Week 9 at Oakland
With C.J. Anderson out, Devontae Booker was the Broncos workhorse versus the Chargers last week. He finished with 19 carries for 54 yards and his second TD. He nearly had a receiving score, but fumbled the ball just before the goal line. The rookie received almost all of the team’s RB rushing attempts, and with C.J. Anderson on IR, will continue to be the featured back. The Raiders allow 125 yards per game on the ground, making Booker a solid RB2 option.
Week 8 vs. San Diego
C.J. Anderson led the Broncos ground attack with 107 yards and a score last Monday versus Houston, but Devontae Booker posted his best game as a pro, finishing with 17 carries (one more than Anderson) for 83 yards and his first NFL touchdown. It was also the first time he received double-digit carries in a contest. The rookie led the team with 46 yards on only five rushes at San Diego a couple weeks ago and will get plenty of action in the rematch with Anderson now on IR.
Week 7 vs. Houston
With the Broncos well behind in the second half last Thursday at the Chargers, Devontae Booker ignited the offense with a couple quick, powerful runs. In the loss, the rookie led the team with 46 yards on five rushes and also caught two passes for seven yards. Despite having just 34 carries on the season, Devontae has been more efficient than starter C.J. Anderson and will likely be given more opportunities as the season progresses. However, Booker should only be started this week if you’re out of other RB options.
Week 6 at San Diego
C.J. Anderson was held to 41 yards on the ground in the loss to the Falcons last Sunday, while backup Devontae Booker actually totaled more yards than the starter. With the Broncos falling behind early and the running game struggling, Devontae finished with 23 yards on six carries and also caught a career-high four passes for 36 yards. Anderson will continue to be the starter and receive the bulk of the touches, but the rookie will continue to be in the mix as well. However, he should not be started at San Diego.
Week 5 vs. Atlanta
Once again being used to give starter C.J. Anderson some rest, Devontae Booker finished with seven rushes for 30 yards last week in the victory at Tampa Bay. In his first four NFL games, the rookie has 23 carries for 92 yards. Booker should again remain on your bench versus the Falcons on Sunday,
Week 4 at Tampa Bay
As the Bengals defensive players was geared up to stop the run last week, the Broncos burned them with 312 yards through the air. Denver rushed for only 52 yards on 23 carries, with Devontae Booker receiving just four carries for eight yards. He did have a 17-yard reception, but will remain the backup to C.J. Anderson. There is no reason for the rookie to be in your starting lineup, even as the bye weeks begin.
Week 3 at Cincinnati
Spelling starter C.J. Anderson for nine rushes in the victory over the Colts last week, Devontae Booker ran for 46 yards. The Broncos rushed for 134 yards, with C.J. receiving 20 of the carries. Booker is the clear No. 2 RB for Denver, but there’s no reason for him to be in your starting lineup as long as Anderson remains healthy.
Week 2 vs. Indianapolis
After losing a fumble on his first career regular season carry and then failing to pick up a blitzer that led to an interception, Devontae Booker finds himself a bit in HC Gary Kubiak’s doghouse. In the win over Carolina last Thursday, the rookie totaled 33 yards on five carries, but the two costly mistakes may limit his playing time for a bit. Either way. C.J. Anderson has a strong hold on the starting role, so there’s no reason to start Booker this week.
Week 1 vs. Carolina
Devontate Booker will back up C.J. Anderson in the Thursday night opener after running without authority during a great preseason. Anderson should receive the majority of the carries against the Panthers, but look for Booker to receive close to 10 touches. However, that won’t be enough to warrant consideration for a Week 1 start.
Fantasy Upside
In what could turn out to be a great fourth-round selection by the Broncos, Devontae Booker is a stout RB who might very well find himself getting a lot of playing time during his rookie season. Even with Ronnie Hillman in the mix, at least during the preseason, Booker should wind up as the leading pass-catching back on the team, but will also be used to give starter C.J. Anderson a breather in a run-heavy offense.
Fantasy Downside
The only thing that slowed him down at Utah and running rampant on Pac-12 defenses was a torn ACL. Concern over his recovery was the reason Booker slipped to the fourth round in the draft.
Bottom Line
After a strong camp and preseason, Devontae should open the season as the No. 2 RB on Denver, backing up Anderson. Even with C.J. expected to receive the bulk of the action, Booker could be in line for a solid rookie campaign and is just an injury away from being the starter on a quality team.
