Denver Broncos RB Javonte Williams has been bitten by the injury bug in the past two seasons, much to the frustration of fantasy football managers. Having returned from a major knee injury at the start of the year, the third-year RB missed Week 5 with a quad injury.
Now, as the Broncos head to Kansas City for a Week 6 Thursday Night Football matchup, will Williams be available for Denver and fantasy managers? Let’s take a look at whether Williams will be active in Week 6 and what that means for the fantasy value of the Broncos’ backfield.
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Is Javonte Williams Going To Play Week 6?
All signs look extremely positive in terms of Williams being able to suit up against the Chiefs this week. While the Broncos did not practice Monday, Williams being projected as a limited participant was a positive step. That news got even better on Tuesday when he was able to be a full participant.
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That full participation carried over into Wednesday, and Williams was cleared from the injury report ahead of Week 6. Therefore, we should expect Williams to be active, but that does not guarantee how much of a workload he will get this week against Kansas City. This Denver backfield is a head-scratcher for fantasy managers in Week 6.
Potential Fantasy Options if Williams Is Out Include Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine
This Denver backfield has become extremely messy this season. The addition of Samaje Perine in the offseason had some fantasy managers worried that we may see a committee. However, it has been the emergence of Jaleel McLaughlin that has really clouded the picture.
When you look at the season as a whole, Williams leads the team with 38 attempts at an average of 9.5 per game. He also has 15 targets for a total of 53 opportunities across the first four weeks he was active.
Perine is second with 24 carries and 18 targets, for an average of 8.4 opportunities per game. McLaughlin led the backfield in Williams’ absence, with nine rush attempts and four targets.
The breakdown last week saw McLaughlin get 13 opportunities and Perine with 11. After Williams left the game in Week 4, the split there was reasonably even as well. The last time Williams was healthy for an entire game, he had 11 carries and three targets compared to six opportunities for Perine and five for McLaughlin.
However, with Williams returning from injury and McLaughlin having 193 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in the last week, will we see him get over a 50% opportunity share this week? We know when Williams is at his best, he a fantastic back with the ability to make big plays.
GROWN MAN run by #Broncos RB Javonte Williams 😤
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 24, 2023
There are just so many variables complicating this backfield for fantasy managers in Week 6. Will we see Williams getting his previous workload, or will it be split between the three in some detrimental fashion? If the Chiefs jump out to a big lead (they are 11-point favorites), could we see the Broncos lean on the passing game or protect Williams?
The windy weather in Kansas City this week should play into the hands of the running game, and potentially keep this one closer than the spread may indicate. That could be a benefit to Williams as the potential pie may expand if Denver decides to try and keep the ball on the ground and out of the wind.
The potential is certainly there for one of these backs to have a big day, but good luck trying to work out which one it will be.
Subsequently, Williams is RB41 in our consensus rankings.