Week 13 at Cincinnati Bengals
Of Case Keenum’s 28 passes last week versus the Steelers, four went toward Courtland Sutton. The rookie finished with just a 14-yard reception, resulting in the second-lowest total of the season. Even without Demaryius Thomas on the team, Sutton hasn't caught more than three passes in any game. Expect Keenum to continue to favor the veteran Emmanuel Sanders, limiting Sutton’s looks. The Bengals are second-worst versus the pass, but he makes for just a WR3/flex start.
Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Case Keenum threw for only 205 yards last Sunday against the Chargers, with Courtland Sutton snagging three passes for a team-high 78 yards. His 30-yard catch-and-run set up the game-winning field goal. As a starter the past two games, the rookie has recorded six receptions for 135 yards, but hasn’t been in the end zone since mid-October. Sutton and the Broncos face a solid Steelers pass defense this week, so consider him a WR3/flex start.
Week 11 at Los Angeles Chargers
In his first game replacing Demaryius Thomas in the starting lineup two Sundays ago versus Houston, Courtland Sutton saw five targets and finished with three receptions for 57 yards. He has good size at 6-foot-4 and seven of his 20 grabs during his rookie season has gone for at least 20 yards. Sutton faces a suspect Chargers secondary, making him a WR3/flex play.
Week 9 vs. Houston Texans
Now that Demaryius Thomas is with Houston, Courtland Sutton will move into the starting lineup, giving the second-round pick a chance to show what he can do. He is coming off his best game, recording three grabs for 78 yards last week at Kansas City. As the Broncos No. 3 WR, Sutton has 17 grabs and two TDs. It may take Case Keenum a while to trust the rookie so you may want to leave him on your bench against the Texans No. 12 pass defense.
Fantasy Upside
Possibly the most explosive WR to come out of the draft is Courtland Sutton. When he was on, he posted some big games at SMU, including six 100-yard games in 2017 and a four-touchdown performance versus North Texas. During his final two college seasons, he lit up the American Conference, averaging 72 receptions for 1,087 yards and scored 23 total TDs. He was drafted in the second round and is expected to have a long career in Denver.
Fantasy Downside
The knock on Sutton is that he tends to take plays, and even games, off. Last season, he was held without a catch at TCU and had just one grab (a TD) in a loss at Memphis. Even though he was a high draft pick, the rookie will be battling during the preseason for the No. 3 WR spot with other talented competitors, behind veterans Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
2018 Bottom Line
While Thomas and Sanders will anchor the starting WR positions, the former Mustang should still see some decent playing time throughout the year. Rookies tend to struggle their first NFL season, so temper expectations. While he shouldn’t be on your fantasy roster at the start of the season (unless you’re in a keeper league), Sutton’s 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame makes for a great target in the red zone. If the Broncos are going to their new weapon early on, he’ll likely be an early waiver wire pickup.
