Denver
Broncos

News: Orton threw for 221 yards but was intercepted three times without throwing a touchdown in the Broncos' 28-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Impact: The luster is quickly fading from Orton's fast start in Denver, and it won't get any easier next week, when he faces Washington's top-ranked pass defense. He does not look like a strong fantasy play at the moment.

News: Moreno had five carries for three yards in the Broncos' 28-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Impact: Anyone who started the rookie against the Steelers' tough run defense was immensely disappointed. Denver all but abandoned the run and Correll Buckhalter started and got nine carries to Moreno's five. Consider this a big setback for the rookie's fantasy rise.

News: Marshall had 11 catches for 112 yards in the Broncos' 28-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Impact: It was the third straight game without a touchdown for Marshall, but this is the kind of big yardage total his owners were looking for. Things could be tougher this week, however, when Denver faces the top-ranked Washington Redskins' pass defense.

News: Brandon Marshall had a big receiving night despite not getting into the end zone as the Broncos fell to the Steelers 28-10. Marshall caught 11 passes for 112 yards in the game.
Impact: Marshall had a great fantasy night for PPR owners, but getting in the end zone would have really solidified his performance. It was his first 100 yard game of the season, and if he is good enough to do ths against the Steelers, he can do it against anyone. His problems are in the past, and he should be a very good fantasy player in the second half.

News: Knowshon Moreno had an awful night running the ball on Monday night in the Broncos' 28-10 loss to the Steelers. Moreno gained only three yards on five carries in the game.
Impact: Moreno was nonexistent tonight, but so was the rest of the Denver running game. He only got five opportunities, and his overall rushing numbers have been rough this season. He finds ways to get in the end zone, but if he doesn't then his fantasy numbers are not going to be good.

News: Kyle Orton had his worst outing of the season on Monday night as the Broncos fell to the Steelers 28-10. Orton finished the game 23-for-39 passing for no touchdowns and three interceptions.
Impact: Orton was bad tonight, but it wasn't all his fault, as his team only rushed for 27 yards. This isn't a surprise since he was going against the Steelers' defense, but Orton and the Broncos' offense was exposed a bit tonight. He should only be your starting quarterback in good matchup siuations against bad opposing defenses.

News: Williams had six tackles and 0.5 sacks on Monday against Pittsburgh.
Impact: Another solid game for Williams, who continues to rack up tackles week-in and week-out.

News: Dawkins has seven tackles on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: A pretty standard game for the hard-hitting safety.

News: Bailey had 12 tackles on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: While he didn't record an interception, the 12 tackles is a season-high for the shutdown cornerback.

News: Prater connected on a 40-yard field goal and was 1-of-1 on extra points on Monday against Pittsburgh.
Impact: The Broncos' offense struggled all night and barely got Prater into field goal range.

News: Scheffler had one catch for three yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: Scheffler has two catches in his last two games combined and only has one game of note this season, which makes him a questionable fantasy start.

News: Stokley had one catch for four yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: The Broncos struggled in every facet of the game and Stokley did little to separate himself in anyway.

News: Gaffney had two catches for six yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: Gaffney is low on the receiving chain for the Broncos and when Kyle Orton only completes 23 passes, Gaffney usually doesn't end up with many.

News: Graham had one catch for 18 yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: A low night for Graham, who rarely lights up fantasy scoreboards.

News: Royal had five catches for 74 yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: A relatively decent night for any wide receiver, but it is unfortunately a significant night for Royal in 2009. The second-year wideout has struggled mightily this season and remains a questionable fantasy start.

News: Moreno had five carries for three yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: A dreadful night for Moreno, who had four fewer carries than Correll Buckhalter. While Moreno had large expectations going into the season, he has yet to break the 100-yard barrier and has scored only two touchdowns in eight games.

News: Buckhalter had nine carries for 24 yards and two catches for four yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: It was an ugly night overall for the Broncos and the team was extremely limited in the rushing game. An interesting point to note is that Buckhalter's nine carries were four more than starter Knowshon Moreno, who had been getting a majority of the carries in previous weeks. While there probably isn't more than the team liking Buckhalter more in the passing game, it is something worth paying attention to moving forward.

News: Orton completed 23-of-38 passes for 221 yards and no touchdowns on Monday night against Pittsburgh. Orton also had a season-high three interceptions.
Impact: Orton was pressured by the Steelers' defense all night and struggled to move the ball, which hurt the Broncos even more since they could only manage 27 rushing yards on the night. This was by far the worst game for Orton as a Bronco, although he should have better luck in the team's next game against the Redskins.

News: Marshall had 11 catches for 112 yards on Monday night against Pittsburgh.
Impact: Marshall was targeted by Kyle Orton often, as the Broncos' running game was shut down for most of the night. While he did not find the end zone, it's comforting for Marshall owners to see him back in the fold after a few down weeks.

News: Broncos Week 9 inactives: quarterback Tom Brandstater, running back Peyton Hillis, safety David Bruton, guard Seth Olsen, tackle Ryan Harris, tight end Richard Quinn, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and defensive end Ryan McBean.
Impact: No big shockers here, as Hillis and Lloyd were both expected to be out. The team is relatively healthy for their big game against the Steelers tonight.

News: Hillis is inactive for Monday night's game against Pittsburgh.
Impact: Hillis has mainly been used as a blocking back and special teams player this season, so this shouldn't affect many fantasy lineups.

News: Newest Bronco Ty Law expects to play on Monday night when the Broncos take on the Steelers, according to ESPN.
Impact: It will be in a limited fashion, but he will be on the field. Former Pro Bowler or not, however, he won't have an impact in IDP leagues.

News: The Broncos have shored up their secondary with another veteran, signing Law.
Impact: The 35-year-old Law, who has been to five Pro Bowls, gives the Broncos five players over 30 in the defensive backfield that now sports a combined 20 Pro Bowl selections. To make room, the Broncos waived defensive back Jack Williams. Law's signing also likely means reduced playing time in the nickel and dime packages for rookie Alphonso Smith.

News: Law has reached agreement with the Broncos on a contract, pending a physical, ESPN reports.
Impact: He'll add depth to the secondary but it's not clear how big a role he'll have right away.

News: Law has agreed to terms on a deal with the Denver Broncos. Carl Poston, one of Law's agents, confirmed the news Friday to The Associated Press. The agreement came after Denver's media availability and a Broncos spokesman said the team had no comment.
Impact: The 35-year-old Law, a perennial Pro Bowl selection, will fit right in with veterans Champ Bailey, Andre' Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill, all in their 30s.

News: Pending a physical, Ty Law will become a Denver Bronco, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Impact: The Broncos already have a top-ten pass defense, but it's never a bad idea to bring in a former Pro Bowler as a reserve.

News: The Broncos have added Ball to their practice squad, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: The Broncos cycled out Darius Walker to make room for Ball, who is now an injury away from getting a look in Denver.

News: The Broncos have released Walker from their practice squad, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: Walker hasn't seen an NFL touch since the end of the 2007 season, but he could catch on elsewhere as a depth guy.

News: The Broncos have signed Carlton Powell to their practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Impact: Powell was a rookie with Denver in 2008, and returns following a short stint in Cleveland this year. The defensive tackle should continue to be ignored in IDP leagues.

News: The Broncos have signed running back Lance Ball to their practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Impact: He replaces Darius Walker. Ball averaged 6.4 yards over 13 carries with Indianapolis as a rookie in 2008, but currently holds no fantasy value while providing emergency depth for Denver.

News: Darius Walker has been released from the Broncos' practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Impact: Walker has not seen any action at running back since his rookie year with Houston in 2007, and held no fantasy value while merely providing emergency depth for Denver on the practice squad.

News: Tackle Ryan Harris is expected to miss three weeks of action after dislocating two toes on his right foot in the Broncos loss to the Ravens on Sunday, according to the Denver Post.
Impact: This won't make life any easier for Kyle Orton. Tyler Polumbus will make his first NFL start next Monday against the Steelers in Harris' absence.

News: Royal had two catches for 10 yards in a 30-7 loss to Baltimore on Sunday.
Impact: The frustrating season continues for Royal and his fantasy owners. The second-year man doesn't have a receiving touchdown all year and has totaled just 158 yards on 20 catches.

News: Marshall was quieted by the Ravens' defense and managed just four catches for 24 yards in a 30-7 loss on Sunday.
Impact: Marshall has another tough matchup with Pittsburgh on Monday night, but he still has the potential for a good game. Safety Ryan Clark may not play for the Steelers, and the Broncos will likely try to throw considering that Pittsburgh has the league's top-ranked run defense.

News: Moreno was held to 39 yards on 10 carries, but he did find the end zone for the Broncos' only score in a 30-7 loss at Baltimore on Sunday.
Impact: The rookie's rise has slowed somewhat the last two weeks, and he may have trouble again on Monday night against Pittsburgh's tenacious defense. The Steelers rank No. 1 in the NFL against the run this season.

News: Orton had his least productive game as a Bronco in a 30-7 loss to Baltimore on Sunday. He threw for a season-low 152 yards and was held without a touchdown pass for the first time.
Impact: The Ravens' defense came out on a mission in this game, and it likely won't be any easier for Orton on Monday night, when the Broncos host the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

News: Brandon Marshall was shut down by the Ravens in today's 30-7 loss at M&T Bank Stadium, as he only caught four passes for 24 yards.
Impact: Marshall is yet to reach 100 receiving yards in a game, and today's 24 yards marked a season-low. The schedule will not get easier in Week 9, when Denver hosts Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football.

News: Knowshon Moreno had 10 carries for 39 rushing yards, and scored Denver's lone touchdown in today's 30-7 loss at Baltimore. He also caught two passes for minus four receiving yards.
Impact: Moreno has scored a touchdown in three of his last five games, but only averages 65.2 rushing yards over that span.

News: Kyle Orton was held in check in Sunday's 30-7 loss at Baltimore, as he only completed 23-of-37 passes for 152 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Impact: Orton's hot streak has ended, as he fired two touchdown passes in each of his previous three games. He will try to get back on track in Week 9, when the Broncos host the Steelers on Monday Night Football.

News: Dawkins had eight tackles on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: Dawkins was coming into the game with a slight hamstring injury, but he was healthy enough to record a solid number of tackles.

News: Williams had 11 tackles on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: Williams continues to put up solid tackling numbers in 2009, much like he did in 2008 before he got hurt.

News: Davis had nine tackles and one sack on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: A very productive day for Davis, who is often overshadowed by the bigger names on the Broncos' defense.

News: Scheffler had one catch for nine yards on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: After a huge game against the Chargers before the Broncos' bye week, Scheffler struggled on Sunday against Baltimore, much like the entire team. Quarterback Kyle Orton completed passes to eight different receivers and Scheffler struggled to separate himself in any way.

News: Royal had two catches for 10 yards on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: After a solid game against New England in Week 5, Royal was a non-factor as a wideout in Week 6 (although he did have a monster game as a kickoff and punt returner) and he contributed close to nothing following the team's bye week against Baltimore. Royal has disappointed nearly every fantasy owner this season and continues to be an extremely questionable start until he can put a few good games together.

News: Hillis had two catches for 10 yards on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: Hillis continues to be used as a blocking fullback and hasn't gotten many carries out of the backfield. While the team knows he has good hands, his opportunities have been limited so far this season.

News: Marshall had four catches for 24 yards on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: An extremely tough game for the Broncos as a whole, as they were dominated early and often by the Ravens. Quarterback Kyle Orton completed passes to eight different receivers and the Ravens did a solid job of keeping Marshall from breaking any tackles for a long completion or score. Marshall caught four touchdown passes in his last four games, but will have to wait for next week to get a chance at another.

News: Graham had three catches for 30 yards on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: A pretty standard game for Graham, who only occasionally finds himself in the end zone with the ball.

News: Gaffney had three catches for 43 yards Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: The 43 yards actually led the Broncos, who were dominated throughout the game for their first loss of the season. The statistical output for Gaffney is about par for the course for him this season.

News: Buckhalter had eight carries for 16 yards and six catches for 30 yards on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: The Broncos were playing from behind for most of the game, therefore Buckhalter's touches out of the backfield were very limited. Despite the low numbers, Buckhalter did lead the team in receptions as Kyle Orton connected with eight different receivers. Knowshon Moreno has the starting running back position pretty much locked up, but Buckhalter has been a rather decent play as a third down back so far this season. While an ankle injury limited him the past couple of weeks, the Broncos' bye week has apparently given him enough time to heal.

News: Moreno had ten carries for 39 yards and one touchdown on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: The Ravens defense has been pretty stingy this season and the Broncos were playing from behind for most of the game, limiting Moreno's touches. While he didn't dominate in the yardage category Sunday, at least he got into the end zone. Moreno continues to be the No. 1 running back in Denver and has a pretty strong hold on the spot.

News: Orton completed 23-of-37 passes for 157 yards on Sunday against Baltimore.
Impact: Orton did not have a touchdown on Sunday, but he also did not have an interception, the sixth time in seven games that he's done such a thing. While he may not be putting up huge fantasy numbers week to week, he is also not costing fantasy owners any points with giveaways.

News: Ryan Harris was injured in today's game at Baltimore, according to Lindsay Jones' (Denver Post) twitter page.
Impact: The trainers are examining his right foot, and his return is doubtful. Harris is a rock-solid right tackle, and will be missed while out.

News: The Broncos have decided to rescind fines dealt to Brandon Marshall, and intend to give the star receiver his money back, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
Impact: This is a good sign that Marshall and the Broncos are back on good terms. His fines totaled $73,000 and were related to his suspension for detrimental conduct.

News: Broncos inactives: RB LaMont Jordan, QB Tom Brandstater, WR Brandon Lloyd, OLB Jarvis Moss, WR Kenny McKinley, OT Brandon Gorin, DL Chris Baker, and OG Seth Olsen.
Impact: Correll Buckhalter and rookie Knowshon Moreno will handle the bulk of the workload at running back with Jordan out. The other inactives won't impact the Broncos as they head into battle at Baltimore.

News: Dawkins (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game at Baltimore.
Impact: The big hitting safety was able to practice fully on Friday, so he is available this week if he is one your IDPs.

News: Dawkins (hamstring, probable) practiced fully Friday.
Impact: It looks safe to deploy Dawkins (who has 38 tackles in six games) Sunday against the Ravens if he is one of their IDPs.

News: Dawkins, who missed most of the first half of Denver's last game with a hamstring injury and didn't practice Monday, practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, the Broncos' official site reports.
Impact: More on his status for Sunday's game against the Ravens as the week rolls along.

News: The Broncos signed Berger on Monday after waiving punter Brett Kern.
Impact: Berger is a 16-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler who played for Pittsburgh last season. Berger has a lifetime average of 43 yards on 796 punts. Berger made the 2004 Pro Bowl with New Orleans and the 1999 Pro Bowl with Minnesota. After two seasons with the University of Colorado he was selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL draft.

News: Marshall had five catches for 49 yards in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: Marshall has yet to reach 100 yards receiving, but he's on pace to top his career-high seven TDs scored in 2007.

News: Orton passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: Orton has thrown two TDs in each of his last three games.

News: Royal became the first player in Broncos history to return a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in the same game, leading undefeated Denver to a34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: Royal is the 11th player in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in a game.

News: Dawkins (hamstring) was able to return to the field during the second half of Monday's victory over the Broncos, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports.
Impact: Dawkins left the game during the Chargers' second drive, but he was able to tough it out and finished the game with four tackles. Dawkins' status for Week 7 has yet to be determined.

News: Bailey had seven tackles and a forced fumble on Monday night against San Diego.
Impact: Bailey continues to have a solid season in the Broncos' secondary and remains an elite shutdown corner.

News: Williams had five tackles, one sack and a forced fumble on Monday night against San Diego.
Impact: Williams is one of the few holdovers from the 2008 Broncos defense, but he is a solid contributor and is a pure tackle machine.

News: Dumveril had five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble on Monday night against San Diego.
Impact: Dumervil continues to dominate and is easily a top pass rusher with 10 sacks on the season.

News: Gaffney had one catch for 27 yards on Monday night against San Diego.
Impact: With the Broncos rolling, Gaffney has ended up playing a smaller role than initially expected, mostly because of the reemergence of Brandon Marshall.

News: Stokley had three catches for 24 yards and a touchdown on Monday night against San Diego.
Impact: Stokley always seems able to catch a few balls and occasionally winds up in the end zone, but he is not one of Kyle Orton's top options.

News: Orton completed 20 of 29 passes for 229 yards and two second half touchdowns in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: Orton continues to produce, posting a 115.4 quarterback rating and making some huge throws in the second half. He outplayed Philip Rivers just a week after getting the best of Tom Brady.

News: Scheffler caught six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: It was a huge night for Scheffler, who made two of the game's biggest plays - a gorgeous 19-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter, and a long catch-and-run to set up a score in the fourth.

News: Buckhalter (ankle) carried 10 times for 46 yards and added four receptions for 29 yards in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: Buckhalter showed no ill effects from the ankle injury he suffered against Dallas two weeks ago, as he averaged 4.6 yards per carry and outgained starter Knowshon Moreno 75 total yards to 43.

News: Moreno carried 18 times for 44 yards in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: It was a rough night for the rookie, who average just over two yards per carry and lost a yard on his only reception. That said, the Broncos seemed to trust him in big spots, as he got more touches and was in the game for big series despite being outplayed by Correll Buckhalter.

News: Marshall caught five passes for 49 yards in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: Coming off some big games, this was a quiet night for Marshall, although he did make some key grabs on third down to keep drives alive. Despite the limited production, he continued to look focused and locked in as the Broncos moved to 6-0 on the season.

News: Royal failed to catch a pass but racked up 235 yards in return yardage and brought back both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in Denver's 34-23 win over San Diego on Monday night.
Impact: Unless fantasy owners play in leagues that count return yards and scores, there was little to be gained from Royal's explosive special teams theatrics. He did get a red zone target late, but was otherwise a ghost in the Denver passing game.

News: Dawkins injured a hamstring early in Monday night's game against the San Diego Chargers and was forced to the sideline.
Impact: Dawkins returned at the start of the second half.

News: Dawkins suffered a hamstring injury in Monday night's game against the Chargers. His return is questionable.
Impact: We'll update you as soon as we know more about the injury.

News: Buckhalter (ankle) is active for Monday night's game against the Chargers.
Impact: Buckhalter will split carries with rookie Knowshon Moreno, though we expect Moreno to be the primary option with Buckhalter receiving a smaller chunk of the workload.

News: Buckhalter (ankle) has practiced fully this week and is listed as probable for Monday's game against the Chargers, the Broncos' official site reports.
Impact: Buckhalter has been productive with his touches this season, so he's an option in deeper formats, but we'd expect that Knowshon Moreno will remain the team's lead back this week.

News: Coach Josh McDaniels said that Buckhalter (ankle) should be available Monday, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: Buckhalter has practiced all week, so now it's just a matter of whether he gets the "probable" or questionable injury tag Saturday.

News: Jordan, who had been excused from practice Wednesday and Thursday to take care of personal matters, was back with the Broncos Friday, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: Coach Josh McDaniels said that Jordan will be available to play Monday night, but with Correll Buckhalter expected back this week, his upside is limited.

News: Scheffler (back) does not appear on Thursday's injury report.
Impact: It looks like the back injury Scheffler suffered last week against New England will not be a factor on Monday night. In four games this season, the Chargers have surrendered three touchdowns to tight ends.

News: Buckhalter (ankle) participated fully in Thursday's practice, NFL.com reports.
Impact: Buckhalter looks like a good bet to play Monday night against the Chargers, though we'll wait until Saturday's injury report is released before making any proclamations. He'll cut into Knowshon Moreno's carries to some extent, but the Broncos will probably be hesitant to hand him a big workload in his first game back.

News: Jordan missed practice again Thursday but is not injured, the Denver Post's Lindsay Jones reports. He was excused for personal reasons.
Impact: Jordan has value to the Broncos as a depth guy behind Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter, but he offers little from a fantasy perspective.

News: Jordan was held out of practice on Wednesday, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: There was no word as to why Jordan was left out, but hopefully the injury report on Thursday will clear it up.

News: Buckhalter, who missed Week 5's game against New England with an ankle injury, practiced Wednesday, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports.
Impact: Buckhalter, who appeared to be taking normal reps during the media portion of practice, may end up listed as questionable this week, but his Wednesday participation suggests that he has a decent shot to rejoin the team's backfield mix Monday against the Chargers.

News: Dawkins (knee/shoulder) may be limited in practice this week, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: Dawkins was held out of practice some last week, but was his old self when it came to game time.

News: Scheffler (back/hip) will most likely be limited in practice this week after getting hurt during last Sunday's game against New England, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: Scheffler was able to return to the game on Sunday after leaving briefly with the injury and he will be evaluated throughout this week. Despite being slightly banged up, Scheffler appears likely to play on Sunday against San Diego.

News: Marshall had eight catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 20-17 overtime win over New England.
Impact: Marshall has caught at least one touchdown pass in the last three games, notching four in that span. Next Monday night, the Broncos visit San Diego, which allowed three TD passes in last Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh.

News: Moreno rushed for 88 yards on 21 carries in Sunday's 20-17 overtime win over New England.
Impact: Moreno has rushed for 337 yards, the most amongst rookies. Next Monday night, the Broncos visit San Diego, which is 27th against the run, allowing an average of 151.0 yards per game.

News: Orton passed for a season-high 330 yards, two touchdowns and one interception - his first of the year - in Sunday's 20-17 overtime win over New England.
Impact: Through five games, Orton has seven touchdowns to just one interception and a 97.4 QB rating. Next Monday night, the Broncos visit San Diego, which is 12th against the pass (214.8 yards per game).

News: Orton was able to lead the Broncos to an overtime victory on Sunday against New England while playing without a glove on his right hand, which he had been wearing after dislocating a finger in the preseason, the Denver Post reports.
Impact: Sunday's game was the first regular season game for Orton without the glove and he performed at his best. It is great news that he was able to play without the glove and even better news with how well he played against a strong New England defense. Orton continued to spread the ball around to a number of receivers and showed many people that he could lead the Broncos to a win with his arm, after completing 35-of-48 passes on Sunday.