ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently ranked all 32 skill positions groups across the NFL. Skill position players are wide receivers, tight ends and running backs — “playmakers,” as Barnwell calls them.
Barnwell has the Denver Broncos’ playmakers ranked 24th, or ninth-worst in the NFL. That seems a little harsh, but Barnwell explained that injuries are mostly to blame for the poor ranking:
The playmaker revolution we’ve been waiting for with the Broncos still hasn’t taken place. Injuries have been the key culprit. In 2020, wideout Courtland Sutton went down in Week 1. The following year, receiver Jerry Jeudy was limited to 412 snaps by a high ankle sprain. In 2022, wideout Tim Patrick and running back Javonte Williams were sidelined by torn ACLs before the end of September.
Barnwell also mentioned that receiver KJ Hamler has only played in 23 games through his first three seasons in the NFL.
On paper, Denver has a very promising group of skill position players, but it is fair to say they need to stay healthy to fully realize their potential together.
The Broncos have the lowest-ranked playmakers group in the AFC West, behind the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5), Las Vegas Raiders (No. 11) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 19).
The Houston Texans are ranked last (32nd) and the San Francisco 49ers are ranked first. View the full list on ESPN (subscription required for link).
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