As expected, Broncos RB Latavius Murray is a healthy scratch for tonight's game vs. the Colts. Expect him to make his Broncos debut next week. RB Devine Ozigbo was elevated from the practice squad today and is active. He figures to see most of his action on special teams. We're expecting RB Melvin Gordon to handle most of the backfield work, with RB Mike Boone mixing in.
Broncos RB Latavius Murray won't play vs. the Colts tonight, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Just too quick a turnaround from London and with a new system," Rapoport adds. "Expect him to play vs. the Chargers [next week]." So it'll be Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone in Denver's backfield tonight. NFL Network's James Palmer says Gordon will be the "bell cow." He's a solid RB2 play. Consider Boone a shaky RB3 or flex.
Broncos OC Justin Outten said Tuesday that RB Melvin Gordon is "going to carry the load obviously" with RB Javonte Williams out. "We’ll have a mix of (Mike) Boone and after that we’ve got to figure out who can spell and who feels best in that position," Outten added. "But we trust Melvin going forward here.” Gordon needs to clean up the ball-security issues that have plagued him early this season, but he has every opportunity to carve out a very fantasy friendly role the rest of the season. Consider him a RB2 for now, with upside for more.
The Broncos are signing RB Latavius Murray off the Saints' practice squad, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Murray was just elevated for Week 4 in London, looking fresh-legged on his way to 57 yards and a score on 11 carries. Murray toted it 119 times for 501 yards (4.2 YPC) and 6 TDs for the Ravens last year, ranking 28th among 50 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus' rushing grades. Murray will turn 33 in January but still has some juice left in his legs. He's worth adding now that he's part of Denver's Javonte Williams-less backfield -- although we still prefer Mike Boone as a pickup.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams tore his right ACL in Sunday's loss to the Raiders. That obviously ends his season. Melvin Gordon becomes the obvious name as top candidate to take over the Denver backfield, but Mike Boone has seen significant use each of the past 2 games. He stepped in to run nearly as many routes as Williams and Gordon in Week 3, and then Boone played more than Gordon against the Raiders. Gordon entered Sunday with a neck issue that limited him for a couple of practices, but he finished with a full workout. He did take a 2nd-half trip to the medical tent but returned. We'll see just how the new backfield split plays out. Boone is at least worth a pickup in most fantasy football leagues.
Update: In addition to the torn ACL, Williams also has a torn LCL and posterior lateral corner, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That figures to lengthen Williams' rehab timeline. We'll track his progress.
Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett said after the loss to the Raiders that RB Javonte Williams will undergo an MRI on his injured right knee on Monday. Hackett had no further update on Williams' injury. But, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Williams left the locker room on crutches. We should learn more about his status tomorrow, but this obviously looks like a significant injury. Williams' absence would leave Denver's backfield to Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone.
Update: Mike Klis of 9News of Williams' injury that the "fear is it is serious and he will be sidelined for [an] extended period."
Broncos RB Javonte Williams went down with a right knee injury in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Raiders and was quickly ruled out. We'll update his status as soon as we know more. Williams' absence leaves Denver with RBs Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone.
Benjamin Allbright, a Broncos insider for KOA Radio in Denver, says those who draft RB Javonte Williams are "gonna be mad." He says it "looks like a 55/45" split between Williams and Melvin Gordon, "with some Mike Boone sprinkled in." Allbright adds that Gordon "is getting the situational work (GL, short yardage, etc)." The fact that we're getting varied reads on the situation from different reporters points to no one really knowing for sure what the Broncos' plan is. The sheer uncertainty adds risk to Williams at his Round 2 ADP and value to Gordon in Round 8.
Cecil Lammey of 104.3 The Fan in Denver had this to say Wednesday after observing early Broncos practices: "I don't think this is a running back competition between [Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams]. I think Gordon is the clear backup, and I believe he's competing with Boone for the No. 2 job." Lammey pointed out that Gordon was working in behind Williams, Boone and Damarea Crockett in drills on the 1st day of camp. It's still early for Gordon, who didn't re-sign until April, returning to find a new coaching staff. It's also unlikely that Gordon would return without at least a shot to fight Williams for touches. This will be 1 of the most interesting situations in all of fantasy football this summer. If Williams does operate as a clear lead back, there's upside from his Round 2 ADP. If Gordon commands anything close to last year's work share, though, he'll prove to be a tremendous value. And if Boone surprises ... then there will be plenty of angry fantasy players. We'll keep tracking this backfield closely.
Broncos RB Mike Boone (quad) has been placed on short-term IR. He's eligible to be activated starting in Week 4. Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams and Royce Freeman figure to open the season as Denver's top 3 backs.
Broncos RB Mike Boone is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a quad injury, insider Mike Klis reports. That puts him right up against the start of the season. Denver's likely #3 RB, Boone wasn't really on the fantasy radar. But we thought there was a chance that he siphoned a handful of carries per game from RBs Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams. That's now less likely in the beginning of the season. Klis said Boone was having a "terrific camp" before this injury.
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