There are a lot of big names on this Denver Broncos roster.
Defensively, you’d be hard pressed to talk to a single NFL analyst who wouldn’t call Aqib Talib and Chris Harris two of the five best cornerbacks in the league, and even if they can leave fans wanting more at times, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders remain one of the best receiving duos in the game — at least, they’re being paid like that.
And that’s without even mentioning Von Miller, who might be the most popular player in football, if not all of sports, right now.
That’s what happens when you go to two Super Bowls in three years and hold court with one of the most dedicated fanbases in the country — people take notice.
But what about the lesser-known guys, the guys who haven’t received a sponsorship deal or appeared on Sports Center? Those guys are the glue that hold this team together, and if it wasn’t for them, this team wouldn’t be where they are today.
So, with that in mind, here are the five most unheralded performers on the Denver Broncos roster this year:
It’s past time this guy goes to a Pro Bowl.
Week in and week out, I’m not sure if there’s a more dominant special teams player in the NFL; I certainly can’t remember a better, more-consistent special teamer on the Broncos, and guys like David Bruton and Ian Gold were great.
Webster may be a periphery member of the No Fly Zone, but there’s a reason why he wears that captain’s “C” on his chest: He plays a major role on this team.
Whether it’s effortlessly catching Riley Dixon‘s punts inside the 5-yard line or knifing through a blocker to cut down an opponent for a short return, Webster is invaluable.
The Broncos could take the names and numbers off of their jerseys and we’d still be able to call out Kayvon from a distance; he’s the one making plays.
Jordan Taylor
He’s only been on the field for 161 snaps all season (or, in other words, 19.75% of the Broncos’ offensive plays), which is good for fourth amongst Denver Broncos receivers, and he’s never been targeted more than four times or hauled in more than two receptions in a single game.
And yet, when he has been given an opportunity, he’s done his part, converting two of his eight receptions into touchdowns.
In the Broncos offensive of old, an offense where Denver consistently ran out three- and even four-receiver sets, Taylor may have been more of a focal point, but for now, he contributes where he can, and he’s done a solid job.
It’s hard for me to argue that Taylor is deserving of more recognition when he has single-digit receptions through 12 games — plus, he’s actually a bit of a cult idol here in Denver already — but I have a feeling he’s going to play an important role down the stretch.
Trevor Siemian and him look to have had a connection since preseason, and it’d be nice to see that grow during the final weeks of the season.
Riley Dixon
And for a team relying on a dominating defense and a please-don’t-screw-this-up offense, it didn’t make much sense to part with one of the best punters in the NFL just so you could save a few million bucks.
But to Dixon’s credit, he’s actually been a pleasant surprise. In fact, he’s been better than Colquitt, who’s spent the season in Cleveland with the Browns.
Dixon: 65 punts; 45.9-yard average; 20 punts inside the 20; 6.5-yard average return
Colquitt: 62 punts; 45.4-yard average; 17 punts inside the 20; 8.0-yard average return
Dixon isn’t one of the game’s elite punters, but he’s been perfectly adequate, and given the crap he and Elway received early in the season, he deserves some kudos.
Matt Paradis
Denver could be facing the ’85 Bears or the ’15 Saints and it wouldn’t make a difference; every team that has lined up across from the Broncos offensive line this season has had a field day — just ask the Falcons.
But it’s not entirely fair to condemn the entire Broncos line, because in reality, one of those linemen has actually had a fantastic season: Matt Paradis.
It can be difficult for the layman to judge offensive line play, but for what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus has Paradis (90.8) graded out as the best center in the NFL. In fact, they have him graded out as the second best offensive linemen in the NFL, only trailing Washington’s Trent Williams (91.5).
And even that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Though only in his second season as a starter, Paradis’ experience and knowledge has been instrumental in helping the Broncos’ young signal callers. Without him, the youth behind center may be even more evident.
C.J. Anderson
With Anderson tearing his meniscus in Week 7, Booker received his chance.
It has not gone well.
Since Anderson was placed on IR, the Broncos run game has gone from bad to worse, and while the blame shouldn’t fall directly on Booker (the offensive line is far and away the main culprit), it’s fair to say we undervalued the production Anderson gave this team behind a putrid offensive line.
Behind the same offensive line, Anderson was able to manage 4 yards per carry, while Booker sits at an uninspiring 3.5.
There are plenty of people who have complained about Anderson’s contract, which makes him the 11th highest paid running back in the NFL on average, but the truth is that C.J. has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over the last four seasons, and that’s elite production.
Since 2013, only six other running backs have matched that average during the four-year stretch.
The Broncos miss C.J. Anderson, and if there’s any way he can return in time for the playoff run, Denver will realize just how much he means to this offense.