Stock Up
RB Javonte Williams
Best outing of the year so far for Williams. He had 96 total yards (82 rushing) on 18 touches. Williams continues to look stronger as he gets further and further off last year’s knee injury. And that should only continue. The only bad thing for Williams against the Packers came on the opening drive when his first rushing touchdown of the year was wiped off the board by a holding penalty.
CB Fabian Moreau
The veteran corner has been Denver’s dime defensive back most of the year, but took over a starting spot Sunday and played the whole way. Moreau had played 28 snaps in the first six weeks and then got 64 against Green Bay. He’s played 96 games in his career, started about half and looked like a veteran across from Pat Surtain II on Sunday. A new duo going forward for Denver? A trade candidate showcase? Time will tell.
WR Courtland Sutton
Denver’s veteran receiver had his best outing of the year, finishing with six catches for 76 yards and his fifth touchdown catch of the season. Sutton over his past two games has 10 catches on 12 targets for 122 and a pair of touchdowns. He’s not putting up monster numbers this year, but he’s been consistent. And his next touchdown will tie a career best for a single season. Join that with a career-best 2.3% drop rate so far, and QB Russell Wilson has a 123.5 passer rating when targeting Sutton.
C Lloyd Cushenberry
On the offense’s best rushing day of the year, we’ve got to point out at least one offensive lineman. Cushenberry’s making himself some money in a contract season. The fourth-year player has been consistent all year for Denver. If you’re not talking about the center, that’s probably a good thing. And “Cush” has happily flown under the radar up front for a Denver offensive line that’s helping generate 5.1 yards per carry.
Stock Down
CB Damarri Mathis
It’s just not been a smooth second season for Denver’s 2022 fourth-round draft pick. Mathis struggled early in the season and, though his play improved some in recent weeks, hasn’t fully gotten into a groove. He’s got traits in his speed and length. He’ll probably get more chances — though he’ll be competing with rookie Riley Moss going forward. But Sunday against Green Bay, Mathis was relegated to three defensive snaps plus special teams work and played as the Broncos’ dime defensive back.
S Kareem Jackson
Jackson’s hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave was close. He got shoulder-pad-to-shoulder-pad but also hit Musgrave’s facemask with his helmet at the same time. There are plenty of challenges to playing defense these days, and this is one of them. The offensive player is falling down, the target’s lowering, etc. It’s certainly not Jackson’s most egregious hit this year. But wasn’t a good argument with the league, which suspended him four games. The physicality Jackson plays with is a testament to his durability 14 years in, and the stubbornness in his refusal to change how he plays is old school. But if he doesn’t change he’s also going to keep hurting his own defense, warranted or not.
Red zone offense
It’s been a tough go for Russell Wilson and company in the red zone. They started the year with six touchdowns in seven trips. Since then, they’re 6 of 16. On Sunday, they got one touchdown and three field goals. That’s good enough against the Packers but not likely to cut it the next two times out, against Kansas City and at Buffalo after the bye week.
TE pass production
Well, on the bright side, Denver’s trio of tight ends not named Greg Dulcich crested the 100-yard mark … for the season. Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins each had one grab, and they combined for eight yards. That pairing and Chris Manhertz on the year now total 16 catches on 26 targets for 101 yards. They’ve done other things well. More than anything, this just underscores how much the Broncos miss Dulcich, who now is out until at least Week 12.
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