Broncos at Raiders
Game Info
Kickoff: 9/9, 10:20 PM
Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Betting Odds: Denver -1 via Oddsshark
Network: ESPN
Sleeper Spotlight: Darren Waller
Denver Broncos
Quarterbacks
- Joe Flacco
- Drew Lock
It was going to be fun to watch the Broncos with another quarterback prospect but unfortunately, Drew Lock landed on IR with a sprained thumb. Now Joe Flacco sits atop the depth chart as the rightful quarterback of this team. It is good to see him get a fresh start and will be interesting to see if he can resurrect his career in Denver. He has already made some highlight-reel plays in the preseason, including a bomb to Emmanuel Sanders. Flacco should fit well within this run-first team and be able to punish defenses with play-action rockets. Look for him to be more of a game manager during his time in Denver.
Running Backs
- Phillip Lindsay
- Royce Freeman
After the amazing year that Phillip Lindsay had, it was hard to hear that he and Royce Freeman is headed for a timeshare. Freeman was a hype machine during the preseason last year, that quickly fizzled out once the season began. Now back healthy, he is a very good compliment to Lindsay. The two should form a dynamic duo and will both be fantasy relevant this season. Lindsay has a clear edge over Freeman in PPR however.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
- Courtland Sutton
- Emmanuel Sanders
- DaeSean Hamilton
- Noah Fant
In this low volume passing attack, it will be hard to support everyone. The likely suspects to receive work at the beginning of the year are Courtland Sutton and Emmanuel Sanders. It is honestly a miracle that Sanders is ready to play after suffering an Achilles injury last season. However, he has looked great in the preseason and should be good for full snap counts right out of the gate. DaeSean Hamilton is a very talented receiver and in a different offense, could be fantasy relevant immediately. For now, he is a stash and the same with Noah Fant. The Broncos always find ways to get their tight end involved but it will be hard for them to be consistent with it. Only take these two guys in the back ends of your draft or pick them up and stash them out of free agency.
Oakland Raiders
Quarterbacks
- Derek Carr
Derek Carr looks to rebound from his 2018 campaign and will do so with new teammates: Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams. Not to mention rookie running back, Josh Jacobs. Of course, this will be for naught if the line play doesn’t improve. Last season, the Raiders had one of the worst offensive lines in the league. If they can give Carr time, he should be able to take advantage of his new weapons. Von Miller and company will be a great first test.
Running Backs
- Josh Jacobs
- Jalen Richard
- DeAndre Washington
Early reports seem to suggest that Josh Jacobs will be getting all that he can handle in terms of workload. Gruden is known for his bell-cow approach when it comes to running backs and now he has one that can do it all. Josh Jacobs should see a ton of volume and only occasionally be spelled by Jalen Richard or DeAndre Washington. I do worry about Richard taking some of the passing work but none that hinders me from taking Jacobs as my RB2 in fantasy drafts. We will get to see him showcase his talents on Monday night.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
- Antonio Brown
- Tyrell Williams
- Darren Waller
- Hunter Renfrow
Antonio Brown has been one of the biggest spectacles of the entire offseason. From hot air balloon rides to frost burnt feet, to not liking his helmet, he has done everything except be there for his team. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the Raiders after all of the offseason antics. Tyrell Williams is a veteran who could find himself in sneaky value if this offense can find its footing. Hard Knocks darlings: Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow may indeed carve themselves a role in this passing game as well., certainly in deep PPR leagues. I am excited to see how this offense plays together in its first outing.
–Aaron Rader (@RayDur)
Featured Image by Nathan Mills (@NathanMillsPL)