Week 2 vs. Kansas City
Playing his first game under HC Gary Kubiak’s new system and facing a good Ravens defense last Sunday, Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense struggled. Manning finished with just 175 passing yards on 40 attempts with no touchdowns and one interception that was returned for a score and was sacked four times. The run game didn’t help him out either, as Denver ran for only 69 yards. In two games last season against the Chiefs, Peyton threw for a total of 421 yards with five TDs and no picks. Kansas City gave up over 300 passing yards to the Texans in Week 1, but most of that was after the Chiefs built a big lead. With the short week, it’ll be difficult for Manning and the Broncos to make too many adjustments, but you’ve got to keep him in your starting lineup despite Sunday's performance.
Week 1 vs. Baltimore
Peyton Manning begins his fourth season with the Broncos, but his first with HC Gary Kubiak. While Denver is expected to have more of a balanced offensive attack this season, it still has one of the best QBs in the league. Manning has gone back to wearing a glove on his throwing hand, which may take a bit of the zip off his throws. One of Peyton’s top targets, Emmanuel Sanders, has been battling a hamstring injury, but should be fine on Sunday. The QB will also be throwing to a new TE in Owen Daniels. While there are high projections for the Ravens and their defense this season, starting Manning this week is a no-brainer for fantasy owners. Look for him to get off to a good start at home in Week 1.
Fantasy Upside
Despite having what some called a ‘down season’ in 2014, Peyton Manning still threw for over 4,700 yards and 39 TDs. In his three years in Denver, Peyton has not missed a game and tossed 131 touchdowns. Since Manning is a player of habit that relies on timing routes with his receivers, it’s good that he already has a strong rapport with two of them in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, as the duo combined for 212 receptions, over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. While Wes Welker and TE Julius Thomas are gone, 2014 second-round pick Cody Latimer will receive a larger role in his second year. Gary Kubiak’s play calling history shows that he is able to adjust to his team’s talent and strengths and produce fantasy relevant players across the board.
Fantasy Downside
It’s no secret that Manning is in one of his final years in the NFL. The 39-year-old played the final month of last season with a torn right quadriceps, which no doubt affected his downfield passing. He threw for 300 yards just once in the final seven contests, which included the post-season loss to the Colts. In ’14, Peyton threw 15 INTs, his highest total as a Bronco, with 12 of those picks coming during the final nine regular season games. After averaging 41 pass attempts per game the first 10 games, he threw the ball an average of less than 32 times the final six regular season contests, which was a result of both his injury and a resurgence in the Broncos rushing attack. Last season Manning’s completion percentage and average yards per attempts were the lowest during his stint in Denver. With Kubiak, you can expect to see the Broncos to continue to use a balanced attack, which will likely lead to a decline is Peyton’s numbers.
Bottom Line
Even through Kubiak likes to run the ball, he still has one of the best weapons in the league with Manning and will definitely utilize him to keep defenses honest. Peyton’s numbers are sure to take a bit of a drop from the 4,700 yards and 39 scores of ’14, but he is still a top-five fantasy QB, especially now that he’s had the offseason to get healthy. Manning will be without his two best offensive linemen from last season, in Orlando Franklin and Ryan Clady, but he is the best in the game at getting rid of the ball and finding WRs on timing routs. Even though quarterbacks under Kubiak have produced just 14 fantasy points per game (a mark that would have ranked 21st in the league in 2014), that stat is misleading as Kubiak has had a QB start more than 11 games in a season in just five of nine years as a play caller. And 23 games have been started by a combination of Sage Rosenfels, T.J. Yates and Case Keenum. A silver lining for Manning owners (not that you really need one), was with Matt Schaub at the helm in ’08-’11 under Kubiak, he was ranked in the top 10 three times in fantasy points per game. Don’t be concerned about Peyton possibly taking parts or all of games off to be ready for the playoffs. While modifications have been made in Manning's practice schedule, that doesn't necessarily mean time off in games. We have him as fourth on our QB list.
Divisional Round – Peyton Manning vs. Indianapolis Colts
As the Broncos focused more on the running game over the final six regular season contests, Peyton Manning threw for an average of 238 yards and nine total TDs during that span. Only one of his seven 300 yard performances came in the final six games. The extra week off allowed for a banged Denver team to get healthy, so Peyton will have all of his weapons. In Week 1, Manning threw for 269 yards and three scores (all to Julius Thomas) against his former team. He's our QB3 this week behind Rodgers and Luck.
Week 17 – Peyton Manning vs. Oakland Raiders
After falling behind in the second quarter last Monday night in Cincinnati, the Broncos went back to the game plan that calls for Peyton Manning to throw the ball more often. He finished 28-of-44 for 311 yards with two TDs to Emmanuel Sanders, but also four INTs – the first time since 2010 that he’s been picked off four times in a game. Despite the loss and turnovers, Peyton turned in a decent fantasy performance. Manning threw for 340 yards and five TDs at Oakland in early November, but look for the running game to again be the focus. However, if your season’s still going and you’ve ridden No. 18 this far, there’s no reason to put him on your bench now, as Denver needs a win to get the No. 2 playoff seed.
Week 16 – Peyton Manning vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Playing with flulike symptoms and then an injured thigh last week in San Diego, Peyton Manning threw for 233 yards and a TD. It was the second straight game he went 14-of-20, as the Broncos continued to utilize the run game, finishing with 39 rushing attempts. In the past four games, Peyton has thrown for an average of only 210 yards. The Bengals defense is allowing less than 235 passing yards per game, but Denver will probably need to rely on Manning’s arm to get a big road win on Monday night.
Week 15 – Peyton Manning vs. San Diego Chargers
With C.J. Anderson accounting for all three of the Broncos TDs on the ground last week versus Buffalo, Peyton Manning’s streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass in a game ended at 51 – just three away from tying Drew Brees' record. For the third straight game, Denver was committed to the run game, as Peyton threw for only 179 on 20 attempts and was intercepted twice – the fourth time in the past six contests that has happened. Manning missed a few open targets and hasn’t been his usual self the past couple weeks, but has a big game on Sunday. In the Week 8 win over the Chargers, he threw for 286 yards and three TDs – all to Emmanuel Sanders. While he hasn’t been at his best recently, Manning is still an elite QB and needs to be started.
Week 14 – Peyton Manning vs. Buffalo Bills
With C.J. Anderson and the Broncos ground game plowing through the Chiefs last Sunday night, Peyton Manning had his lowest passing game of the season. He finished only 17-of-34 for 179 yards and two TDs. It was the first time he’d thrown for less than 200 yards since last November at New England. This week, Peyton will be facing a Buffalo defense that yields just 216 passing yards per game. The Broncos will likely look to continue to move the ball with their newfound rushing attack, but Manning is always a must start and should throw for at least a couple of touchdowns.
Week 13 – Peyton Manning vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Broncos offense woke up last week at home against the Dolphins, as Peyton Manning led the comeback by throwing for 257 yards and four TDs – three to Demaryius Thomas. Denver used the running game to control the clock, while Peyton was efficient by completing 80 percent of his passes (28-of-35). Manning should have all of his weapons on Sunday night in Kansas City, with Julius Thomas expected back after missing last week with a sore ankle. In the Week 2 win versus the Chiefs, Peyton threw for 242 yards and three TDs. K.C. is the No. 1 defense versus the pass, but you have to keep on starting No. 18.
Week 12 – Peyton Manning vs. Miami Dolphins
Despite some good fantasy numbers by Peyton Manning the past few weeks, the Broncos offense has been sputtering. Last Sunday in St. Louis, Peyton threw the ball 54 times, completing 34, for 389 yards and one TD. However, the running game was non-existent as Denver had just nine rushing attempts. In the loss, Manning threw a couple picks, his third game in a row with two INTs. During the three straight road games, No. 18 threw 155 total passes for at least 340 yards in each contest. At home this season he has tossed 17 TDs compared to only two INTs. It looks like he'll have Emmanuel Sanders too, but Julius Thomas is questionable. Manning is still a top QB and needs to be started every week, even facing a Miami defense that is second against the pass.
