Fantasy Upside
In his first season with Peyton Manning and the Broncos, Wes Welker was targeted 110 times, leading to 73 catches, 778 yards and a career-most 10 scores. Out of the slot, he averaged 10.7 yards per reception. Forty-nine of his grabs led to a first down and in five of the 13 games he played in, Manning looked Wes’ way at least 10 times.
Fantasy Downside
Welker is 33 and suffered more concussions last year, resulting in him missing three games, the most he’s missed in any season. He was already diagnosed with another one in the third preseason contest. The looks, receptions and yardage total were the lowest he’s had since ’06 when he was with the Dolphins. Eight of his 10 TDs came in the first six contests and Wes did not record a 100-yard game with the Broncos in ‘13. Second round draft pick Cody Latimer could eat into Welker’s playing time, especially during the second half of the season when he becomes more familiar with the NFL.
Bottom Line
In what will likely be his final season with the Broncos and maybe his career, Assuming he can stay on the field, Welker will still be an important part of the offense. He has a knack for getting open on third downs and will continue to be utilized by Peyton whenever he’s open. Wes’ numbers may continue to drop, but in an offense that anyone can have a big game, Welker should continue to be a valuable fantasy commodity while healthy, especially in PPR formats.
