Despite not being a great real football team in 2008, we always knew one thing about the Denver Broncos: They really matter in fantasy football. You're talking about a team who amassed the second most yards in the league. Only two teams passed for more yards, and -- despite the neverending assembly line of running backs -- they managed to average 4.8 yards per carry on the ground. Heading into 2009, the team will have a different look. For of all, for the first time since I began playing fantasy football, their head coach will not be notorious alleged fantasy-hater, Mike Shanahan.
Enter the incredibly young and relatively inexperienced Josh McDaniels, formerly the coordinator of New England's fantasy-rich offense. We don't know how McDaniels will run the ship on his own, but it's a good bet he's going to utilize their incredible receiving talent in a high-octane passing attack. Here is what we can expect at this point.
Jay Cutler - The big issue here is whether or not Cutler will still be around when the start of the season rolls around. The two sides of the story are that either Cutler demanded a trade after his beloved quarterbacks coach left for USC, or that Cutler found out the Broncos were actively trying to trade him -- making him so upset that he then demanded a trade. Regardless of which side is true, I think we need to take a step back and realize trading Cutler wouldn't be good for the Broncos or Cutler himself. We all should realize just how emotional -- and frankly, he's a bit of a cry-baby -- Cutler can be. This is a huge overreaction through the media, and I firmly believe it will be resolved within the organization. He'll be the Broncos starting quarterback for the foreseeable future.
The New Running Backs - This has a tandem situation -- at least for 2009 -- written all over it. Fantasy owners who thought Denver was spared a running back mess when Shanahan departed were mistaken. Correll Buckhalter is a skilled between-the-tackles runner, while J.J. Arrington is a smallish, outside runner with good speed. Look for Buck to be the short-yardage guy, while Arrington appears in passing situations. Other than that, they'll likely be looking at a split, slightly favoring Buckhalter. Neither back will be a weekly starter, but it's possible that both become useful as flex players in deep leagues at the flex spot.
The Leftover Running Backs - It appears Selvin Young, Ryan Torain, and Peyton Hillis will remain employed with the Broncos, at least until August. If the Broncos had a ton of faith in the three, they wouldn't have brought in Buckhalter and Arrington, because there's no reason to house five running backs. Torain will probably still get the shot at the long-term job, but he won't be healthy until late in the 2009 season. Young will stick around as a third-string option until Torain is back, and Hillis will probably be slid back to fullback.
Brandon Marshall - If he can manage to keep himself out of the police blotter and avoid suspension, he's one of the top five receivers out there. Of course, he finds the aforementioned task of not getting arrested quite difficult.
Eddie Royal - This kid made significant strides his rookie season, and with Cutler still in the fray, Royal will continue to thrive. Along with Marshall, they really have the potential to become the best 1-2 receiving punch in the NFL -- assuming the Cardinals trade Anquan Boldin, of course.
Jabar Gaffney - He should be familiar with McDaniels' offense and will fit nicely into the slot. New England heavily relied on the slot receiver in their record-setting 2007 campaign, so Gaffney should be a nice low-end option heading into the season.
Tony Scheffler - We saw flashes of a studly tight end last season, but injuries and a tad bit of inconsistency derailed those plans. As a 26 year-old, expect him to flourish in this offense with Cutler.
All told, I expect the Broncos to have one of the best offenses in the NFL. McDaniels will bring balance with their new inside-outside duo of running backs while the young skill guys in the passing attack continue to grow as a unit.
Of course, this could all come unraveled if Cutler continues his whiny grandstanding and Marshall receives a hefty suspension. Stay tuned.
