Fantasy Upside
Despite missing the final four games last season with a torn Achilles, Emmanuel Sanders led the team with 71 receptions for 868 yards. Even with Demaryius Thomas still in Denver, in four of the first seven games last season Sanders totaled at least 95 yards. Throughout his five years as a Bronco, he’s consistently averaged around eight targets per game and should receive a slight upgrade at QB with Joe Flacco.
Fantasy Downside
Sanders has missed four games during each of the past two years. After posting 1,000-yard seasons his first three in the Mile High City, he’s averaged just over 700 yards the past two. With Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum and Paxton Lynch under center in 2017-18, Sanders averaged just 59 receiving yards per game and only 12 yards per grab. Now 32-years-old and starting his tenth NFL season, you’ve got to wonder if the speedy WR is beginning to lose a step, especially after returning from the Achilles injury.
Bottom Line
Sanders should be fully healed by Week 1 and will be the club’s top option in the passing game. With Thomas in New England, Sanders heads into the season as his team’s No. 1 WR for the first time in his career. He’ll be opposite of second-year player Courtland Sutton, who has potential, but is not the same caliber of player Thomas was – at least not yet. Sanders is slotted for around an 11th round pick, which is a good value for a deep threat that should see around 120 targets.
Week 14 at San Francisco 49ers
Sanders is sidelined for the season with a torn ACL and should be removed from all fantasy lineups.
Week 13 at Cincinnati Bengals
After being quiet for most of the game versus Pittsburgh last week, Emmanuel Sanders caught a 38-yard pass in the third quarter and then followed that up with a five-yard TD on the next play. Twelve of Case Keenum’s passes went in Sanders’ direction and he finished with seven grabs for 86 yards. Sanders will continue to be the top targeted WR for the Broncos and he has a good matchup at Cincinnati on Sunday. Be sure he remains in your lineup.
Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Although he was pretty quiet for most of the game last week at the Chargers, Emmanuel Sanders finished with four grabs for 56 yards, including a 38-yard catch on the game-winning field goal drive. In the two games without Demaryius Thomas, Sanders has totaled only 103 receiving yards and hasn’t scored in the past three contests. He’ll be facing the Pittsburgh No. 7 pass defense at home on Sunday, making him a WR3/flex option.
Week 11 at Los Angeles Chargers
In his first game without Demaryius Thomas two weeks ago versus the Texans, Emmanuel Sanders was targeted nine times, leading to six grabs for 47 yards, the second straight contest he was held to less than 60 yards. Sanders will remain Denver’s top WR but will receive even more attention from defenses until rookie Courtland Sutton proves he can be a viable threat. He is averaging nearly 80 receiving yards per game and should be reinserted into your starting lineup on Sunday.
Week 9 vs. Houston Texans
In the loss to the Chiefs last week, Emmanuel Sanders finished with four receptions for 57 yards, aided by a 49-yard grab that set up the team’s first touchdown. He left for part of the third quarter with a sore shoulder but will be fine to play at home on Sunday. Sanders has been the best Denver WR this season and will continue to see plenty of looks now that Demaryius Thomas is with Houston. The Texans allow 240 yards per game through the air, so keep on starting Sanders.
Week 8 at Kansas City Chiefs
What another good outing Emmanuel Sanders put on last Thursday at Arizona. He finished with six grabs, 102 yards and his fourth TD of the season. Oh yeah, he also threw a 28-yard score to fellow WR Courtland Sutton. Sanders has been over the century mark and in the end zone in two straight. In the loss versus the Chiefs in Week 4, Sanders caught five passes but for just 45 yards. Look for better results in the rematch versus a bad Kansas City pass defense.
Week 7 at Arizona Cardinals
Even though the Broncos lost again last Sunday, Emmanuel Sanders turned in a solid fantasy performance. On a team-leading 10 targets, he finished with seven receptions for 115 yards and a TD. He nearly had another score but was ruled down at the one before his own unsportsmanlike conduct penalty cost Denver 15 yards. It was Sanders first 100-yard game and receiving touchdown since Week 1. He leads the team in targets (54), receptions (40) and yards (501) and has a decent matchup on Thursday night versus the Cardinals. Keep on starting Sanders.
Week 6 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Case Keenum threw for a season-high 377 yards last Sunday at the Jets, with Emmanuel Sanders finishing with nine grabs for 72 yards on 14 targets. After spreading the field with a 43-yard grab in Week 1, Sanders is averaging just eight yards per reception the past three games (19 catches). He doesn’t have a receiving TD since the opener either. Sanders is still seeing eight looks per game from Keenum and, with the Broncos possibly playing from behind again, makes for a WR2 play in the Denver cold.
Week 5 at New York Jets
In what looked like a favorable matchup last Monday night versus the Chiefs, Case Keenum threw for just 245 yards in the loss, with Emmanuel Sanders finishing with five grabs for 45 yards. Sanders also ran for 18 yards on an end-around, but it was a disappointing outing, considering Kansas City’s defense came in last versus the pass. After totaling over 200 yards the first two weeks, Sanders has been limited to only 83 receiving yards the past two contests. The Jets were burned by Blake Bortles last Sunday, but are No. 14 overall versus the pass, making Sanders more of a WR3/flex play on the road.
