The Denver Broncos will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10. We have fantasy football start-sit advice for every fantasy-relevant player for the Broncos so you can make the best decisions for your lineups.
Looking for more lineup advice? Head over to our Week 10 Fantasy Start-Sit Cheat Sheet, where we cover every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Bo Nix, QB
How fun is Bo Nix?
“Fun” isn’t always productive, but it does introduce a level of upside that is appealing for streamers.
Usually.
That’s not the case so much in this spot. The Chiefs are an above-average pass defense in both touchdown rate and yards per completion, traits that could result in Nix’s fifth finish outside of the top 15 at the position. The rookie is an athlete who can break contain and make plays, a fantasy-friendly skill set that you need to track as we come down the stretch but not one that you need to worry about in the scope of Week 10.
Javonte Williams, RB
Jaleel McLaughlin got Denver’s first carry last week, but Javonte Williams held an 11-4 edge the rest of the way and continues to hold the label of the primary ball carrier in Denver.
Reasonable minds can disagree on the value of such a role, but it’s his, and that much we can feel confident in for Week 10. The Chiefs own an elite run defense by any measure, and their offense always has the potential to force opponents into a one-dimensional script.
Chiefs’ run defense marks, 2024:
- Second in EPA
- Second in yards per carry before contact
- First in yards per carry after contact
- First in success rate
In his most recent game against the Chiefs, Williams led the Broncos to the upset win with 98 yards and a touchdown. Now, it did take him 30 touches to get there, but still. I’m on record with picking Denver to put an end to the undefeated season this week, and if you’re with me on the front, you’re likely to take a more optimistic outlook for Williams this week.
Williams is a Flex option that I probably like more than you. I’d personally play him over a Calvin Ridley or Michael Pittman Jr.
Courtland Sutton, WR
The development of a rookie quarterback can serve as a rising tide. Courtland Sutton has posted two of the top 10 yards-per-route marks of his career over the past two weeks. The two-yard touchdown pass from Sutton to Bo Nix was a fun highlight and helped fantasy managers, but the receiving numbers are what have me excited.
Sutton was WR31 or better five times from Weeks 3-9, and that’s what I’m setting as the floor for my positional ranking of him. This is a tough matchup, which is why I have him penciled in as a middling Flex option — but I do like the direction of this profile.
Of note, the Broncos get the Bengals in Week 17. Could Sutton peak at the perfect time?
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs Insights
Denver Broncos
Team: No team has more time to pass, on average, than the Broncos this season (3.26 seconds, 14% longer than the league average).
QB: Bo Nix and Lamar Jackson are the only QBs in the league this season, with four games featuring 30 passes and 35 rushing yards.
Offense: The Broncos are one of five teams yet to connect on a 50-yard play this season (the others are the Browns, Titans, Giants, and Panthers).
Defense: The Broncos force a three-and-out on 37.9% of drives, the seventh-highest mark in the NFL this season.
Fantasy: The development of a rookie quarterback can serve as a rising tide – Courtland Sutton has posted two of his top-10 yards per route marks of his career over the past two weeks.
Betting: The Broncos are just 3-7 ATS (30%) in their past 10 road games within the division. On the bright side, their last game in Kansas City was one of those three covers (27-24 loss as a 12.5-point underdog).
Kansas City Chiefs
Team: Since Andy Reid became their head coach in 2013, the Chiefs are 12-3 against rookie starting QBs. However, they lost their last game vs. Aidan O’Connell and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.
QB: Patrick Mahomes averaged a career-low 7.0 yards per pass last season – he’s failed to reach that number in three straight games.
Offense: Since 2020, the Chiefs are 14-8 (63.6%) when trailing entering the fourth quarter – the Steelers rank second in win percentage in such spots over that stretch at 34.1%.
Defense: In Week 7, Jordan Mason had a 26-yard rush against the Chiefs. They haven’t allowed a player to rush for more than 24 yards in a game since.
Fantasy: Patrick Mahomes hinted pregame that DeAndre Hopkins was going to be used more with time, and it didn’t take long – the former Titan accounted for one-third of his completions in the first half, tallying 66 yards and a touchdown in the process.
Betting: The Chiefs have covered three straight divisional games when playing on short rest (three of their past four such games have finished under the total).