Javonte Williams Expected To Play Against Bengals
3 years agoDenver Broncos rookie running back Javonte Williams (knee) will not practice on Thursday, but head coach Vic Fangio expects Williams to play this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Williams was limited in practice on Wednesday, so it looks as though the team is just resting their impressive rookie runner with a big game on tap this weekend. Melvin Gordon (thumb) is also banged up with a sprained thumb, but he, too, is expected to be active in Week 15. With Gordon out-touching Williams 24-17 in the Week 14 win over the Detroit Lions, there's no reason to believe the Broncos will stray from their evenly split backfield this weekend. The Bengals have been strong against the run this year, so running lanes might not be easy to come by, but both Gordon and Williams have low-end RB2 value for a Broncos run-first offense.
Source: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
Source: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
Javonte Williams Catches Double-Digit Passes In Week 1
2 years agoDenver Broncos running back Javonte Williams was out-carried seven to 12 by backfield mate Melvin Gordon III in Monday night's Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but Williams more than made up for it by catching a team-high 11 passes for 65 yards on 12 targets. He gained 43 yards on his seven carries, including a costly goal-line fumble at the goal line. Fantasy managers may still be frustrated by the presence of Gordon stealing touches from the 22-year-old second-year back, but quarterback Russell Wilson should still give Williams a high weekly floor as a high-end RB2/low-end RB1. Williams is an elite tackle-breaker and looked very explosive to open the season. In Week 2 against the Texans, he's an absolute must-start against a defense that nearly allowed 200 rushing yards to the Colts' Jonathan Taylor.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Javonte Williams Looking To Start Strong In Week 1
3 years agoDenver Broncos second-year running back Javonte Williams has RB1 upside in fantasy heading into his second year in the league. But that's only if the Broncos new coaching staff unleashes him as the true leader of this backfield. The problem is Melvin Gordon III remains in the picture, and head coach Nathaniel Hackett suggested this week that he could "ride the hot hand." Both RBs had 203 carries in 2021 as they split the backfield down the middle. The expectation is that Williams will see more work in 2022, but Gordon's presence makes him more of a high-end RB2 in fantasy lineups than a true RB1, starting on Monday night against a Seattle Seahawks defense that was very vulnerable to the position last year. Even though there's some doubt as to what the touch split will look like this Monday, Williams should be in all starting lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Broncos To Ride Hot Hand With Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon?
3 years agoDenver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett hinted that he may ride the hot hand between running backs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. "I've always been a true believer in you want to roll with the hot hand. One guy gets going, you want to be sure to keep feeding that person. But I think they're going to be great complements to each other," Hackett said. Most reports this offseason suggested that the new coaching staff is ready to hand the keys to Williams, a second-year back that looked more explosive than Gordon last year despite a near-even timeshare. But with other reports suggesting it will be more of a committee, it's made Williams more of an RB2 than a true RB1 in 2022. Gordon will merely be a shaky RB3/flex against the Seahawks.
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Broncos Have Big Plans For Javonte Williams
3 years agoESPN.com's Dan Graziano writes that the Denver Broncos have major plans for second-year running back Javonte Williams in 2022. The fantasy community is concerned about a repeat of last year, when Williams and Melvin Gordon III split the workload down the middle. The Broncos were ready to let Gordon leave before he returned to them late in free agency. Gordon will still likely have a role after a strong training camp, but it's expected to be a far more secondary role than he had last year as Williams takes control of this backfield. There have been a few reports suggesting that a 50/50 timeshare could once again be in the cards, which would certainly infuriate any Williams owners. Until we know for sure, he's a strong RB2 pick with clear RB1 upside in what will be an improved Denver offense under new quarterback Russell Wilson.
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano