Fantasy Scouting Report: Denver Broncos

The Mile High Report always has the goods on the Broncos.

QB Kyle Orton – Orton has been hampered by a finger injury he sustained in the Pre-Season but has been fighting through it. While 87-yard miracle-tip plays are exciting, I wouldn’t bet my fantasy success on the. That said, Orton faces a Browns defense that might be vulnerable to all the weapons at his disposal. He had his stitches removed on Monday, though he will likely wear a protective glove once again. Given the opponent, Orton might be a solid fantasy option, especially if your other option at QB has a tough week ahead.

RB Knowshon Moreno – It is obvious the Broncos want Knowshon to be ‘the guy’. They won’t force it, however, and Broncos OC Mike McCoy went so far as to say the team goes into each game with a specific plan on how to use their running backs each week. That was apparent in Cincinnati last Sunday where each of the Broncos backs seemed to get touches(Moreno, Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan). Peyton Hillis might get some more looks this Sunday as well. As it stands, until a hot hand emerges in Denver, the running backs are NOT a good play in fantasy.

WR Brandon Marshall - Could this be the week Brandon Marshall breaks out? It just might be, for a couple reasons. First, Marshall is eager to start putting up some number in order to get that big contract he is seeking. Last Sunday, Marshall led the team in catches(4) and drops(3). I attribute that to a bit of rust coming off hip-surgery in the off-season. The Browns don't have the DBs to stick with Marshall, and Kyle Orton has already shown he is looking for Marshall. Could be a sneaky play for teams with question marks at WR.

WR Eddie Royal - I don’t like Royal this week. Not because I don’t think Royal is a solid fantasy receiver, far from it. The problem is Rob Ryan, the Browns DC. Ya see, Ryan was the DC in Oakland last year. In Royal’s first game as a Pro, on Monday Night Football, he lit up the Raiders for 9 catches and 100+ yards. When asked about it this week, Ryan proclaimed he wouldn’t get “Royal’d” again. The Browns are going to focus on Royal and may force the Broncos to go elsewhere. See Brandon Marshall.

TE Tony Scheffler – If Marshall doesn’t see a lot of action, and Eddie Royal is taken out of the game by the defense, then Scheffler could see a lot of balls come his way. He is a deep threat down the middle as a Tight End and generally a good play but it could be feast or famine from a fantasy standpoint. Again, not a bad play if you have few options.

Broncos Defense – The surprise of Week 1 had to be the play of Mike Nolan’s defense. Holding Carson Palmer and Co. scoreless for over 59 minutes is quite an accomplishment, especially for a squad that was so bad in 2008. This unit is faster, more aggressive, and hell-bent on getting to the QB. That could mean sacks(Brady Quinn was sacked 5 times last week), fumbles, and perhaps interceptions. Like many of the Broncos early in the season, the Broncos D could be an interesting one week play for owners looking for a solid matchup.

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