The Denver Broncos’ receiving hierarchy has shifted noticeably over recent weeks as playing time evolves. Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant both head into a Week 15 road trip seeking consistent production. Which Broncos receiver warrants fantasy football trust against Las Vegas?
Check out the FREE Start/Sit Optimizer from PFSN to ensure you are making the right decisions for your fantasy lineup every week!
Troy Franklin’s Fantasy Outlook
Franklin has operated as the Broncos’ WR2 for the entire season behind Courtland Sutton. He has never quite been an every-down player, maintaining a 67% snap share with an 83% route participation rate. However, his target volume has remained very respectable at a 20.8% target share. That target share actually exceeds Sutton’s 20% mark.
At 11.3 fantasy points per game, Franklin has been an excellent fantasy asset throughout the year. He has progressed from waiver wire pickup to weekly WR3, providing consistent weekly value in deeper formats.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
Franklin’s recent performance against Washington raised concerns about his role security. Franklin only managed three targets in Monday night’s victory, resulting in two catches for 21 yards. This marked a surprising downturn, as he had been leading the team in targets, receptions, and touchdowns before Week 13.
Bryant’s emergence created direct competition for opportunities. The rookie outperformed Franklin in both routes run and snaps played against the Commanders. The shift represents a potential threat to Franklin’s established role, though one game doesn’t necessarily signal a permanent change.
Pat Bryant’s Fantasy Outlook
Bryant has been brought along slowly throughout the season. He failed to catch a pass in four of his first five games as the Broncos have shown patience with his development, gradually increasing his involvement as his comfort level grows.
His playing time has increased noticeably in recent weeks. Bryant played a season-high 67% of the snaps on Monday Night Football. He actually ran one more route than Franklin in routes run during the contest. This elevated involvement represented his most significant opportunity to date.
READ MORE: Soppe’s Week 14 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Analysis for Every Player in Every Game
The target volume has surged over his last two games. Bryant has seen target counts of six and seven over consecutive contests. He caught three passes on his seven targets for 42 yards against the Commanders, demonstrating his ability to convert opportunities when they arrive.
The emergence creates intrigue about Denver’s receiving hierarchy moving forward. Bryant ran similar routes to Franklin and received more attention in the offense against Washington. Whether this shift proves temporary or signals a genuine changing of the guard remains to be seen heading into Week 15.
Should You Start Franklin or Bryant This Week?
Las Vegas presents a favorable defensive matchup for Denver’s wide receivers. The Raiders allow the 10th-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to the position.
The bigger concern centers on overall passing volume. Las Vegas ranks even worse against the run, and the Broncos prefer establishing the ground game whenever possible. Denver will lean heavily on RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin in what should be a comfortable victory.
When these teams last met in Week 9, the Raiders hung around longer than expected. Bo Nix still attempted just 28 passes in the 10-7 victory. He completed only 16 of those attempts for 150 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the narrow win.
This matchup should be far less competitive than their first meeting. Denver opened as 7.5-point road favorites with the total set at 39.5 points. The Broncos enter at 10-2 while Las Vegas sits at 2-10, suggesting a potential blowout scenario where Denver leans even more heavily on the rushing attack.
Franklin remains a viable WR3 despite the concerns about his declining role. His established target history and rapport with Nix provide a stable floor even if Bryant continues emerging.
Bryant requires more consistent production before trusting him in lineups. One strong performance doesn’t establish reliability, and the limited passing volume in this matchup caps the ceiling for both receivers.