What to do with Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, K.J. Hamler in Week 9 fantasy football

While 2020 increasingly looks like a lost season for the Denver Broncos, the rest of the campaign can reveal meaningful information about their future. That starts with the ongoing evaluation for second-year quarterback Drew Lock, but it also pertains to the rest of the Broncos’ passing game.

Promising young wideouts Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and K.J. Hamler have an opportunity to highlight their abilities with top target Courtland Sutton on the shelf for the rest of the year with a torn ACL. The trio has an ideal showcase this week as the Broncos head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to take on the struggling Atlanta Falcons.

Fantasy Football analysis: Broncos WRs Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, K.J. Hamler

The No. 15 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jerry Jeudy has mostly looked the part of a lead wideout in his seven games with the Broncos. His crisp route running and ability to create after the catch have allowed him to lead the team with 359 receiving yards. However, Jeudy has garnered few scoring opportunities due to Lock’s health woes earlier in the season and general struggles with the offense. He also currently has an abysmal 48.9% catch rate, though the fault for that doesn’t entirely lie with him.

Patrick, though mostly anonymous outside of Denver prior to this season, has also emerged as a weapon. His 354 receiving yards barely trail Jeudy and he has proven more reliable catching the ball, leading the team’s qualified pass catchers with a catch rate of 69.7%. A sore hamstring landed Patrick on the injury report, but he will suit up Sunday and should not have any significant limitations.

Hamler possesses the best pure speed of any wideout on the Broncos, though that hasn’t quite translated into opportunities on the field. He has received just 18 targets in five games with few coming on deep routes. At some point, Denver will have to manufacture more chances for Hamler to show off his physical gifts, but until then he remains an afterthought in the offense.

As for the Broncos’ opponent, the Falcons allow an average of roughly 212 receiving yards and a touchdown per game to opposing wide receivers. For any wideout who can reliably expect a decent volume of targets, Atlanta’s defense presents an almost ideal matchup.

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

Start Jeudy as a high-end flex.

Start Patrick as a flex.