Summer Sleeper: Denver Broncos

Leo Paciga

broncos

With fantasy season right around the corner, we’re continuing our annual series focusing on a few sleepers from all 32 teams in the NFL. You can find all of the Summer Sleeper articles here.

These sleepers all have varying levels of “sleeperness,” but all merit a little more talking about here in the Premium Content section. Some of these players are deep dynasty sleepers who could merit a spot on your bench in a deep league, while others are players who may contribute a little faster than the deep prospects, but deserve more attention than they may be getting. By definition, a sleeper could mean something a little different to everyone, but we’re simply doing the best job we can to unearth one player from each team who fits the category in some way, shape or form.

We’ll never insult you with a comprehensive list of “sleepers” which include such such dynasty mainstay names as Toby Gerhart, Christine Michael or Cordarrelle Patterson. You’re all too good for that.

While many of these players will undoubtedly fizzle, there’s more value in looking more closely at these deeper prospects and players. We invite you to keep an open mind and either or re-assess your value on those who may be rostered in your league or consider adding a few of these deeper prospects we focus on this Summer who are free agents in your league – after all, some are destined to pan out, too.

Feel free to add your own comments about our choice for the designated sleeper, or nominate one of your own!

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Juwan Thompson, RB

Folks around these parts know me as a wide receiver aficionado, a lover of Sunday afternoon aerial attacks with a voracious appetite for big bodied pass catchers especially when it comes to building dynasty football squads.  So why on earth am I trumpeting a rookie free agent running back as my “sleeper” of choice when it comes to the 2014 Denver Broncos? Well, honestly one of the reasons I focus so much on wide receivers in dynasty leagues is because every year there are usually a couple of running backs who come out of nowhere to make significant noise, capture our attention and provide immediate fantasy production early in the season. I fully believe Juwan Thompson fits that description and could become one of those “no-name” running backs to send ripples through dynasty leagues everywhere this fall.

The Back Story – Juwan Thompson was a standout three-sport athlete at Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga. playing basketball, football and track and field before attending Duke University. While at Duke, Thompson was a two-time Academic All-ACC selection and proved to be a versatile athlete playing both running back and fullback positions. He also made significant special teams contributions during his time at Duke and even filled in at safety during his senior year recording 13 tackles.

What’s to Like? – The simple answer to that question is “a lot.”  Thompson has good size (he checks in at 5’11”, 225 lbs.), ample power and while he’s not a naturally elusive runner, he’s surprisingly nimble – especially when navigating congested areas filled with would be tacklers.  A closer look at his “nimbleness” shows he keeps his pad level low and his hips loose through the line of scrimmage which creates good balance and allows for fluid, clever footwork and the ability to cutback in traffic.  This UDFA has excellent vision and is very adept at reading blocks at the point of initial development. I say “initial development” because most running backs can see a hole or crease after it’s been created by blockers, but not all backs have the perception to anticipate a running lane at its point of inception. Thompson also brings value to the passing game with soft hands and razor sharp focus while catching passes.  Even more importantly, he’s an adept blocker in pass protection and we all know how important pass protection is to the Denver Broncos and their quarterback. Juwan Thompson didn’t “wow” scouts enough with his career at Duke to warrant being drafted this past spring, but according to all reports, he’s turned plenty of heads in camp with his ability, focus, work ethic and overall attitude.  In his first preseason game, Thompson touched the ball six times and ended up with 59 yards on the ground, certainly a nice performance for the rookie in his NFL debut.

Below you’ll see a Youtube compilation of Thompson’s highlights from his college career. Highlight videos are always a tough way to judge a player’s overall skills because there are no negative or lackluster plays to observe, but if you’re unfamiliar with Thompson’s running style, this video is a good introduction to what this UDFA brings to the table.

Final Thoughts – We all know the starting running back for the Broncos is Montee Ball, but question marks and opportunities abound once we start talking about the depth on the Denver roster at that position. Yes, the Broncos already have an underappreciated dynasty darling on their squad in running back C. J. Anderson. Yes, they also have Ronnie Hillman, the heralded third year running back from San Diego State who has a boatload of quickness and ample elusiveness. Hillman, however, has yet to show any hint of comfort running at the NFL level and has spent his first two years underwhelming the Denver coaching staff.  Enter Juwan Thompson, a running back with a very low price tag and a nice combination of size, speed and agility who can also catch the football and protect his team’s most valuable asset, Peyton Manning. Certainly Thompson has ample competition and a tough road ahead, but when it comes to identifying sleepers in dynasty, it’s usually a combination of opportunity and talent that creates the perfect storm. And one last thought…..Thompson is also a player who is comfortable on special teams and any player who brings value on special teams usually has an edge when roster spots become scarce.  Go add Thompson to your dynasty rosters now if he’s available on your waiver wire and thank me later.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me here at DLF or on Twitter @FFHoudini

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leo paciga