It wasn’t the result the Denver Broncos were looking for in Week 2. A back-and-forth loss to the Indianapolis Colts showcased what this offense is capable of. The defense put on a show in their Week 1 win, but they need to find a way to put it all together. Bo Nix will always be a big part of that, but it seems his former Oregon Ducks teammate, Troy Franklin, is seizing his role.
Franklin dominated the Broncos’ pass-catching corps, reeling in eight catches for 89 yards and a second-quarter score. It begs the question: should we consider Franklin the top waiver-wire option for Week 3?
Year-to-Date Analysis
Results matter, of course, but it’s snaps and usage that tell the story. By all accounts, last week was a breakout performance. In Week 1, Franklin was tied for second on the Broncos in targets while logging the second-most snaps among receivers. But that wasn’t saying much, as Courtland Sutton drew 95% of the snaps and Franklin just 59%. That completely flipped in Week 2.
Franklin led Denver with nine total targets—more than double Sutton, who was next with four. On top of that, Franklin out-snapped Sutton 48–45; no other receiver had more than 22 snaps. Having a stranglehold on snaps in two-wide sets is crucial to his fantasy value. His usage jumped off the page—Franklin was an integral part of their designed plays.
If he can maintain this high level of designed usage, combined with his natural chemistry with his former college quarterback, he’ll play a significant role in this offense. But does this mean Franklin is worth top priority on the waiver wire?
The Verdict
Don’t throw your entire free-agent budget at Franklin. But if you’re a standard league player, he carries enormous flex appeal and could encroach on WR2 territory. More importantly, he has found a floor that makes him viable in PPR leagues.
Franklin still carries some volatility in a Sean Payton offense that prioritizes the run. But the risks are worth it, and if he’s on your waiver wire, throw a nice chunk of change at Troy Franklin.
