6 years agoFinishing 13th with 117 fantasy points (ESPN standard scoring), the Denver Broncos once vaunted defense/special teams unit returned to Earth in 2017 after a multi-year reign of fantasy dominance. Denver's DST averaged 6.5 fantasy points per game when accumulating two or fewer sacks last season, but nine when sacking the opposing signal caller three or more times. Von Miller still sits among the league's elite pass rushers, Shane Ray has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy and fifth overall pick Bradley Chubb is an early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, so you can expect to see their pedestrian sack total of 33 (11th fewest) rise in 2018. "Our defense is built to rush the passer," Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said following the Broncos third preseason game against Washington, and they'll look to springboard into 2018 with a fast start against Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who was sacked more times than all but three quarterbacks in '17. Wilson is also coming off back-to-back, career highs in interceptions (11), will be playing in the altitude at Mile High for the first time in his career and will have to go at one of the league's best secondaries with a less-than-100% Doug Baldwin, no Jimmy Graham and no Paul Richardson. Plug the Broncos DST in with confidence this week.--Leonard Francis II
Source: Jeff Legwold