Javonte Williams

What could have been a promising 2022 instead ended Week 4 with an ACL tear, which in Williams' case is even more concerning given that he also suffered an LCL tear. Reports on his recovery were positive throughout spring, but it's difficult to pinpoint a return date and specify the workloads he'll see initially. His main selling point as a 2021 second-round pick was his ability to break tackles at an unusual pace, and it translated from college to the pros his rookie season when Williams led the league with 31 broken tackles on rush attempts while taking only 202 carries in a timeshare with Melvin Gordon. His returns as a pass catcher have also been promising to this point, with 75 targets on his first 657 snaps and only four drops en route to a 59-392-3 receiving line. Those numbers hint at 60-catch upside once he's back at full strength, but the problem for that theory is the Broncos' signing of Samaje Perine, who often spelled Joe Mixon on passing downs in Cincinnati. The former Bengal is also the favorite to work as the lead rusher if Williams isn't ready for Week 1, with Denver otherwise rostering late-round or undrafted RBs that were cut by other teams. It'll be Williams' backfield if he gets back to full strength, and the whole offense may look better after the Broncos hired Sean Payton and spent big on G Ben Powers and T Mike McGlinchey. Read Past Outlooks