Vernon Davis' Resurrection Continues in Denver

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OWNED IN: 44% Owned in Fleaflicker

ANALYSIS: Looks like Davis is grasping Denver’s playbook! He is coming off his best game of the 2015 campaign after catching six passes for 68 yards against the Chicago Bears.  And even with fellow tight end Owen Daniels also contributing four passes for 69 yards for the Broncos, Davis was still able to have a solid game thanks to wideout Emmanuel Sanders missing the contest due to finger and ankle injuries.

Davis does not have Peyton Manning throwing to him --- and that’s a good thing!  Yes, it’s sadly true.  Manning has done no favors for his teammates’ fantasy values this season, and he has not made the tight ends around him into fantasy superstars since Dallas Clark and he had some chemistry during their time together in Indianapolis.  Right now, a healthy and young Brock Osweiler is better for Davis than an old and banged-up Manning.

Davis’ Broncos play on Sunday night against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in a battle between arguably the two top teams in the AFC.  While the Pats have allowed some touchdowns to tight ends this season, including recently to Washington’s Jordan Reed, the most yards they have allowed was when Pittsburgh’s Heath Miller had 84 yards all the way back on the opening night of the season.  So Davis having 35 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots is more likely than him having his first 100-yard-game of 2015.

Davis is not the same player he was in 2013 when he scored 13 times.  He has lost some spring in his legs, so he is not the game-breaker he used to be when he could sprint down the middle on seem patterns or jump for lofted passes on fade patterns in the end zone.  But Davis still has more left in his legs than most other tight ends available in fantasy leagues, and with a healthy quarterback throwing to him and a better understanding of his new teams’ plays, Davis can help you this week.