2021 Dynasty/Fantasy Preseason Wk1 Game Analysis: Broncos 33, Vikings 6
This was an old-fashioned beatdown. Granted, the Broncos ran with more first teamers and Minnesota was playing future-to-be-cut guys, but when Denver started dipping down into their depth chart – they still dominated Minnesota. The Broncos are clearly deeper than the Vikings.
What would happen if their 1st-teams were facing each other, I don’t know – but I know the Broncos are much deeper in talent than the Vikings. It was beyond obvious here.
Dynasty/Fantasy Player Notes…
-- One of the big two stories of the game for me: Javonte Williams (5-29-0).
You could tell in an instant that he is exponentially better than Najee Harris…as a talent. It’s not even comparable. Whether Najee has a hundred touches a game and is better for FF – that’s another debate. In actual on-field NFL talent…it’s Javonte hands down. The Javonte Pro Day measurables should just be thrown out the window.
The Steelers are destroying themselves with horrific personnel decisions…while the Broncos are stocking the shelves full and then some…and Javonte v. Najee is going to be an obvious example of the direction of Denver vs. Pittsburgh, personnel-wise, as we go through the season.
While analysts and fans endlessly debate Lance v. Jimmy G. or Dalton v. Fields, and cry and wail about just going with the rookie talent – there should be all of one second of debate on the Denver backfield…the Broncos need to move Melvin Gordon out of the way and just roll with Javonte. Javonte is already better now than Gordon has ever been in his NFL or college existence.
And I wouldn’t rule out the Broncos moving Gordon. If Mike Boone hadn’t gotten hurt, I think they probably would ditch Gordon pre-September 53-man roster. With Boone out, it’s a ‘maybe’ by Sept. 1st.
I don’t know when Javonte takes over the Denver backfield, but it’s going to happen and it’s going to be spectacular.
-- I’m over-the-moon on Javonte Williams…I was from the first time I watched him, and then I had to take his grade down when his Pro Day was so disappointing, but I’m going back with my eyes over metrics here. So excited for him…and that’s a great O-Line to work behind too. If I knew Javonte was starting Week 1, with Gordon gone – he’s a top 10-12 redraft RB for me…that’s how excited I am.
But that’s one of 2 big pieces of news for me from this game. The second is a shocker, for me…and that is: I don’t know who the starting QB of the Denver Broncos is going to be Week 1.
I thought for sure, all offseason, with all the bravado, that Teddy Bridgewater (7-8 for 74 yards, 1 TD/0 INT) was traded for in order to game manage this decently talented team to the playoffs.
But then Drew Lock (5-7 for 151 yards, 2 TDs/0 INT) started this game and was terrific. Teddy was very good too, but just judging them based on this contest – it was Lock with the win. Now, I know Lock played with the first team and Teddy did not, and Lock was facing an already bad defense’s 2nd-team defense…so it can be a bit warped on what we saw here, but I leave this game thinking – Lock isn’t laying down for anyone here.
Like a political toss-up state in an election…I’m moving this one to ‘too close to call’. The good news for Denver is – they have options.
I have more notes on this QB competition, but they deserve special treatment…in a Subscriber Extra Note session. You’ll see that published within 24 hours of this overall game note release publishing.
-- The QBs were so good for Denver, and the MIN defense so weak…it also led to the Denver WRs looking amazing.
I don’t like Jerry Jeudy (1-33-0/3) at all, but he made a catch and run play in this game that even made me be a fan, for a moment. Don’t worry, Jeudy looked terrible in short space earlier in the game…not able to defeat a 3rd-string CB in the end zone on an easy route he should’ve burned the guy with. If Jeudy is wide open, so that he doesn’t hear footsteps, and actually secures the ball…he’s good.
K.J. Hamler (2-105-1/2) looked energized and confident…and effective. Again, the Vikings played like they had other things more important to do besides play football at this hour.
The real breakthrough performance for the Denver WRs was from 2nd-year WR Trinity Benson (4-36-2/4), who has been blowing up camp and who looked like the best WR in this game. He’s going to be a #4-5 WR in 2021 and return man. Benson has athleticism but he also is showing a real knack for routes and catching in his 2nd-year. Loved what I saw here. Very impressed.
-- As exciting as the Broncos WR report was…the same cannot be said for Minnesota’s depressing non-starters.
Now, K.J. Osborn (2-15-0/2) is good, and will be the #3 WR…as I’ve been pushing for all year. But the #3 WR for the Vikings has always been a ghost town, so nothing exciting for FF.
Osborn will definitely start over fraud-rookie WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (2-12-0/6)…who gaffed a few throws and otherwise looked overwhelmed, like you’d expect from a so-so rookie. People were thinking they had the next/instant Stefon Diggs here…they don’t.
-- You know who did play really well here…Minnesota UDFA rookie RB A.J. Rose (25-100-0, 1-18-0/2), a shock performance against a good 2nd-team and worse defense. That dude has some hope. He likely won’t find it with Minnesota in 2021, but he has future hope somewhere. He’s on my radar now. Good speed, good instincts, tough. But I need to see it against better competition to get a better feel…but this effort was solid.
-- Rose is a better rookie for Minnesota than Kellen Mond (6-16 for 53 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 5-25-0). If Kirk Cousins gets hurt and the team has to go to Mond…it’s over.
-- Caden Sterns (6 tackles, 1 PD) is proving to be that rookie talent I warned of going back two years now. In his right mind – he’s the best all-around safety from this draft. A Pro Bowl level safety…who can tackle and cover with the best of them.
And, yes…to the person who asked about did I see Sterns’s hit in the end zone. Yes, I did…and it was worth the watch: https://youtu.be/q46o_OtKchU
-- Minnesota had a rookie defender to mention – DE Patrick Jones (3 tackles, 1 TFL) did look like his college output (which was terrific) not his weak Pro Day metrics. Jones is looking like a great draft pick steal by the Vikings, but I want to see him against 1st-team blockers to get more excited.
