Peyton Hillis may be on the cover of Madden, but he won't live up to the hype from 2010.

Before I begin talking about my next fantasy football sleeper, I’d like to give myself a little pat on the back for suggesting to all owners that they pick up Browns RB Peyton Hillis before the season last year. While others at my former site were touting second-year James Davis, I went against the grain and wound up reaping the rewards. Now, do I think Hillis can put up a repeat performance? Well, lets just say that his Madden cover might be the only accolade he gets this year.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the next player in my sleeper series; Browns RB Montario Hardesty.

In the Summer of 2010, Hardesty was impressing the coaching staff so much that he was touted as the Week One running back weeks in advance. Many owners jumped on him considering he was the ultimate sleeper going into September. Unfortunately, Hardesty’s fantasy season ended before he took a regular season snap. Hardesty suffered a torn left ACL in the team’s final preseason game against the Bears and was eventually placed on injured reserve.

Besides the knee injury, Hardesty’s college career at Tennessee was like reading a whose who of ailments. He underwent a left knee scope in 2006, suffered a high right-ankle sprain in 2007, a stress fracture in his left foot in 2008, and had his right knee drained in 2009, a year in which he also suffered a shoulder subluxation (say that five times fast).

Hopefully Monterio Hardesty owners won't be crying again.

The Browns knew about his history, but still considered him their future at the running back position when they drafted him by trading up in the second round. I am banking on 2010 being more of a fluke and not a sneak peek on things to come.

Fast forward to 2011; Hillis has been going in the second round in almost all leagues so far this Summer. It’s hard not to think he wouldn’t go this high considering he was the offense last year, but was Hillis’ fantasy year a fluke as well? How many times have we seen a player blow up one year, only to disappoint the next? Too many for me to count. And one has to wonder why the Broncos would choose to trade him for Brady Quinn instead of letting him try to prove himself the following year instead of drafting Knowshon Moreno, who is proving to be a dud.

Anyways, everything I am hearing out of Cleveland has Hillis as the starter, but Hardesty is expected to get a big role this year. His knee is fully healthy. And with a new coaching staff, there is no loyalty to one player.

As it stands now, it doesn’t sound like either player is going to have that much more of a role than the other. But if I was forced to take Hillis early (I plan on trying to avoid this situation altogether), you better believe I will have to force myself to take Hardesty, who has been going between the 11th-13th round in all redraft leagues. And even if I didn’t land Hillis, Hardesty could be worth a flex spot on your roster if he proves himself early in the season. So if Hardesty can stay healthy himself, he is one injury away from making a huge impact in the Cleveland offense. That’s sleeper value you can bank on.

Eli Manning has a tough start against one of the best DB tandems in the league.

It’s week one; another beginning for fantasy players and actual players alike. There are very few injuries concerns for quarterbacks heading into the start of the year, so there aren’t many owners out there looking to pick-up and play a QB. I’ve compiled a complete ranking of all 32 starting QBs, and grouped them into tiers to help you even more. Enjoy, and good luck!

MUST START:

1. Peyton Manning (vs. HOU)- As scary as it sounds, the Colts offense may be better this year than last, and Manning is almost a guarantee to put up consistently remarkable numbers. Manning will start another good year by putting up big numbers in a shootout against the Texans.

2. Aaron Rodgers (vs. PHI)-Brett Favre who? Aaron Rodgers has made cheeseheads forget about their former HOF QB. Rodgers and the Packers offense were unstoppable in the preseason. Expect that to continue when they face the Eagles.

3. Drew Brees (vs. MIN)- As the defending champs, the Saints will kick-off the regular season in a rematch of the NFC Championship game. I expect Brees to put up more yardage than he did the last time he faced the Vikings and come out ahead for the second time.

4. Matt Schaub (vs. IND)- Houston always steps up against the Colts, but they haven’t succeeded in the last 6 matchups. However, with Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson clicking, this might be the Texans’ year.

5. Tom Brady (vs. CIN)- In his second season since suffering a horrendous knee injury, we’ll see if Brady can return to his record-breaking pre-injury form.

6. Philip Rivers (vs. KC)- Rivers is a premiere quarterback in this league and he will be relied upon until as rookie Ryan Mathews gets his feet wet in the NFL. Even without Vincent Jackson, expect him to put up points on Monday night against the Chiefs.

7. Brett Favre (vs. NO)- The grandfather will try to avenge last season’s playoff loss to the Saints. Whether that leads to a classic 400 yard, 4 TD Favre performance, or a classic 5 interception game, no one knows.

8. Tony Romo (vs WAS)- With Cowboy Stadium hosting the Super Bowl this year, added pressure has been placed on underachieving Romo and his ‘Boys. Expect him to either step up or fold against a division rival.

SHOULD START:

9. Jay Cutler (vs. DET)- Thanks to Mike Martz, many fantasy pundits are expecting increased production out of Cutler. But, keep in mind, he is Jay Cutler. I won’t believe in him until I see production. STUD ALERT: That said, his few bright spots last year game against the Lions. He had a 6:0 TD to INT ratio in two games against Detroit. If he starts well, expect a big game.

10. Kevin Kolb (vs. GB)- Kolb has a good chance to produce in his first game as “the guy” in Philly thanks to a banged-up Packers secondary. He will have to if the Eagles are to keep up with the high-flying Packers.

11. Joe Flacco (vs. PIT)- The Ravens quickly and quietly transitioned from a defensive team to an offensive one. With Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin and recent pick-up T.J. Houshmandzadeh catching passes, the passing game will be much improved this year. Everyone will see how good they will be when they go up against the tough Jets D.

12. Carson Palmer (vs. NE)- Like Flacco, Palmer has many more targets to throw to this year. It’s time to put up numbers if Palmer wants to continue being considered an elite NFL quarterback.

13. Donavan Mcnabb (vs. DAL)- Under a new coach and with a new team, little is known about what to expect from Mcnabb and the Redskins. However, we do know that Mcnabb likes to beat Dallas, and he probably will play well on Sunday night.

14. Eli Manning (vs. CAR)- The Giants have been the quietest NFC East team this summer, and there aren’t a lot of variables on the offense. You know what you are going to get with little brother Manning. DUD ALERT: The Panthers defense quietly had an incredible preseason and Manning has never fared well against them in the past. If you’ve got comparable options, I’d sit Eli.

COULD START:

15. Alex Smith (vs. SEA)- Alex Smith has been a big sleeper candidate this year. Week 1 against the Seahawks, Smith will show if he’ll live up to the hype this year. STUD ALERT: Going up against an already-weak D still learning Pete Carroll’s playbook, Alex Smith has a chance to start the year off well.

16. Kyle Orton (vs. JAC)- Josh Mcdaniels put a lot of pressure on Orton by bringing in Brady Quinn and drafting Tim Tebow. Without Brandon Marshall, Orton will have to produce with an inferior receiving corps.

17. Matt Ryan (vs. PIT)- Now with a second year under Ryan’s belt and with Michael Turner back healthy , the Falcons offense is expected to improve this year. They will face a tough test week 1 at Heinz Field. DUD ALERT: Expect the Steelers D to play strong as they know they can’t rely on a Dixon-led offense for points. If Turner doesn’t produce, it will be a long day for the whole Falcons offense.

18. Jason Campbell (vs. TEN)- The JaMarcus Russell era is over, and Jason Campbell has come in with a group of young, promising receivers. While I like Campbell to produce this year, I’m still hesitant to back any Raider. Proceed with caution.

19. Vince Young (vs. OAK)- Facing Campbell and the Raiders will be Vince Young. Young finished strong last year and comes into this year with much more confidence. Sharing the backfield with Chris Johnson, Young will likely be challenged to throw the ball against 8-man fronts.

20. Chad Henne (vs. BUF)- Like Flacco and Ryan, Chad Henne will be expected to improve in his 3rd year. Now teamed up with Brandon Marshall, he is much more likely to do so.

21. Matt Cassell (vs. SD)- In his second year as the Chiefs QB, Cassell will most likely take a backseat to Thomas Jones, Jamaal Charles and the running game. Don’t expect a big game from Cassell.

22. Matt Moore (vs. NYG)- Moore played well when given the reins at the end of last year. He had a good connection with Steve Smith and will be aided by a trio of rookie receivers this year. Moore has the potential to make some fantasy owners look smart. STUD ALERT: Moore had an awful preseason, but Steve Smith will start against the Giants, who had the worst total defense in the preseason.

23. Matthew Stafford (vs. CHI)- Stafford enters his second year with an improved offense around him. If he stays healthy, Stafford may surprise some people this year.

DON’T START:

24. David Garrard (vs. DEN)- You know what you are getting with Garrad, and it isn’t much.

25. Mark Sanchez (vs. BAL)- Sanchez won’t be asked to do much outside of not lose games for the Jets.

26. Matt Hasselbeck (vs. SF)- He’s old, and fragile, and will be throwing to an unproven receiving corps. Stay away.

27. Derek Anderson (vs. STL)- Anderson is the starter now in Arizona, and he has Larry Fitzgerald to throw to. Still, he’s not yet worthy of a roster spot, much less a start, in most leagues.

28. Sam Bradford (vs. ARI)- Bradford is the only rookie QB starting in week 1. He has shown signs of greatness in the preseason. While Bradford might be worth a shot later in the year, let’s let him prove something in the regular season first.

29. Josh Freeman (vs. CLE)- The Bucs went out and helped Freeman by getting Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams in the draft. Now, there is a lot of potential in the passing game for years to come, but Freeman isn’t worthy of a start in week 1.

30. Dennis Dixon- After Roethlisberger’s suspension and Leftwich’s untimely preseason injury, Dennis Dixon was handed the keys to the Steelers offense. Dixon was electric in college, but he’s not much of an NFL quarterback.

31. Jake Delhomme- Delhomme’s better days are behind him. And he now plays for the Browns. That should be enough to dissuade any sane man from playing Delhomme.

32. Trent Edwards- Trent Edwards somehow will be starting again this year. No one really knows how or why.

Because of a certain big-time athlete leaving town, football hungry Cleveland might be asking more from their Browns in 2010 than they have in the recent past. In the wake of LeBron’s departure, the city is looking for a new face for their professional sports landscape and they might have it in a Browns’ uniform.

And no, we’re not talking about Jake Delhomme.

The Browns scored some fantastic quality in the 2010 Draft, and hope new President Mike Holmgren can work similar magic in Cleveland as he did in Green Bay and Seattle. Let’s look at the Browns heading into this season.

Quarterback

The Browns cleaned house under center, replacing both Brady Quinn and Derek Andersonwith former Carolina quarterback Delhomme. Delhomme was a miserable failure with the Panthers last year, but every indication is that he is only babysitting the starting job until former Texas Longhorns star Colt McCoy is ready to take over. While many draft analysts doubted McCoy’s arm before the draft, his track record at Texas is dripping with success. It’s only a matter of time until McCoy is the man in Cleveland, perhaps becoming the new face of the city post-LeBron.

Given McCoy’s a rookie and Delhomme hasn’t been good in years, having a Cleveland quarterback on your roster isn’t recommended this year.

Running Backs

Similarly to the quarterback position, the Browns have a decent but not overwhelming veteran that will be complimented (if not replaced) by a rookie this year. Jerome Harrison ran for 862 yards and five touchdowns last year after taking over the primary running responsibilities from Jamal Lewis, and was a nice sleeper pick last year. However, second round pick Montario Hardesty from Tennessee could see a pretty fair amount of playing time on early downs, while James Davis and Peyton Hillis both fight for table scraps.

It’s hard to see where the fantasy value is in the Cleveland backfield heading into this season, but of the four it might be safest to bet on Hillis to be a touchdown vulture.

Wide Receivers

Everyone knows Josh Cribbs is lightning on grass on a weekly basis, but last year’s breakout player in Cleveland was Mohamed Massaquoi. After the Browns dealt Braylon Edwards to the Jets, Massaquoi finished the season with the team lead in receptions (34),yards (624) and touchdowns (3). Brian Robiskie will also be a factor in the passing game for Cleveland this year, but none of these guys should be considered a big-time fantasy option as long as Delhomme is under center.

Tight End

Ben Watson and Robert Royal are listed as the top two TEs on the depth chart. Neither is going to light the world on fire, but Watson is a solid pick to steal a few touchdowns this year in the red zone.

Defense

The Browns’ top two draft picks might make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball this year. CB Joe Haden and S TJ Ward could both be starters by Opening Day, adding much-needed depth to the Browns’ secondary. In the North, they’ll get plenty of chances playing against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, all of whom like to throw the ball.

The defensive front is a mess, again, because DT Shaun Rogers has more legal issues that could keep him off the field. The addition of LB Scott Fujita from the Super Bowl Champion Saints will bring a solid veteran to a linebacking group that has some good talent  with D’Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton. They will need to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks to help their young secondary, though, and could give up a lot of points this season.

Stay away from CLE DEF, but there could be solid IDP value in the linebacking group on this young unit.

2010 Regular Season Schedule (all times EST)

Yes, every game is at 1:00 ET because, well, all of the networks see little interest outside of Cleveland in many of these games. The schedule is rough both because of the divisional games, but there might be some match-up value against teams like Buffalo, Carolina and the running game might do well against New England this year. However, looking at this roster, you might be better served to know the Browns’ schedule so you can start players playing against Cleveland.

Coaching Philosophy

The Browns will continue to run a 3-4 defense, but it could suffer in the absense of Rogers inside. On offense, it’s no secret that the Browns will use Cribbs all over the field, but trying to determine how effective any scheme will be with the limited options and mediocre, overpaid Delhomme under center is hard to tell.

Does Bradford have a shot at fantasy relevance in 2010?

While there are a number of rookies from this April’s NFL draft that should prove to have fantasy value headed into the 2010 season, none of them are likely to be quarterbacks.

Of the four big name QBs that were picked up in the draft only four have a reasonable likelihood of doing anything at the NFL level in the near to distant future, and only one has a somewhat direct path to playing this season from day one.

So few rookie quarterbacks who have started for their teams their rookie season have  been successful enough to warrant fantasy consideration. Of those in recent memory who have started; Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan (2008), Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez (2009), none proved to be fantasy relevant.

In 2008, both Ryan and Flacco finished outside the top 15 at their position, while a year later Stafford and Sanchez finished outside the top 20. Unless you play in an extremely deep league or a league that starts two quarterbacks, none of those guys would have helped you.

So where does that leave us in 2010?

Sam Bradford, STL – Bradford is the only one of the four on this list that seems to have a direct path to at starting job in week one. Unfortunately for him, he lacks a solid defense and running game like the Baltimore Ravens gave Joe Flacco, or a solid group of receivers like the Atlanta Falcons gave Matt Ryan, a top offensive line like the New York Jets gave Mark Sanchez. What Bradford inherits, (like Stafford did last season) is a team with holes everywhere across the board. The only shining beacon is his stud running back, Steven Jackson who has no offensive line to help him either.

Quite honestly the former Oklahoma Sooner may not be as good as any of the QBs mentioned above, and he’s on the league’s worst team None of this offers much fantasy promise. In fact the St. Louis Rams would be wise not to throw him to the wolves and simply start AJ Feeley and give Bradford a season to learn the ropes. At the very best Bradford will be a low end back up QB in 2010. Could he surprise? Of course, but the likelihood is slim. His fantasy finish will be somewhere between 25th and 32nd at season’s end.

UPDATE: This week Head coach Steve Spagnuolo said  that A.J. Feeley will be the starting quarterback for now because of familiarity with the system.

“It would be an injustice to Sam and the rest of the team” to set a timetable, he said. “He’s in the early stages of developing as an NFL quarterback. He came into the league far advanced from some quarterbacks I’ve worked with. We’ll do first what’s right for the team and second what’s right for Sam.”

Jimmy Clausen, CAR - I like Clausen’s immediate NFL ready talents a bit more than I like Bradford’s, however, Clausen should probably sit most of,  if not all of the 2010 season. If he does start, the Carolina Panthers give him an excellent running game with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, and a star receiver in Steve Smith to help his out. It’s unlikely Clausen would start the season either way, but he could take over down the stretch. If he does he could put up top 15 to 20 #’s. Still not a great fantasy threat in 2010.

Tim Tebow, DEN – For some reason, despite grabbing Brady Quinn from the Cleveland Browns, the Denver Broncos reached to grab Tebow. While I can see him in some special play line-ups this season, he really has no fantasy value until at least 2011, or 2012.

Colt McCoy, CLE – Despite the Cleveland Browns less than exciting QB situation; Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, I don’t see GM Mike Holmgren and Coach Eric Mangini giving McCoy the keys to the franchise in 2010. He has long term value in dynasty leagues, but barring injuries or a dreadful start for the team, Colt will have zero 2010 fantasy value.

So unless you are in a dynasty or keeper league, I would avoid all rookie QBs this season even as back-ups or second starters.

Is Harrison set to take flight or crash and burn in 2010?

What have Browns done for you? Or your fantasy team? The Cleveland Browns have been a bit of a black hole for fantasy production the last couple of seasons, with minor exception. However, one man has fantasy owners excited going into 2010. That man is running back Jerome Harrison. And why shouldn’t they be excited? Jerry Harry put up numbers identical to first round pick Michael Turner in fewer starts, playing on a bad team. Over a full season that could or should spell fantasy gold right?

In his final three games Harrison was a beast, running for 4 TDs and 561 yards. Almost 200 yards a game. Despite only starting 7 games he ended as the 24th best fantasy RB overall, and number one down the playoff stretch.

On a team like the Browns who will struggle mightily with their passing game, how can you not like his chances to be a fantasy stud this season?

Well here are a few reasons why I’m letting someone else overpay for the 4th year tailback.

1. James Harrison certainly opened eyes once the full time starting gig became his near season’s end. His final three games were like fantasy Viagra for the Browns. For that reason alone, many owners will reach for Harrison this year, and he’ll be overvalued. You can’t read too much into his final three games as he faced the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars. With his two most damaging games vs. the two teams (Raiders, Chiefs) who ended this season ranked dead last against the rush.
2. Montario Hardesty – Sure the Browns staff is saying all the right things about Harrison being their primary back, and citing confidence in his ability to handle the full load. Still those who have watched things closely this spring believe Hardesty will play a more primary role, with Harrison in a lesser committee role. Montario Hardesty is a great north-south, tank of a runner. G.M. Mike Holmgren believes his running style will prove valuable in the bad winter weather. That assessment alone could spell doom for Jerome Harrison’s value, or at least push him back into his 3rd down, pass-catching role. Regardless, this is shaping up to be more of a platoon situation, with a real chance that Hardesty could be the team’s #1 by the start of the season. Keep an eye on this as the season gets closer.
3. Peyton Hillis – Yes, Hillis. He came over in the Brady Quinn trade with Denver. Almost an afterthought one might think, but don’t be surprised if he makes an impact in the Browns running game. Coach Eric Mangini has already alluded to such; Hillis “catches the ball well out of the backfield. He’s 245 pounds and he is a really physical runner. That’s going to add an element to the offense that’s a little bit different. You could use him as the tailback and (Lawrence) Vickers as the fullback and you get a lot bigger,” Mangini added. “You could use him as a fullback with Jerome, and both of those guys are really effective catching the ball and even running with the ball. You can mix him in a lot of different places. He’s played on special teams.”
4. Finally there’s James Davis. Remember him? He was the heir apparent at RB for the Browns until Antoine Winfield trashed Davis’ shoulder in first NFL game at home against Minnesota last season. Davis was a beast at Clemson keeping C.J. Spiller tethered to the bench for two seasons. He’s looking healthy as he heads into camp this season, and he is arguably the best all around back on the team.

This is not to say that Harrison isn’t worth the gamble if he drops far enough, but that’s not likely to happen in most leagues as some fool will buy the end-of-season fantasy gaudiness and believe he’s found his secret weapon.

I currently have Harrison ranked 25th, but I expect him to drop further as we see Hardesty and Davis progress.

As Droz said to Gutter in the cult classic, PCU: “Don’t be that guy!”

This pretty much sums up the new-era Broncos. A series of inexplicable highs offset by inexplicable lows that leaves fans scratching their heads.

Last season the team traded away star QB, Jay Cutler. This off-season they traded the oft troubled Brandon Marshall, their leading receiver, and one of the best receivers in all of fantasy. They then acquired QB Brady Quinn from the Cleveland Browns only to turn around and draft poster boy QB Tim Tebow.

While no one is yet quite sure what to make of McDaniels moves, he is making it clear that he is reshaping the Broncos into HIS team. His moves, his personnel, and the team will thrive or dive based on his work, outside the shadow of who has come before him.

How his moves will improve the team’s fantasy value remains to be seen.

Division: AFC West – Projected Finish: 2nd Place

Strength of Schedule - #23 = 9th best. The Broncos will need a soft schedule to start rebuilding this team with new pieces and a new direction. McDaniels’ direction.

Quarterback:

Yes, they went out and brought in Brady Quinn, who believe it or not has a good deal of talent (1,339 yards, 8 TDs and 7 INTs alongside a 53.1% completion rate which is pretty good for someone who played on the 2009 Browns…but you don’t need me to tell you that right?) The problem is so does Kyle Orton, who has proven to be a fairly effective, though an unexciting game manager. In 2009, Orton set career highs in competition percentage (62.1%), yards (3,802) and touchdowns (21), but remember one little note: a ton of that was because Brandon Marshall was a Bronco.

Now, in 2010 Orton will try to lead an unproven receiving corp in Eddie Royal, and rookie Demaryius Thomas without the aid of an impact TE which makes him more of a risk this year than last.

In other words, Orton’s value took a big hit this off-season and you may not want to target him as early as you expected to.

Orton ended the 2009 season ranked15th in fantasy scoring for QBs, sandwiched between David Garrard and Joe Flacco. Don’t expect him to do as well in 2010.

Running Back:

The ground game was a pleasant off-set to all the goofy things going on in Denver last year. Knowshon Moreno wound up being the guy we all thought he was going to be rushing for 947 yards on 247 carries with seven touchdowns, and 213 yards on 28 catches for 2 more scores.

The Broncos revamped their O-Line and added meatier guys up the middle which leads us to believe they will run more in 2010 in an attempt to control more clock. Moreno will play an even bigger role this season but Correll Buckhalter will continue to play an active, albeit lesser role for the team.

Wide Receivers:

Brandon Marshall is gone after a banner year, Eddie Royal floundered last year, but could be ready for a breakout, Jabar Gaffney is the grandfather on the team, and Demaryius Thomas is supposed to be the second coming of Marshall.

• Eddie Royal was a huge disappointment in 2009 as he didn’t even reach 400 yards, and failed to score a single passing touchdown. But in 2010, the team plans to get Royal more inclusive to the mix, in a Wes Welker type of role (fopr those of you who may not understand that, he is expected to play out of the slot and be a primary target in the short passing game which could mean big numbers for him in PPR leagues…again, just like Wes Welker.
  

  Royal pains

• Demaryius Thomas and his 6’3” 229 pound frame has some big shoes to fill, and the Broncos feel he is more than talented to do so. He has great vertical pass catching abilities, uber speed, and is a strong physical receiver who is able to break a lot of tackles. He should have an immediate fantasy impact in 2010.
• Jabar Gaffney is getting up there in age and has definitely lost a step, so he doesn’t figure to be anything more than a decoy on the field, while rookie Eric Decker will wind up playing the role of the middle child.

Tight End:

There is little to speak of when it comes to the Broncos TEs simply because they are a team that rarely uses them. At least coach McDaniels doesn’t. Tony Scheffler—now a Lion—only had 416 yards and two scores on 31 catches all year…nothing to see here people, move along.

Defense:

The Broncos ended the season 6th overall in fantasy team production in 2009, after being cellar-dwellers in 2008. Of the team’s that surprised last season on defense, look for them to fall back to earth in 2010. we currently have them ranked at 18th this season.

For those of you in IDP leagues here are the names to know: At Linebacker, Elvis Dumervil racked up 17 sacks last year after only 5 in 2008. He is a strong fantasy player, but someone else is likely to over pay for him based on last seasons sack total. D.J. Williams remains the first Broncos IDP player to nab and is currently ranked 8th at LB.

The secondary is old, but it is hard to ignore the impact of Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

2010 Regular Season Schedule:

Wk	Date	Game	Stadium	Time (ET)	Network
1	Sep 12	DEN @ JAC	Jacksonville Municipal Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
2	Sep 19	SEA @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:05 PM	FOX
3	Sep 26	IND @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:15 PM	CBS
4	Oct 03	DEN @ TEN	LP Field	1:00 PM	CBS
5	Oct 10	DEN @ BAL	M&T Bank Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
6	Oct 17	NYJ @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:05 PM	CBS
7	Oct 24	OAK @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:15 PM	CBS
8	Oct 31	DEN @ SF	Wembley Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
9	Bye
10	Nov 14	KC @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:05 PM	CBS
11	Nov 22	DEN @ SD	Qualcomm Stadium	8:30 PM	ESPN
12	Nov 28	STL @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:15 PM	FOX
13	Dec 05	DEN @ KC	Arrowhead Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
14	Dec 12	DEN @ ARI	University of Phoenix Stadium	4:15 PM	CBS
15	Dec 19	DEN @ OAK	Oakland Coliseum	4:15 PM	CBS
16	Dec 26	HOU @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:05 PM	CBS
17	Jan 02	SD @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:15 PM	CBS

Coaching Strategy:

Offense:

Normally, this is where we like to breakdown how the team likes to manage it’s offense, improvements and such, but honestly, under the Josh McDaniels no one seems to know what he’ll do next. Fans have already been calling for his head after the team’s meltdown last season.

He’s been labeled the mini-Belichick, and much like his mentor he plays his cards close to the vest and gives away very little.

McDaniels’ philosophy is based on multi-receiver sets that is geared towards getting the ball to the open receiver rather than forcing the issue. This could mean big things for Royal, Thomas, and even Gaffney at times. Marshall is no longer with the team, so a more “spread the ball around approach” is the talk out of camp early.

Obviously, we’ll all have to wait and see how things develop…basing your opinion now is a bit futile.

Defense:

Don Martindale, the 2009 LB coach for Denver, was moved from linebackers coach to the new DC for Denver, and some feel that the Broncos will be more of a coverage team than a blitzing team as they were in 2009. This shouldn’t effect their ability to get to the ball (for all of you Dumervil fans, but what it will do is open the door for a new linebacker corp. that was lackluster at best in 2009.

The Broncos moved way to many people in and out of formations for the backers to have significant value; something that should change in 2010 with the new scheme.

Camp Updates 8/24/2010:

• QB Kyle Orton continues to shine in preseason and camp, showing everyone why he is still the number one guy to unseat in Denver, despite throwing his first interception against the Lions in their preseason matchup.

There is no question as to what Orton brings to the table, but rather what sort of players he has to work with. While Orton’s fantasy stock will drop in 2010, he is still a viable QB 2.

• RBs Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno return to practice this week after dealing with some lingering injuries.

Buckhalter will return before Moreno and will see significant action in the third preseason game, while Moreno is still a week away. Moreno is still being viewed as a RB2.

• WR Demaryius Thomas returns to practice today (Tuesday) after dealing with a foot injury that curbed his efforts in camp.

Thomas was just starting to put things together in this year’s camp, so his return is good news for the Broncos and fantasy managers looking to draft him.

Thomas is still highly considered one of the biggest end zone/deep pass threats out of Denver, and you should have no qualms about drafting him at this point.

Got a question regarding your draft, or a training camp question? Let us know below and keep checking back weekly for all your training camp updates.