Who Are The 5 Best Broncos Players Right Now?

The Denver Broncos have struggled to be at their best this season. Early in the campaign, it seemed like not even the most famous Denver Broncos players, such as John Elway, Peyton Manning, or Shannon Sharpe, could come to the rescue for Sean Payton’s team.

But after some struggles early in the campaign, it seems like the team has managed to right the ship. Vance Joseph’s defense has looked better, even limiting the Kansas City Chiefs’ explosive offense. And while making the playoffs could still be out of the picture, they still have an opportunity to make a late-season push for a berth.

Needless to say, that will require the offense to also step up. It seems like this team hasn’t been able to string good games together, and when the offense shows up, the defense doesn’t, and vice versa. Even so, despite the inconsistency, some of the players have actually excelled throughout the course of the season.

So, now that we have half of the regular campaign already in the record books, let’s take an in-depth look at what the Broncos have been able to do thus far, talking about the five best players on Sean Payton’s team to date.

Jaleel McLaughlin

For the running game, Javonte Williams has been the Broncos’ workhorse. Granted that he hasn’t been able to get as many touches as he’d like because the team has been trailing often, so the game plan has to change and doesn’t always favor the running game.

Even so, McLaughlin has been instrumental when given an opportunity to do his thing. He’s averaging a whopping 7.1 yards per carry, logging 268 yards and one rushing touchdown in just 38 touches. He’s also been a steady contributor to the passing game, hauling in 12 receptions on 14 targets for 65 yards and two additional touchdowns.

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson was perhaps the most disappointing player in the National Football League last season, but he’s bounced back in a big way this year, at least, number-wise. Some still believe the team would be better off by letting him go, even despite his massive contract, but he continues to put up solid stats.

While no longer explosive as a scrambler, Wilson has been solid for the passing game. To date, he’s completed 154 of 233 passes (66.1%) for 1,613 passing yards (6.9 yards per attempt), 16 touchdowns against just four interceptions, all while averaging just over 200 yards per game. He’s also rushed 31 times for 201 yards.

Courtland Sutton

The passing game has been slightly underwhelming again this season, not because the players haven’t been good, but because the expectations were just so high. Everybody expected the WR duo of Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy to rank among the best and most explosive in the league, and that just hasn’t been the case thus far.

Even so, Sutton has the upper hand over Jeudy in most categories, so he should make this list as a representative of the passing game. Through the first eight games of the season, Sutton leads the team in targets (46), receptions (33), receiving yards (380), and touchdowns (6). He’s been — by far — the most steady contributor for Russell Wilson.

Patrick Surtain II

As expected, superstar CB Patrick Surtain II has to make the cut. He’s the best player in his position, not just on the team but in the entire National Football League, and that’s a lot to say. Even his colleagues have had no choice but to tip their hats off to him, and at least half of the league would’ve reached out to the Broncos to try and trade for him if they hadn’t deemed him untouchable.

Surtain II’s impact often goes way beyond the stat sheet. This season, the superstar youngster has logged one interception, 30 tackles (28 solo, two assists), and a team-high eight passes defended. His sole presence disrupts everything around the rival team’s offense, and he should be in for a massive payday in his next contract.

Nik Bonitto

The No. 64 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Nik Bonitto’s physical traits were more than remarkable, but it was always evident that he would need a year or two of development to be a steady contributor. Notably, it seems like he’s way ahead of schedule, as his acceleration, speed, and raw power have been among the most impressive in the league through the first eight weeks of the season.

One of the most promising outside linebackers in the game, Bonitto leads his team with a whopping 5.5 sacks, establishing himself as one of the best pass-rushers in the league. He also continues to make strides as a run defender, which was his biggest flaw when he entered the league. To date, he has nine tackles for a loss and 21 total tackles.