Can Denver's receivers offer anything more than Courtland Sutton?

Coming off a disastrous 2022 that saw the Denver Broncos fire their head coach after less than a full season on the job, the team hoped luring Sean Payton out of retirement to take over the reins would turn things around. It did not. A year after finishing 21st in total offense, Denver slipped to 26th overall (298.4 yards per game) and 24th in passing (191.9).

That marked the end of quarterback Russell Wilson‘s time in the Mile High City. He was released and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The club also moved on from former first-round pick wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns. Additions were made as well, including QB Bo Nix, selected 12th overall selection back in April, along with WRs Josh Reynolds, signed from the Detroit Lions in free agency, and Troy Franklin, who played with Nix at Oregon the past two seasons.

While this absolutely feels like a rebuilding year in Denver, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any fantasy value to be found in the Broncos’ receiver room.

Courtland Sutton

Despite rumors aplenty that Sutton would join Jeudy on the way out of town, the team held onto the veteran and even bumped his pay with a restructure in July. Whether he’s worth it is up for debate. Entering his age-29 campaign, Sutton has averaged 60.3 receptions and 792 yards in three seasons since tearing his ACL in the first game of 2020 — those numbers are a far cry from the 72-1,112-6 line he put up in 2019, when it looked like he was on his way to being a legitimate No. 1 receiver.

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While Sutton has never recaptured his pre-injury form, he did make notable strides in one important department last year: touchdowns. After scoring a combined 14 times in his first 65 career games, he notched 10 TDs in his first season under Payton. With Jeudy gone, he’s easily the most established option on the outside, and the front office’s decision to pony up extra money to keep him happy tells you Sutton factors heavily into their plans for the near future.

Marvin Mims

Although Mims did little as a rookie (22-377-1 in 16 games), there are reasons to remain bullish on his future in Denver. An undersized target at 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, Mims has the requisite speed and elusiveness to make plays from the slot. Plus, don’t forget that the Broncos traded up to draft Mims at the end of Round 2 last year. That gives him the distinction of being the first selection under the current regime, so Payton likes his potential. The team has indicated they’ll be counting on Mims to do more with Jeudy gone, and he should be afforded every opportunity to do so.

Josh Reynolds

Reynolds spent last season as the No. 3 option in Detroit’s passing game, racking up 40 receptions, 608 yards, and five touchdowns in that tertiary role. He’s a capable veteran who gives Payton a reliable option to deploy if the younger receivers need time to develop. During his seven NFL campaigns, however, Reynolds has never caught more than 52 passes or topped 620 yards in a season, and he has just 19 TDs on 220 career receptions. He can help an offense but is not a needle mover.

Tim Patrick and Troy Franklin

A fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, Franklin has the speed to make an immediate impact, and his familiarity with Nix, who should ascend to QB1 sooner than later this season, is another plus. Whether he can leapfrog Mims or Reynolds to get consistent snaps remains to be seen.

Patrick also is back after missing the last two seasons entirely due to injury — in 2022, he tore his ACL, and then last year he ruptured his Achilles. Patrick had posted back-to-back 700-plus-yard efforts before his injuries, but it’s unclear how much the former undrafted free agent has left at 30.

Fantasy football outlook

There are a lot of questions surrounding Denver’s passing game, starting with who is going to be lining up under center — perhaps QB Jarrett Stidham early on and then Nix — and then continuing as you go down the depth chart.

Mims and Franklin are talented but unproven, Reynolds and Patrick are low-ceiling veterans. None of them are worth drafting, though Mims could be a deep flier.

Even Sutton, who is coming off double-digit touchdowns and is the clear top guy, rates as a borderline WR3/WR4 option with modest upside.