WR Brandon Stokley, Denver Broncos

HT: 5-11, WT: 197, Born: 6-23-1976, College: Southwestern Louisiana, Drafted: Round 4

2013 Projections

Latest News

Broncos | Wes Welker making an impact (Mon May 20, 07:08 PM) - Denver Broncos WR Wes Welker is already making an impression on the Denver Broncos as he is trying to get on the same page with QB Peyton Manning. "Wes and I will continue to work and try to get on the same page," Manning told reporters on Monday. "I thought we had excellent production last year at the slot out of [WR] Brandon Stokley and adding Wes as a new player--we're looking forward to getting on the same page."

Our View: Welker looked good at OTAs today according to our very own Cecil Lammey. We'll see the Broncos use 11 personnel (3WR) as their base set in order to get Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker on the field at the same time. He may not catch over 110 passes this year but we wouldn't be surprised to see him catch around 90 on the season.
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2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Manning’s former Indianapolis teammate caught just two passes on the evening, but both were impactful. The first gained nine yards on a 3rd-and-7, and the second gained 17 yards on a 3rd-and-6. Stokley will rarely be the first option and will almost never see snaps in two-receiver sets, but his usage here suggests he’s still trusted by his quarterback in key situations.

Week 2 - While Stokley may have been the target on two interceptions thrown by Peyton Manning, neither were his fault. He did however prevent Manning from adding two more with one very athletic pass break up in the endzone and another excellent adjustment to a tipped pass. That second pass became a 16 yard reception to add to his two short receptions that both went for first downs. Stokley did some impressive things without making any notable impact on the stat sheet, outside of preventing interceptions of course.

Week 3 - Stokley caught all six targets and was the beneficiary of the constant Houston pressure on Manning. Stokley made a great grab on his 38-yard TD as Brice McClain had tight coverage, but he was often the safety dump-off for Manning in the middle of the field for relatively short gains. After only two catches through three quarters, Stokley quickly amassed his remaining four, all in a row, beginning with his TD catch. Despite the TD, Stokley’s expectations going forward should be tempered as there are much more talented WRs all around him.

Week 4 - Only targeted twice after his six targets in week three, this feels more like what owners should expect from the vet going forward. Stokley continues to be a release for Manning on crossing routes, including taking one for a 26-yard gain on Sunday, but wasn’t much of a threat otherwise. Manning looked to his RBs in the flat much more against Oakland and it clearly affected Stokley’s output.

Week 5 - Stokley was once-again the savvy possession target for Denver’s passing game. After limited involvement for three quarters, Stokley scored a red zone touchdown in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to ten points. Stokley faked like he was coming over the middle to block, and then gained separation in the back of the end zone for the score. Outside of an injury to a major passing game component, Stokley’s main fantasy value comes from adding to Peyton Manning’s weekly production.

Week 6 - Stokley caught four balls in the game, but the only one worth mentioning is his acrobatic touchdown reception that gave Denver the lead and completed their improbable comeback. Peyton Manning lofted a pass to the right sideline of the end zone for Stokley. At first glance, most observers probably felt the ball was thrown too high or that Stokley would come down out of bounds. But not only was the ball perfectly thrown; Stokley made an incredible effort to beat his man to the spot, twist his body to make the catch, and keep his feet inbounds for the score. It is clear that he is not the number one option in the offense, but it is just as clear that Manning is not afraid to go to him in an absolutely critical spot.

Week 8 - Stokley's first target was a curl route when Jabari Greer ran through him to give the Broncos a penalty. His second was a crossing route when he easily beat safety Roman Harper across the field in single coverage. According to Cecil Lammey, the Saints were bracketing Brandon Stokley in coverage, which is completely inexplicable.

Week 9 - Stokley was, once-again, the savvy veteran receiver that Manning has a way of finding in the clutch moments of a game. After a defensive back broke up Stokley’s first target of the game on a third-and-long seam route, he made big play after big play. Manning showed off his arm strength that many questioned on a deep out route to the far side of the field, right on the numbers to Stokley. Then, Stokley made a tough reception on a deep slant route, fueling a promising Denver drive. Arguably his biggest play came in the fourth quarter, a short hitch route with plenty of yards-after-the-catch to convert a third down. That play got Denver into scoring range and continued a drive that could have flipped momentum if the Broncos stalled. While not a viable weekly play in his own right, Stokley has impressed with his ability to keep Denver drives alive and bolster Peyton Manning’s already high level of production.

Week 10 - Brandon Stokley was a reliable intermediate target for Manning the entire game, even getting into the end zone on a great route adjustment. As Manning sprinted out right, Stokley – seeing the void in coverage in the middle of the field – settled down there and was wide open for the easy pitch and catch. Manning and Stokley seem to share a brain on some plays; Stokley is consistently able to find the soft spots and present a target for Manning when he is under pressure. The veteran will have a part to play in the Broncos’ play-off run as he looks just as quick as he used to.

Week 11 - Stokley was the surprise leading receiver on the day for Denver, catching three forgettable passes for 24 yards on the field of play but also adding a huge touchdown grab late in the first half to put the Broncos up by ten. He slipped behind the defense after a gorgeous pump fake by QB Peyton Manning, and the quarterback easily found him for a wide open touchdown when both defensive backs bit on the fake. It was one of the easier scores Stokley will ever have.

Week 12 - Other than a drop on a perfect pass down the seam, Stokley had a very productive day. In the second quarter he beat the safety badly out of the slot and then broke a tackle to turn a nice gain into a 31 yard gain. Stokley’s best catch came on a tipped pass on a deep cross, showing great body control to go to the ground and make the 18 yard grab.

Week 16 - Stokley was the primary slot receiver and used on underneath routes. His biggest reception of the day, a 15-yarder, was actually tipped up in the air by intended receiver Eric Decker into Stokley’s arms. Stokley’s biggest impact of the game came on an offensive pass interference penalty. He ran a crossing route and blocked a defensive back in coverage of Demaryius Thomas. While the block sprung Thomas for a 30-yard gain, the penalty negated the play and put Denver in a long yardage situation.

Week 17 - The longtime teammate of Peyton Manning caught three Manning passes for forty-nine yards as the Broncos’ slot receiver. Manning and Stokley started the game off with a bang, connecting for a twenty-nine yard gain off a deep crossing route, in which Stokley brought the ball into Kansas City territory on Denver’s first offensive play. Manning and Stokley hooked up twice more for short gains in the second quarter. Stokley will likely continue to be an incremental, but still important contributor for the Broncos in the playoffs.

Week 19 - The impressive chemistry continued for the former teammates in their Indianapolis days against Baltimore this week. Stokley caught an impressive fade route throw to cap a long touchdown drive, which could only have been matched by a handful of receivers in the NFL. It was a true highlight play with a perfect throw and just-as-perfect ball on the ball. Stokley was targeted on two third downs throughout the game. He was able to corral one of the two low throws on those opportunities. It was in overtime that the play that will be remembered long into the offseason involving Manning and Stokley occurred. With Manning rolling out of the pocket, he threw across his body to a well-covered Stokley that was intercepted. That mistake proved costly as Baltimore gained a few yards and kicked the game-winning field goal. Stokley had an impressive renaissance season and could return to Denver in 2013. He was a savvy possession receiver and capable of end zone plays like against Baltimore. He will be 37-years-old and need a new contract as he signed a one-year deal for 2012.