Williams picked a great time to have a good game in Week 7 at New Orleans when he scored 26.1 PPR points, and now Fantasy managers can trust him heading into Week 8 against the Panthers. Carolina is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and 11 running backs have scored at least 12.1 PPR points against the Panthers this season. I like Williams as a borderline starter in all leagues, and Jaleel McLaughlin can be used as a flex given this matchup.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Pair of touchdowns in win
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Williams rushed 14 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns while bringing in all three targets for 23 yards in the Broncos' 33-10 win over the Saints on Thursday night.
Williams put together a season-best effort in the lopsided win, recording his first two touchdowns of the campaign on eight- and five-yard rushes in the second and third quarters, respectively. His rushing yardage total was also a season high, and he extended his streak of games with multiple receptions to six. After a nightmarish start to the season that saw Williams net 52 rushing yards on 24 carries over the first three games, the fourth-year back has bounced back to average 5.1 yards per carry over the subsequent four contests. Williams will have a golden opportunity to extend his productive stretch of play when the Broncos host the Panthers in a Week 8 matchup on Sunday, Oct. 27.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Rough day on nine touches
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Williams rushed six times for 23 yards while losing one fumble and caught three of six targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 23-16 defeat to the Chargers.
Williams not only struggled to produce from a fantasy standpoint, he also coughed up Denver's only fumble in a one-score loss. The 24-year-old has been underwhelming as the Broncos' starter through six games this season, averaging 3.6 yards per carry with no trips to the end zone. Williams doesn't inspire confidence as a fantasy play heading into Thursday's matchup against a stingy Saints defense.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Start
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Williams just had his best game of the season in Week 5 against Las Vegas with 111 total yards, which included five catches for 50 yards on six targets. That's now three games this season with at least four receptions, and he has consecutive outings with at least 18 total touches. The Chargers run defense has been tough, but they have struggled with pass-catching running backs. Three running backs in four games have caught at least four passes, and all three (Alexander Mattison, Chuba Hubbard and Najee Harris) scored at least 11.6 PPR points. I like Williams as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in Week 6.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Excellent as pass catcher
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Williams rushed the ball 13 times for 61 yards in Sunday's 34-18 win over the Raiders. He added five receptions on six targets for 50 yards.
Williams' longest gain on the ground went for 17 yards, but he gained at least four yards on seven of his 13 carries to turn in an efficient performance. He's shown flashes as a pass catcher in recent weeks, and that also continued Sunday as he ripped off long gains of 26 and 13 yards as a receiver. After a slow start to the campaign, Williams has at least 18 touches in three of five games, with this marking his first time surpassing 100 yards from scrimmage.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Big second half in road win
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Williams ran for 77 yards on 16 carries against the Jets on Sunday, adding two receptions for three yards on three targets.
It was mostly an encouraging game for Williams, though after running for just 21 yards in the first half it could have been markedly less productive if the game script had gone slightly differently. The Broncos' defense was unexpectedly effective, repeatedly buying the offense more time to lean on the run game and slowly wear down the Jets' run defense. The Jets spent a lot of time on the field, and by the second half, the run defense had begun to wilt, allowing both Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin (nine carries for 46 yards) to break loose as the game went on. If the Broncos' defense continues to thrive it, could allow Denver to lean on the run game similarly in upcoming weeks, supporting the notion Williams might see a sizeable workload against Las Vegas in Week 5.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams will be tough to trust heading into Week 4 at the Jets. He just had another down game in Week 3 at Tampa Bay with 41 total yards, and he scored 6.1 PPR points, which is the second time this season he's been under 7.0 PPR points in a game. He's yet to score a touchdown, and he continues to share touches with Jaleel McLaughlin and potentially Tyler Badie as well. The Jets are No. 8 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and it's tough to even use Williams as a flex in most leagues.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams could benefit if Tampa Bay run stuffer Vita Vea (knee) is out this week, and that's a huge injury to monitor. But even if Vea can't play, it will be hard to trust Williams as anything more than a flex option. He was better in Week 2 against the Steelers (11.5 PPR points) than he was in Week 1 at the Seahawks (3.3 PPR points), and his role in the passing game against Pittsburgh returned with five catches for 48 yards on five targets. But he has 19 carries for 40 yards on the season, and this Denver offense looks awful through two weeks. Almost everyone for the Broncos is worth sitting in the majority of leagues in Week 3.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Effective as pass catcher
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Williams rushed the ball 11 times for 17 yards in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Steelers. He added five receptions on five targets for 48 yards.
Williams operated as the clear lead back for Denver, but he found no room to run against the stout Steelers defense. He made up for that as a dump-off target for Bo Nix, with the highlights of his day coming on 14 and 13-yard receptions in the fourth quarter. Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin should both have substantial roles out of the backfield moving forward, though the offense's lack of effectiveness is likely to prevent big performances from either in the short term.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Week 1 was bad for Williams, and I hope it's not a sign of things to come. He had eight carries for 23 yards and one catch for no yards on two targets at Seattle, and he was outplayed by Jaleel McLaughlin, who had more carries (10) and total touches (15). After a positive training camp and preseason, Williams looked poised for a quality campaign, but it started in horrific fashion. And it won't get any easier in Week 2 against Pittsburgh. At best, Williams is just a flex in the majority of leagues, and McLaughlin is also a risky flex play against the Steelers.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Garners nine touches in loss
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Williams rushed eight times for 23 yards and caught one of two targets for no gain in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Seahawks.
Williams was out-touched by fellow running back Jaleel McLaughlin (15 touches for 24 yards) as neither back stood out against last year's 31st-ranked rushing defense. Williams should remain a significant part of the Broncos' backfield committee as the team hunts for its first victory against the Steelers next Sunday.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Start
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Williams has excelled in training camp and the preseason, and he should do well in this matchup with the Seahawks to be at least a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He'll lead Denver in carries and potentially catches, and last year Seattle was No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. I like Jaleel McLaughlin as a sleeper this week also, but Sean Payton will likely lean on Williams to take pressure off rookie starter Bo Nix in his first NFL start.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Receiving TD called back Sunday
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Williams rushed three times for 17 yards and caught his only target for 15 yards in Sunday's 27-2 preseason win over the Packers.
Williams also had a would-be 14-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive wiped out by an illegal forward pass penalty on rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Denver's offense has moved the ball well with Nix under center in the preseason, which bodes well for Williams' outlook heading into the regular season. Williams has started the Broncos' first two preseason games, but it remains to be seen if the starting running back will get any usage in next Sunday's preseason finale against the Cardinals.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Five touches in preseason opener
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Williams rushed four times for 15 yards and caught one of his two targets for five yards in Sunday's 34-30 preseason win over the Colts.
Williams played just nine snaps as the starter in the Broncos' first preseason game. The veteran running back was unable to get much going with such little playing time, but his limited usage in the opener should hint at his secure spot atop the depth chart ahead of Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime. Williams continues to receive high praise from the Denver coaching staff while his surgically repaired knee could be stronger than it was in a disappointing 2023 season. The 24-year-old also lost weight this offseason in an attempt to improve his conditioning, which could help him to get back to the form of his impressive rookie season.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Suiting up in preseason opener
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Williams is warming up to play with the first-team offense in Denver's preseason opener versus Indianapolis on Sunday, Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post reports.
The Broncos are set to play most of their starters Sunday, though Williams is unlikely to see the field for more than a series or two. The running back is poised to lead Denver's backfield in 2024 after tallying 774 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 217 attempts along with 228 yards and two more scores on 47 catches across 16 regular-season contests last year. Williams reportedly lost weight in the offseason in an effort to improve his conditioning.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Looks sharp at practice
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Head coach Sean Payton noted that Williams " looked real sharp" at practice Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Payton added that Williams has lost some weight since last season, and Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com relays that the running back currently checks in at around 220 or 221 pounds. Per Troy Renck of Denver 7 News, Williams sought to trim down this offseason based on feedback from Payton, and the 2021 second-round pick's apparent improvements in conditioning can only help him maintain his perch atop a Broncos backfield depth chart that also includes Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Finds end zone
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Williams rushed nine times for 32 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Raiders. He also caught seven of nine targets for 43 yards.
Williams found the end zone from two yards out during the fourth quarter. That play marked his fifth total touchdown of the campaign, and Williams finished with 217 rushes for 774 yards on the ground and 47 grabs on 58 targets for 228 yards through the air in 16 games. With the Broncos seemingly set to acquire a new starting quarterback this offseason, the team also has a decision to make on Williams, whose current contract expires after next season.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: RBs to Sit
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Williams has scored 10.9 PPR points or less in six of his past seven games, including just 8.8 PPR points in Week 17 against the Chargers. He's shared playing time with Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine more in the past two games than he has since Week 6, and this isn't an easy matchup. In Week 1 against Las Vegas, Williams had 13 carries for 52 yards and four catches for 5 yards on six targets. Since Antonio Pierce took over as interim head coach, Breece Hall (10.5 PPR points), Raheem Mostert (10.3 PPR points) and Austin Ekeler (7.8 PPR points) have struggled against the Raiders, and Williams should be used as just a flex option at best in the majority of leagues for Week 18.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Struggles with 18 touches
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Williams rushed 15 times for 41 yards and caught all three of his targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 16-9 win over the Chargers.
Williams' struggles continued after he finished with a per-carry average below three yards for the third game running. Unlike last week against the Patriots, the tailback was unable to offset his poor rushing production with a trip to the end zone. Jaleel McLaughlin (8-44-0) finished as the Broncos' leading rusher and continues to outproduce Williams both on the ground and also as a backfield receiver. The latter should still produce double-digit touches against the Raiders in Week 18, but he has done little in recent weeks to inspire confidence in fantasy managers or DFS players.
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Broncos' Javonte Williams: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Look, the matchup is not the problem -- the Bolts have let up 12-plus PPR points to a running back in all but four games this year. But with the newfound uncertainty in the Broncos offense, I'm not sure Williams is best positioned to be the one to benefit. Williams scored last week, but he also fumbled and had his second straight game with under 15 touches and under 30 total yards. The big games for Williams have been few and far between, and last week's snap distribution between Williams, Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin was closer than it's ever been. And then there's Jarrett Stidham taking over -- he's more of a downfield thrower than a check-downer, which could cost Williams some valuable targets. He makes me nervous to the point where I'm OK starting Ty Chandler, Zamir White (assuming Josh Jacobs is out), Ezekiel Elliott and Najee Harris over Williams.
