Team news: Denver Broncos

Broncos are placing rookie RB Audric Estime on injured reserve due to an ankle injury; Estime now will miss a minimum of four weeks.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson

Just a few short weeks ago, this backfield looked like a mess, but now it's down to Williams and McLaughlin, which makes it much more palatable. Estime can safely be dropped anywhere he may have been stashed away.

With significant depth and talent at WR, Broncos are moving on from popular veteran Tim Patrick, per source.

Related players: Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin

The post went on to say the Broncos are currently exploring trade possibilities for Patrick, who is generating strong interest on market in advance of Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline. This move could be good news for players like Reynolds, Mims and the rookie Franklin. It wasn't that long ago that some who follow the team suggested Franklin wouldn't have a big role but that could change with the departure of Patrick, and if he can win the WR3 job. Sutton and Reynolds seem pretty locked into the top-two spots.

The Broncos are expected to move on from respected 8-year veteran RB Samaje Perine, sources say.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime

The team is engaged in a number of trade conversations around Perine and it could be a trade, rather than a release, the story went on to say. Williams is expected to be the team's RB1 but McLaughlin has flashed enough in the past that the Broncos seem pretty comfortable with him in a key RB role behind Williams. Factor in the team drafted Estime and the running back room was pretty crowded in Denver.

Expected but official: Broncos HC Sean Payton officially has named rookie first-round pick Bo Nix as Denver’s new No. 1 QB.

Nix is now slated to start opening day in Seattle against the Seahawks.

It's a good sign that he's been announced a couple of weeks out from the regular season kickoff, but his pass-catching group is less than stellar. He could have a rough go of it in Year 1, but we'll see if he progresses into someone who will be on our streaming radar.

Despite having a quiet training camp amidst reports of struggles, the team is invested in Franklin’s continued development, and they are in a position where they don’t need him to be a No. 1, 2, or 3 right away as a rookie. He’ll likely redshirt or play some special teams.

Related players: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Marvin Mims, Josh Reynolds, Devaughn Vele, Jalen Virgil

Franklin was more of a dynasty name this offseason but the hope was he'd quickly establish himself in a Broncos WR group that isn't necessarily loaded in terms of big names. The story said this is a position that could see five, six, or seven players on the 53-man roster. The writer says HC Sean Payton values size, and he has that with Sutton, Patrick, Reynolds, and Vele. He also values speed, which he gets from Mims, Virgil, Vele, and Franklin. Either way, it doesn't sound like Franklin will have a big fantasy impact at least early on this season.

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix turned in a fine preseason performance on Sunday night, but he hasn’t earned the Broncos’ starting job. Yet.

Denver head coach Sean Payton said after the game that he liked what he saw from Nix but isn’t making any announcements about who the starting quarterback is.

“He’s played well. I’m not announcing any starting quarterback tonight,” Payton said. “I’ll let you guys know when the time comes. I thought he played well.”

Related players: Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson

Payton said he also liked what Stidham and Wilson did in the preseason win over the Packers, but that could be coach-speak. The story opined that it's hard to believe Nix won't be the starter as he's been trending up as of late.

Today’s QB update: Jarrett Stidham was once again the most steady QB. Along with good decision making, Stidham also had two completions for 15 yards.

Related players: Zach Wilson, Bo Nix

Nix once again displayed his speed on the ground, but struggled to find much beyond five yards down the field, the post went on to say. Other Bronco beat writers seem to be right in step with this saying Stidham was the most productive followed by Nix and Wilson. It's possible Stidham could be a bridge starter at QB until Nix is more polished.

Troy Frankin's been coached pretty vocally and pretty hard out there.

You see flashes here and there, but I don't think he's likely to be starting, let alone a big part of the plan this year.

Related players: Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims, Tim Patrick

Sutton, Mims and Reynolds are probably the starters with Patrick first man off the bench, Albright went on to say in his post. Franklin has been a popular later-round target in dynasty formats but it doesn't appear he's going to have re-draft value just yet.

Greg Dulcich is back on the field at the outset of training camp and has wasted little time reminding observers why he can be an impact player if he’s on the field. If he can just, at long last, stay healthy.

Like in a Saturday red zone drill, where he hauled in a touchdown in the back corner of the end zone on a pretty throw from Bo Nix.

“Each day you’re seeing a glimpse and you are seeing plays,” head coach Sean Payton said. “Most importantly for the player, you’re seeing his confidence. … That’s really player growth. You can’t wish for that. It can’t be false confidence. It’s generally earned and it’s from accomplishing something. I think we’re seeing that with Greg.”

Dulcich has been missing for the Broncos quite often over the last two seasons. It seems like a long time ago he was the talk of dynasty leagues for his potential at the position. He only played in two games last season and didn't make it through either game. Dulcich has mostly been plagued by hamstring and foot injuries. He can certainly be had later in drafts if you want to take a chance on him as he's just 42nd on our list.

The Broncos signed WR Courtland Sutton to a restructured contract that can pay him up to $15.2 million this season, including $1.5M in new incentives.

Sutton reported to training camp on time, and Denver sweetened the deal for one of its team leaders.

Related Players: Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims, Tim Patrick, Troy Franklin

After a year-plus of trade rumors, the Broncos have locked in their WR1. Sutton is the clear clubhouse leader to top the team in targets, but everyone behind him is still a question mark, including Franklin, who played with QB Bo Nix in Oregon.