Week 17 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Without Phillip Lindsay to share carries last week against the Chargers, Melvin Gordon led Denver with 79 yards on 16 attempts. He’s only eclipsed the century mark twice this season and is going to need 107 yards in the finale to reach 1,000. Gordon was held to 46 yards in November’s loss to the Raiders but makes for a good start on Sunday.
Week 16 at Los Angeles Chargers
Even though the Broncos were manhandled by Buffalo last week, Melvin Gordon turned in a good fantasy performance. He led the ground attack with 61 yards on 11 attempts and two scores, and caught four passes for 20 yards. Gordon continues to be the more productive back for Denver, with nine TDs this season. Versus his former team earlier this season he was held to 47 yards on 14 touches.
Week 15 vs. Buffalo Bills
At Carolina last Sunday, Melvin Gordon led the Broncos with 13 rushes for 68 yards and caught three passes for a season-most 23 yards. Although he hasn’t found the end zone in six of the past seven outings, in three of the past four weeks Gordon has totaled at least 84 scrimmage yards. For the final three contests of the season, he will continue to split carries with Phillip Lindsay, but Gordon has been the better back to own this season. He makes for an RB2 play at home Saturday versus the Bills’ average run defense.
Week 14 at Carolina Panthers
At the Chiefs last Sunday night, Melvin Gordon rushed for a season-high 131 yards on 15 carries, aided by a 65-yard second-quarter gallop. Gordon continues to share the backfield with Phillip Lindsay, who finished with 14 attempts in the loss. Despite scoring seven times in ’20, Gordon hasn’t found pay dirt in five of his last six contests but will be facing an average Carolina’s run defense so consider him an RB2 start.
Week 13 at Kansas City Chiefs
Without a true QB last week versus New Orleans, Melvin Gordon led Denver with 12 rushing attempts but for just 31 yards, as the Saints were able to stack the line with Kendall Hinton and Royce Freeman taking most of the snaps. Gordon has failed to find the end zone in four of the past five outings but should see most of the backfield action on Sunday night with Phillip Lindsay nursing a sore knee. The Broncos will try to control the clock with the ground game against the high-powered Chiefs offense, Gordon ran for 68 yards and a score earlier this season versus Kansas City.
Week 12 vs. New Orleans Saints
In the win over Miami last week, Melvin Gordon led Denver with 84 yards on 15 carries and two TDs. He nearly had a third score but lost a fumble at the one-yard line with a chance to put the game away. With the Broncos actually being in the game, and ahead, they were able to utilize the ground game, something that’d been missing over the previous month. In nine games this season Gordon has seven touchdowns but will be facing a stout New Orleans defense on Sunday. Consider him a low-end RB2 play.
Week 11 vs. Miami Dolphins
With the Broncos having trouble moving the ball in the first half again in Las Vegas last week, Melvin Gordon received only 11 rushing attempts for 46 yards. While fellow RB Phillip Lindsay finished with just four rushes, in the past three games Gordon has totaled 25 carries for 90 yards and no TDs. Right now Denver’s offense just isn’t doing enough for either RB to be much of a fantasy start, even versus the No. 22 Miami run defense.
Week 10 at Las Vegas Raiders
The Falcons limited Melvin Gordon to 18 yards on six carries and a nine-yard reception last week. The Broncos again found themselves down big, which resulted in only 14 carries between Gordon and Phillip Lindsay. In the past two contests Gordon has totaled just 74 yards and no scores. He may be able to get things turned around at Las Vegas on Sunday against an average Raiders run defense but is still a low-end RB2 play.
Week 9 at Atlanta Falcons
Once again Melvin Gordon shared the backfield with Phillip Lindsay in the dramatic win over the Chargers last Sunday. Lindsay remains the more explosive player, as he got the offense going with a 55-yard TD burst in the second half. Gordon finished with just 26 rushing yards but caught a season-high six passes for 21 yards. The RBBC committee will continue at Atlanta this week, so consider Gordon an RB2 against the No. 6 run defense.
Week 8 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
With the Broncos playing catchup versus Kansas City last Sunday, Melvin Gordon scored a garbage TD - his fifth in five games played this season. He carried 17 times for 68 yards but lost two fumbles in the snow and was being outplayed by Phillip Lindsay before the fellow RB left with a concussion. As long as both backs are healthy Denver will continue to utilize an RBBC approach, which doesn’t help owners. At home versus an average Chargers run defense, Gordon is an RB2 start.
