The Denver Broncos downed the Washington Commanders 27-26 in Week 13 on “Sunday Night Football,” but slot wide receiver Troy Franklin disappointed in fantasy football. Heading into Week 13, he had 45 targets since Week 7 — his past five games. In the same sample size, wide receiver Courtland Sutton had 34 targets. Franklin, meanwhile, parlayed his opportunity into 22 receptions, 259 yards, and four touchdowns — and looked like the No. 1 WR.
The Real Reason Troy Franklin Disappointed in Week 13
What happened? Broncos head coach Sean Payton explained after the game.
He said, “They did a few things differently by staying in their heavy personnel. Teams have been able to run the ball in sub against them. And to (Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn’s) credit, they didn’t allow that. So, we started scattering out of some of our one back runs to throw it against their base to try to counteract that.
While this explains why the Broncos’ offense couldn’t run the ball in Week 13, it explains why Franklin disappointed as well. Because the Commanders’ defense sat in base defense, the Broncos’ offense had to play a cat-and-mouse game. Eventually, the Broncos’ offense passed in one-back personnel groupings. This is 12 and 13 personnel — and 11 personnel a little bit.
That said, Franklin, who had played on 65% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps headed into Week 13, was left off the field. There’s no slot WR on the field in 12- and 13-personnel formations. In fact, Franklin played on a season-low 52.9% of the offensive snaps in Week 13. The opportunity parlayed into two receptions on three targets for 21 yards.
So, don’t worry about Franklin for the rest of the regular season. In Week 14, he plays the Las Vegas Raiders again. The first time around, Franklin totaled five receptions on nine targets for 40 yards and a touchdown. He is No. 46 in PFSN’s WR Impact Score. And the Broncos’ offense is No. 14 in PFSN’s Offense Impact Score as well. Look for Franklin to bounce back in Week 14 against an opponent he’s already had success against.
Elsewhere, Sutton said, “Our room has been producing really well,” backing the wide receivers’ room. Because, as cornerback Pat Surtain II said, “We control our destiny.”