I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fantasy sports person.  In our Aerys Sports league last year I did okay considering much of my roster was autodrafted due to unstable bandwidth and difficulty getting our virtual draft to work for league members scattered across the country.  A few weeks I never got around to changing a starting lineup.  Despite all of that I did play for the championship, a fact that I’m sure is infuriating for people who take these things seriously.

Now, just because I’m not one for fantasy sports doesn’t mean that DHF should be neglecting your passion for it.  So in that spirit I’ve put together an extremely non-statistically based prospectus on the 2012 Denver Broncos.  As you’ll see…it could be feast or very, very bad famine.

Before we get to players and positions we need to discuss that elephant in the room.  Fantasy football, much like actual football, requires a strong component of luck to have a good season.  Much like the Philadelphia Eagles of 2011, fantasy teams have a tendency to look incredible on paper, but once the season gets rolling can dissolve into chaos for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps there is no greater roster to illustrate that unpredictability than the Denver Broncos.  In general, if you’re looking to put Broncos players on your fantasy roster, you probably should make them mid-round pickups rather than jumping other NFL talent while its available.  This is all because of…

Quarterback: From a fantasy perspective (and probably a reality perspective), Peyton Manning will solely determine the team’s fate.  If he’s healthy, and stays healthy, you can’t really miss on Peyton Manning.  He probably carries greater risk than Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger (maybe), Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Matthew Stafford (maybe), Cam Newton, and Andy Dalton.  If you’re taking Manning with one or more of those guys left on the board then you can officially make a t-shirt declaring, “John Elway and I are All In.”

Running backs: You know how we just said Peyton Manning was a risk?  Well that same risk has combined with another risk pattern to form a perfect storm of risky.  Sure, if Manning doesn’t go the distance in the regular season the Broncos will likely turn back to their ground game, thus inflating its numbers.  However, the Broncos would likely become sputteringly one-dimensional (sorry Caleb Hanie).  One dimensional worked for this crew last year, but read-option one-dimensional is far different than between the numbers one dimensional.  Willis McGahee could have a good year, or he could have a bad one, or he could have a very partial one as Denver will likely make running back a committee position.  Running backs are popular early round selections, but there’s an incredible amount of uncertainty about this position in Denver.

Receivers: Sure, take Demaryius Thomas.  Grab Eric Decker, and heck…throw in Bubba Caldwell, Brandon Stokely and tight end Jacob Tamme as well.  These guys are going to be stats machines this year with Manning slinging the ball every which way.  See where this is going?

Kicker: This one is weird as the same idea of “The Manning Gamble” still applies, but in inverse fashion.  If Manning goes the distance you’ll likely get minimal point production from Prater as the Broncos will likely be scoring touchdowns for points rather than kicking field goals.  In a Manning-less scenario, Prater may get more opportunities to point for you, but even then his accuracy thus far is pedestrian at best.  You know what…maybe just don’t pick up Matt Prater.  It’ll drive you nuts if you do.

Defense: Ah yes, and now we’ve come to it.  A safe pick.  The Denver defense isn’t going to win you your league, but it won’t lose it for you either.  No matter who is playing quarterback for the Broncos this defense will be solid…not awesome…but just solid.  They were solid last year, upgraded personnel, and now have the support of two defensive-minded head coaches, one of whom just happens to be working as a defensive coordinator.  If Manning makes it, this could be a very opportunistic defense.  Maybe it isn’t for you, but call it a hunch the Denver D could be a pleasant addition for fantasy owners.

So there you have it.  One additional piece of advice for would-be buyers: view Broncos players as mid- to late-inning relief.  This team is installing a drastically different system from last year, and is being helmed by a man who will have been out of football for about 20 months by the time he sees his first real game action.  Compound that with a fairly brutal early schedule and there’s a chance you may not be fully satisfied with your Broncos assets for a month or two.

Good luck…you’ll need it.

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New focus, same foundation in Denver Broncos’ offensive line - There is greater strength in pass protection without lifting a weight.  The added power up front was ensured with the Broncos’ switch in quarterbacks from Tim Tebow to Peyton Manning. Tebow took 33 sacks while making 271 pass attempts last year. Manning in 2009 was sacked 10 times despite 571 pass attempts.  ”The decision-making is so fast,” said right guard Chris Kuper. “You block as long as you feel pressure. When the ball is gone, they start to turn around. When the ball is gone in two seconds, they’re turning around.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos rookie defensive lineman Derek Wolfe a big hit so far – Finally, as Derek Wolfe planted his hand in the Soldier Field dirt Thursday night, he was staring down a live target. After weeks of being told “Don’t touch the quarterback,” Wolfe couldn’t wait to start a pass rush and finish it. Sure, Thursday was just a preseason game, and nothing that happened in Chicago will stick on Wolfe’s NFL record. But with two sacks and another tackle for a loss, Wolfe made a good first impression.  ”Obviously I want to be starting, so I’m going to do what I have to do to start. I’ll keep my head down, keep grinding, keep pushing,” Wolfe said. “You get what you deserve in this league. And if you deserve to start, they’ll put you in there.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

‘No Excuses’ For Second-Year Safety - Safety Rahim Moore isn’t slow to admit that at times, he struggled last year.  “I’ve had some good and bad (experiences), majority bad,” Moore laughed.  He’s over it. The only reason Moore looks back on his 2011 season is to learn from it.  “You just get better,” Moore said. “You watch (the film), but at the same time you have to move on. It’s not like you harp or get mad about it. You just get better. Because at the same time, there were some advantages that I didn’t have last year compared to previous rookies. Now, it’s no excuses. I’m just trying to make plays and win games. That’s it.”  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

Depth Chart a Work in Progress - The first preseason game is in the books and there is even more excitement among Denver Broncos fans now, if that is even possible.  The 31-3 win over the Chicago Bears Thursday night was seen by fans and media throughout the state of Colorado and, due to the cut-ins by the NFL Network, many smaller game segments have been viewed nationally.  One of the favored topics of discussion is the depth chart. The first one was published last week, and quite naturally it stimulates great conversation.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>>

2012 Denver Broncos Training Camp – Second Week Thoughts - With two of three weeks of Training Camp complete and the first preseason game in hand, it’s time for second thoughts on my first impressions from the Denver Broncos practices. Second thoughts being more a play on words than a retraction of my first impressions.  Read more from Mile High Report >>>>

Moreno, Garland, and Stokley Can Be Important Role Players for This 2012 Denver Broncos Team: Fan’s Take - There are three games left in the Denver Broncos preseason schedule and precious little time for certain member of the roster to make a big enough impression on the coaching staff to be kept around for the regular season. The roster needs to be trimmed to 80 player by August 28, but then another (more severe) cut happens on September 2 when the roster is pared down to its final 53 players. Of all the non-starters who are out there competing for playing time and a spot on the team, these three guys need to make that final cut when the Broncos play the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 9.  Read more from Yahoo! Sports >>>>

Manning makes Broncos bow - The future Hall of Fame quarterback, appearing in the NFL for a team other than the Indianapolis Colts for the first time, attempted seven passes, one of which was intercepted.  Manning finished four-of-seven for a total of 44 yards before being replaced by Caleb Hanie, who was also later pulled to give Adam Weber and Brock Osweiler, who each threw a touchdown, some game time.  Read more from Sporting Life >>>>

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Brandon Stokley shows Broncos he’s more than guide to Peyton Manning’s moves - There’s this idea out there, and it would be correct, that Brandon Stokley deserves some credit for helping the Broncos land quarterback Peyton Manning. But the reverse also is true.  Stokley said he was “95 percent retired” and content to move on with his life as a former NFL player when he decided to accept Manning’s invitation to work out at Duke University in late February. It was basketball that sold Stokley on the trip to North Carolina. That Stokley rediscovered he still could play football was a bonus.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Mark Kiszla: Maria Sharapova prefers tennis over Twitter; D.J. Williams should follow suit - In way less than 140 characters, I can explain why I love Maria Sharapova way more than Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams.  Stop. Get your mind out of the gutter.  Sharapova is a tennis champion.  Williams is a twittering fool.  Need I go on?  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Kickin’ It: Peyton Manning may be great, but I’d rather have Andrew Luck - Beaming in the Broncos.  I don’t think I’m the only Indianapolis Colts fan who recently installed satellite television at my house so I can watch the Broncos this autumn. I always appreciated John Elway’s accomplishments as a quarterback, but I did not follow the Broncos after he stopped playing. Since March, I have been reading The Denver Post online. Here’s what I’m sure of that Denver fans will soon also know: When the Broncos are down by nine points at the end of the third quarter, the fourth quarter will be the most fun you have had since Elway retired. Get ready. Dennis, resident of the Hoosier State.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>

Denver Broncos ‘Pay It Forward’ with community service - You’ve heard the term “Paying if Forward.” That’s exactly what the Denver Broncos did on Saturday.  It’s part of their inaugural “Be a Champion in the Community Week.”  They dedicated a full week starting last Saturday to community service. Players and staff visited with kids at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, helped out at the Ronald McDonald House, volunteered at the Denver Rescue Mission and many other service things. They’re also helping Habitat for Humanity build four homes for four deserving families. The families live in Lakewood, Aurora and northeast Denver.  Read more from 9 News >>>>

Catching up with….the Broncos - Part of a continuing series that takes a look at what some of the Patriots’ biggest competition in the AFC is doing this offseason. We’ve already looked at the Jets,  Ravens and Steelers. Now, we turn our attention to the Broncos: The last time we saw the Broncos, they were getting curb-stomped by the Patriots in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs at Gillette Stadium, 45-10. That being said, it was a tremendous run for Denver in 2011 — buoyed by a great run from the defense, some clutch work from its special teamers and a little magic from the quarterback, they finished 8-8 and upset the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs.  Read more from WEEI.com >>>>

Denver Broncos Undrafted WR Eric Page Can Make An Impact - It seems like every year, the Denver Broncos have some undrafted free agent emerge from their rookie class and make the final roster. Perhaps that’s a result of the team not having great depth overall, but I like to think these guys really know how to bring it and show up when their time comes.  This year, that player could be former Toledo wide receiver Eric Page, a smaller wideout who comes to the Broncos as one of the most productive players in all of college football over the last three years. Page finished his collegiate career with three thousand yard seasons, and left after his junior year with virtually nothing left to do except risk injury.  Read more from With The First Pick >>>>

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