not only is he not putting up elite numbers (one touchdown), but he has just 127 rushing yards at a 3.6 yard per carry clip through two weeks. His matchups haven’t been world-beater defenses, either.

Obviously he doesn’t walk into a road game with the Seahawks as an elite option, but given that this Denver offense can move the ball and get into scoring territory, we have to give him a shot at pounding in a touchdown in this one. When very little else is certain with this matchup, he’s the most stable weapon beyond Manning.

(3)  Julius Thomas (TE)

Thomas is an athletic freak and a major mismatch for anyone at the tight end position. But why does he come in at the three spot ahead of Demaryius Thomas? Because of Antonio Gates. Seattle had major problems covering a 34-year old tight end last week and gave up three red-zone scores to him. Thomas is much more explosive, so we have to give him a shot at coming out on top in his second meeting with the Seahawks.

(4)  Demaryius Thomas (WR)

Next is DT, who is easily the most explosive athlete in Denver and the offense’s best pure talent. He was their top performer in the Super Bowl, too, although most of his damage came late when the game was no longer in question. He’s been relatively quiet so far this year and it’s not exactly likely he comes out and has his best game against the ‘Hawks, but he should at least be targeted quite a bit. PPR fantasy owners needn’t worry about his role or value whatsoever, but standard leaguers know they always have a shot thanks to his big play ability.

(5)  Wes Welker (WR)

Welker makes his return this week after the league’s new drug policy wiped away the rest of his four-game ban. He hasn’t played yet this year, and there’s an argument that his absence has kept the Broncos from being all that they can be. Now finally at true full strength, it’s not crazy to think Denver could come out, guns-a-blazing in this one. Even if they don’t, they could target Welker early and often to exploit any mismatches and also get their tiny slot machine up to speed.

(6)  Broncos (DEF/ST)

Denver’s defense was an arguable weakness for at least half the year in 2013, and short of a pretty stout run defense, they didn’t do a whole lot in the playoffs, either. Things have changed on paper, though, as DeMarcus Ware provides the threat of an enhanced pass rush and Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward have teamed up to give Denver more bite in the secondary. It’s worked to a degree so far, as Ware has 1.5 sacks through two games and the Broncos haven’t allowed more than 24 points in any contest so far. Seattle isn’t exactly the most potent, high-flying offense in the world, so there’s a chance this revamped Broncos defense could be a solid play this week.

(7)  Emmanuel Sanders (WR)

Last, but certainly not least, is Emmanuel Sanders. He’s already proven to be a fantastic and successful replacement for the departed Eric Decker, as he’s racked up nearly 190 yards on 14 receptions through the season’s first two games. Welker’s return makes his role and production a little more questionable, but in that same breath could truly open up things more than we’d ever imagined. Seattle took away a far less explosive Decker in the Super Bowl last year and Denver went out and got Sanders and rookie Cody Latimer to help stretch the field. With those two guys, Demaryius and Julius Thomas are no longer the only elite athletes in the Broncos’ offense, and it could be a major problem for Seattle to deal with. Fantasy owners will hope so, at least.