Courtland Sutton

Payton added that if this were a playoff game, Payton would probably be playing. But this is management with the hope of getting things in shape for Bryant down the line. Marvin Mims will find more snaps in Week 15 and both Troy Franklin and Courtland Sutton should get a slight workload upgrade.

Bryant is officially in danger of missing Week 15's game against the Packers after back-to-back DNPs to open the week. Marvin Mims would likely see a role elevation if Bryant missed the game. Troy Franklin and Courtland Sutton would probably also get more steady work if Bryant were indisposed on Sunday.

The past two weeks have seen Broncos WR Troy Franklin go from challenging Courtland Sutton's lead-target status to barely involved in the passing game. He followed a Week 13 dip in usage by running a season-low 17 routes in Sunday's win over the Raiders. That marked just a 39.5% rate vs. Denver's 43 dropbacks. Franklin still ranked third among Broncos WRs in that category but trailed well behind No. 2 Pat Bryant (67.4%) and narrowly led No. 4 Marvin Mims Jr. (34.9%). Franklin ranked fifth among Denver wideouts in total snaps, trailing -- in order -- Sutton, Bryant, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, and Mims.

Sutton corralled six of 10 targets for 62 yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over Las Vegas.

Sutton delivers serviceable results, but his day could have been a lot bigger. On the Broncos' second drive, Raiders CB Darien Porter broke up what would have been a 15-yard contested catch for Sutton along the sideline. Sutton's more consequential missed opportunity occurred late in the fourth quarter, when he got open on a post route from five yards out and allowed a target from QB Bo Nix to clang off his hands in the back of the end zone. Sutton is a WR3 against the Packers in Week 15.