The Broncos aren’t ruling out Emmanuel Sanders. He’s questionable on their injury report. But I’m comfortable saying the wide receiver won’t play.
Sanders left the Giants game with what appeared to be a high ankle sprain. He hasn’t practiced at all in the last two weeks.
Certainly, nobody should be starting Sanders and hoping for much of anything. And if you’re stuck looking for a warm body to plug in at wide receiver – anybody – Bennie Fowler should be on the list of candidates. With Sanders out, Fowler should be their 2nd-most productive wide receiver.
Fowler’s pretty good. He caught 2 TDs in the opener against the Chargers. When Sanders was out last week, Fowler caught 5 passes for 45 yards. Those aren’t big numbers, but Denver had a pretty lousy day in general, with Trevor Siemian passing for only 207 yards. On Monday night, he’ll be playing against Kansas City, which is allowing 284 passing yards per game (only four teams are allowing more).
Definitely if you’re in a PPR league, I would guess that Fowler will outperform some of the wide receivers that are starting for some of the teams (with 12 teams starting three each, there would be 36 wide receivers needed, and there are six teams on byes).
Also for the Broncos, defensive end Derek Wolfe (hand/foot) is questionable. He didn’t practice at all on Thursday or Friday and was limited today. Tight end Virgil Green (shoulder) is questionable, but he practiced fully today.
The Broncos have ruled out offensive tackle Donald Stephenson (calf) but he hasn’t been starting for them this year.
Kansas City lists two players as questionable. Linebacker Justin Houston (knee) looks iffy. He was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday and didn’t do anything today. Guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (knee) should be ready to roll after putting in limited work the last three days.
—Ian Allan
DENVER at KANSAS CITY
DENVER BRONCOS
OUT T Donald Stephenson (calf)
QUESTIONABLE LB Todd Davis (ankle), TE Virgil Green (shoulder), WR Emmanuel Sanders (ankle), DE Derek Wolfe (hand, foot)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday RB Jamaal Charles (not injury related), LB Todd Davis (ankle), DT Domata Peko (not injury related), WR Emmanuel Sanders (ankle), T Donald Stephenson (calf), CB Aqib Talib (not injury related), DE Derek Wolfe (hand, foot)
Friday LB Todd Davis (ankle), WR Emmanuel Sanders (ankle), T Donald Stephenson (calf), DE Derek Wolfe (hand, foot)
Saturday LB Todd Davis (ankle), WR Emmanuel Sanders (ankle), T Donald Stephenson (calf)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday TE A.J. Derby (shoulder), TE Virgil Green (shoulder), WR Cody Latimer (knee), QB Paxton Lynch (right shoulder), WR Isaiah McKenzie (ankle), S Will Parks (shoulder), T Menelik Watson (calf)
Friday TE Virgil Green (shoulder), WR Cody Latimer (knee), S Will Parks (shoulder)
Saturday DE Derek Wolfe (hand, foot)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday RB Jamaal Charles (not injury related), TE A.J. Derby (shoulder), QB Paxton Lynch (right shoulder), WR Isaiah McKenzie (ankle), DT Domata Peko (not injury related), CB Aqib Talib (not injury related), T Menelik Watson (calf)
Saturday RB Jamaal Charles (not injury related), TE A.J. Derby (shoulder), TE Virgil Green (shoulder), WR Cody Latimer (knee), QB Paxton Lynch (right shoulder), WR Isaiah McKenzie (ankle), S Will Parks (shoulder), DT Domata Peko (not injury related), CB Aqib Talib (not injury related), T Menelik Watson (calf)
KANSAS CITY
QUESTIONABLE G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (knee), LB Justin Houston (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Saturday LB Justin Houston (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (knee), LB Justin Houston (knee)
Friday G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (knee), LB Justin Houston (knee)
Saturday G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday DT Bennie Logan (knee), C Mitch Morse (foot), RB Charcandrick West (concussion), WR Albert Wilson (knee)
Friday DT Bennie Logan (knee), C Mitch Morse (foot), RB Charcandrick West (concussion), WR Albert Wilson (knee)
Saturday DT Bennie Logan (knee), C Mitch Morse (foot), RB Charcandrick West (concussion), WR Albert Wilson (knee)