The Denver Broncos are dealing with the Wes Welker suspension and fantasy football owners now have to scramble and heading into Week 1, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Montee Ball and Julius Thomas are the best FF starter players over Welker and both Cody Latimer and Andre Caldwell could be sleeper pick-ups to replace Welker in lineups for the first four weeks of the season.
The Broncos were hit with a big surprise when Welker was suspended and while they have a deep roster of players to step up, it's hard to make up for his production. The team now has Emmanuel Sanders along with Cody Latimer and Andre Caldwell as well as Isaiah Burse and those players will be thrust into the lineup over the first four weeks. Welker was dealing with a concussion, so maybe sitting out isn't the worst thing in the world for him, but this is a big loss for the Broncos.
Last season Welker had his fewest catches since back in 2006 with Miami, but he scored a career high 10 touchdowns and his experience is also a major factor. Caldwell is a veteran and can step up, while the Broncos signed Sanders in the offseason to help with the loss of Eric Decker and now he will have to show that he can do that. Welker had 73 catches last season for 778 yards in 13 games and now he will play in a minimum of 12 if he doesn't miss any time and that is tough since the Broncos have games against the Seahawks and Cardinals over the first four weeks and also they open against the Colts.
Latimer was a productive player in college and now he has the chance to try and bring that to the NFL after going for over 1000 yards last season. Latimer has good hands and he performed at a school not known for their passing in Indiana and he now has the chance to be a major sleeper. With Welker out, the focus goes to everyone else and that is why Thomas, Ball and Sanders are the best starter options for the team over the next four weeks.
Ball comes into the season as the main starter and he had 558 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie and he also was a factor in the passing game with 20 receptions. This season he will be handcuffed with Ronnie Hillman and he could be a very good RB starter. Sanders is coming off of his best season in the league with career highs in catches and yards with 67 and 740 last season and he will need to continue on that path for the Broncos this year over the first for games. Sanders can step into the slot where Welker played the most and he has similar size and speed.
Thomas is one of the best players in the league and with Welker out he will be asked to do even more and he could be the highest scoring player in Week 1. The team also needs Caldwell to step up and his presence can help mitigate the loss of Welker, although he is more of a start option in deeper fantasy football leagues.
