Denver Broncos wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy were both set to be fantasy football values this season. Then, Jeudy went down with a high ankle sprain in Week 1. With Jeudy set to return this week, what can fantasy managers expect from Denver’s talented wide receiver duo?
Both Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy are fantasy starters
I won’t go so far as to say this duo is matchup proof, but both Sutton and Jeudy will never be much worse than WR3s on any given week. Sutton is averaging 14.8 PPR points per game. He’s been a low-end WR2, but historically, his output would typically put him in high WR2 territory.
There’s not much to assess regarding Jeudy, as he’s only played in one game this season. He caught 6 of 7 targets for 72 yards, averaging a healthy 10.29 yards per target. I can’t say he was clearly going to be the preferred option ahead of Sutton as that was Sutton’s first game back from his ACL tear. He’s clearly much healthier now than he was two months ago.
Washington is a favorable matchup for Sutton and Jeudy
Offensively, the Broncos looked awful last week. They ran just 49 plays and were unable to sustain drives. Their dreadful performance on Thursday night likely left a sour taste in the mouths of fantasy managers.
Do not let a Thursday night dud deter you from making sound, rational decisions. This is an excellent spot for Jeudy to return. Washington is allowing the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Only the Bears allow more touchdowns per game to the position than Washington. Furthermore, the Football Team allows 67% of receiving yards against them to go to WRs. Sutton and Jeudy are set up to smash.
Are we sure Jeudy will play?
I can’t say we’re certain, but it looks likely. Jeudy was reportedly ready to return in Week 7, but with the game on Thursday, the Broncos opted to give him one more week to rest, buying him another 10 days.
There is slight concern surrounding Jeudy missing practice on Friday. It wasn’t a setback or anything like that; Jeudy was just sore after practicing for three consecutive days. This is a man that hasn’t played football in two months, so it’s understandable that his muscles need to get reacclimated to the rigors of a week in the NFL.
Ultimately, I expect the Broncos to activate Jeudy from IR and for him to make his return on Sunday.
Can fantasy managers trust Jeudy in his first game back?
I can’t answer this question definitively — no one can. All I can do is present you with some facts and provide my assessment of the situation.
Jeudy has missed six weeks of football. During that time, Teddy Bridgewater has developed a rapport with Sutton. There should be no expectation that Jeudy will step in and immediately usurp Sutton as the team’s primary wide receiver. With that being said, Jeudy can certainly have fantasy value as the WR2. In fact, that’s the role I always expected him to play.
Sutton has that alpha WR1 profile in terms of size and athleticism. Jeudy profiles more as a possession WR2. We know Bridgewater can support three fantasy-viable pass catchers. He did it last season in Carolina with DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, and Robby Anderson. Bridgewater can do it again with Sutton, Jeudy, and Noah Fant.
Should fantasy managers start Jeudy and Sutton?
Sutton is just about a must-start this week. The only possible worry is that Jeudy eats into his volume. However, it would be a bit foolish to fade Sutton in a fantastic spot based upon a guess as to Jeudy’s impact. I would start Sutton confidently as a WR2.
As for Jeudy, it’s a bit more complicated. You should start him over fringe starters or lesser talented players. Think guys like Darius Slayton, Russell Gage, or Jarvis Landry. I feel better about Jeudy than those players.
What I wouldn’t do is force Jeudy into your lineup if you’re in a league with shallow starting lineups or you’ve been fortunate to avoid injuries. It’s entirely possible that we’re sitting here one week from now, and Jeudy is being ranked as a clear top-24 option. We hope that’s the case.
If Jeudy has a splash game on your bench because you started Adam Thielen or Tee Higgins over him, don’t feel bad about it. Instead, be glad you know you can confidently start Jeudy going forward. Most likely, he has a decent enough game to give fantasy managers confidence in him, but not so great that you feel bad if you benched him.