Fantasy preview: How will Broncos’ stars perform against Bengals?

In advance of Sunday’s Denver Broncos-Cincinnati Bengals game, Broncos Wire examines the matchup with fantasy football projections for Denver players courtesy of our colleagues at The Huddle.

The Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) are on a two-game losing streak but are 4-2 on the road. The Denver Broncos (7-6) beat up the visiting Lions and are 4-3 at home. Both teams are inconsistent and sway between impressive offense or surprising struggles. Currently, there are five 7-6 teams in the AFC vying for two wild-card spots. This may be as close to a playoff game as one of these teams will get. Home field and the better defense should translate to a win for the Broncos.

Team notes

The Broncos feature arguably the best 1-2 punch at running back with the tandem of Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon. Pairing that with an above-average defense accounts for the winning record. But the passing offense remains problematic when they are forced to throw. The final three games are against each of the other AFC West teams. Making up the two-game gap behind the 9-4 Chiefs is unlikely, but the Broncos will have to go through the division to net a wild card. The only remaining game where the weather might be a factor is Week 18, when they host the Chiefs. Denver’s offense is built for bad weather, but that won’t likely be an advantage this year.

Quarterback

Teddy Bridgewater threw two scores against the Lions last week, and that was his first game with more than one passing score since Week 7. Because of a backfield that is more effective at home, Bridgewater’s production usually dips when he is in Denver. His past three home games were all under 230 passing yards. Aside from his surprise showing against the Raiders in Week 6, Bridgewater is little more than a game manager, and the lack of effective passing has prevented Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy from meeting expectations.

Teddy Bridgewater projection vs. Bengals
Fantasy Points: 14
Passing: 200 yds, 1 TD

Running backs

Gordon has nine total touchdowns this season, and although he missed Week 13 with a hip injury, he returned to his best performance of the year. Gordon ran for a season-high 111 yards on 24 carries and logged two touchdowns on the visiting Lions in Week 14. He also sprained his thumb in the process but said it was not a limitation. Williams turned in his first double-touchdown performance when he ran for 73 yards and a score on 15 rushes and added a 10-yard catch for a second touchdown. Gordon has been the preferred goal-line runner, but Williams has stepped up in the past three weeks with a total of four touchdowns after logging just two in his first 10 games.

Javonte Williams projection vs. Bengals
Fantasy points: 19
Rushing: 60 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: 4 rec, 30 yds

Melvin Gordon projection vs. Bengals
Fantasy points: 15
Rushing: 70 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: 1 rec, 10 yds

Wide receivers

Only one receiving touchdown has been scored by a Broncos wideout over the past seven games, and that was Tim Patrick as the No. 3 wideout. Jeudy is a lock for around 50 yards each week but has yet to score in 2021. Sutton has posted three 90-plus-yard efforts through Week 8 but has since all but disappeared with Jeudy back and the run game usually effective. Bridgewater is a game manager — not a difference-maker. Sutton and Jeudy rarely have topped 40 yards in recent weeks.

Jerry Jeudy projection vs. Bengals
Fantasy points: 11
Receiving: 5 rec, 60 yds

Courtland Sutton projection vs. Bengals
Fantasy points: 5
Receiving: 2 rec, 30 yds

Tight end

Noah Fant hasn’t scored since Week 6, just like the wide receivers, but he turns in around 40 to 50 yards in most games. He’s consistent with four catches per game but is primarily a support blocker for the backfield.

Noah Fant projection vs. Bengals
Fantasy points: 14
Receiving: 4 rec, 40 yds, 1 TD

Match to defense

The Bengals’ defense is below average against all the fantasy positions, and yet it holds most opposing rushers to moderate yardage. But the Broncos bring the No. 3 fantasy backfield. Cleveland’s Nick Chubb ran for 137 yards and two scores in Cincinnati during Week 9. Both Gordon and Williams need to be in fantasy lineups each week, and their outlook remains bright in this matchup. Keeping Joe Burrow on the sideline is a very good way to beat the Bengals.

Bridgewater, playing at home, will likely continue his streak of moderate yardage and a touchdown. A passing score strongly favors Fant versus a defense that has given up five touchdowns to tight ends over its past six games. The Bengals secondary is also weak, but Sutton and Jeudy have combined for only two scores on the season. Gordon and Williams will lead the Denver offense, as usual.