As if things couldn’t get any worse for the Denver Broncos, it has been reported that second-year running back Javonte Williams has torn his ACL, LCL, and posterior lateral corner, and will miss the remainder of the 2022 season. With the landscape at the running back position already starting off confusing this season, this injury only adds to the chaos. Here’s how I’d navigate moving forward as a dynasty manager.
Heading into the 2022 season, many of us were willing to wait on a Javonte Williams breakout. Even though he was slated to split carries with his teammate Melvin Gordon, Williams looks like “The Guy”. Widely considered a top-10 dynasty RB, splitting carries wasn’t enough to scare me off from acquiring him anywhere I could. However, the combination of how shockingly bad this new Denver offense looks, and this injury, will dramatically change things.
Market Value: Although season-ending, this isn’t the end of the road for Williams. A 22-year-old running back that has been splitting a backfield since his days at UNC, has a really good chance of playing at a high level again. The buy-low window for Javonte is wide open at the moment. If you can find a manager that lacks patience or is in a championship window, go get him.
If you own Javonte Williams, don’t pick up the phone just yet. There’s still a lot to unpack. The Broncos only have Melvin Gordon on a one-year deal and Mike Boone. Williams’ role in the offense is not in jeopardy for 2023. Although the injury occurred early in the season, this sounds like it’s going to be quite a while before we see Javonte on the field again. If you can afford to stash him, I’d hold. If we can give J.K. Dobbins a stash after tearing his ACL, and never be considered a top-five dynasty RB, we should be able to do the same for Williams.
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