ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For all those fantasy leaguers who have a Broncos running back on their team, it must be difficult to play the guy.
Now that rookie Audric Estime has expanded the Broncos’ rushing duo of Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin into a trio, there’s no telling who might have the big game in any particular week. Estime was the leading ball carrier two weeks ago against Kansas City. Williams was the workhorse last week against Atlanta.
Is the strategy each week nothing more than play the hot ball carrier?
“That’s the $64,000 question,’’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “It’s difficult -- we know what we have with those three players and I think it’s hard to feed three. I’m used to two, and it’s easy to feed two. And so we do that [play the hot hand] a little bit.
“Thought Javonte had some good runs. The game ends and we’re like, ah, we’ve got to get Jaleel more touches. So it’s a tough but a good problem to have.”
Turner-Yell will sit out season
Backup safety Delarrin Turner-Yell was not activated by his deadline Wednesday, meaning he will stay on PUP (physically unable to perform) for the rest of the season. Turner-Yell was moving well and seemed recovered enough from his ACL injury suffered in the team’s penultimate game last year, but the Broncos didn’t want to cut another player from their roster and risk a waiver claim. They also have another special teams safety, Keidron Smith, with two more eligible elevations from the practice squad for Turner-Yell’s role.
“We spent a lot of time going through it,’’ Payton said. “We’ve got a real clear vision for him, bright future. Had a real good visit. I know it’s difficult. Where we’re at in the season it just became a challenge relative to managing the roster.”
The Broncos have to make the decision on outside linebacker Drew Sanders next week. Out since April with an Achilles injury, Sanders’ practice window expires to where his activation deadline is next Wednesday.
Blowout or bust
The 6-5 Broncos lead the NFL with five wins by 14 points or more. Buffalo is next with four such blowout wins. Seven teams have won three games by 14-plus.
The Broncos’ five big wins:
Week 3, Tampa Bay, 26-7
Week 5, Raiders, 34-18
Week 7, Saints, 33-10
Week 8, Panthers, 28-14
Week 11, Falcons, 38-6
Bronco Bits
Left guard Ben Powers stretched but then walked off for treatment on a minor shoulder injury. The hope is he won’t miss the Broncos’ game Sunday in Vegas. …
Starting safety Brandon Jones, who missed the game Sunday against the Falcons because of an abdominal injury, returned to practice Wednesday.
