Marvin Mims

Despite RB Jaleel McLaughlin's absence, the Broncos stuck with a three-man committee backfield in Thursday night's loss to the Chargers. RB Audric Estime led the way with nine carries for 48 yards and a score. But he played just 13 offensive snaps -- 20 fewer than RB Javonte Williams and three more than RB Blake Watson. Williams finished with four carries and a team-high 11 targets, while Watson tallied four carries and two targets. The Broncos even used WR Marvin Mims in the backfield for five snaps.

The overwhelming majority of the yardage for Mims came on a swing pass from Bo Nix that resulted in a 53-yard dash down the sideline. Outside of that he was mostly a non-factor, but that shouldn't have been the case. Mims cooked the Chargers' secondary on what should have resulted on a long touchdown, but Nix put far too much air on the pass to change the long score into an incompletion. Mims will likely remain a gadget player for Week 17 against the Bengals. The question is whether that will change in the coming years.

Nix and the Broncos' offense started out red hot, as they scored touchdowns on their first three drives. He found Devaughn Vele and Michael Burton on short touchdown throws in the first 30 minutes, and looked to be having another outstanding fantasy game. Things did not go nearly as well over the final two quarters, however, and the Broncos scored just three points while picking up just six first downs in the third and fourth quarter. When Nix threw short things went well, but the deep shots remain inconsistent -- at best -- and in particular a throw to a wide-open Marvin Mims had entirely too much air into it; eliminating what could have been a long scoring play for both. Nix and the Broncos have what is now a massive Week 17 matchup against the Bengals.

Denver's Marvin Mims had a big day as a punt returner, heavily contributing to the Broncos' 31-13 victory over the Colts.

Denver's Marvin Mims had a big day as a punt returner, heavily contributing to the Broncos' 31-13 victory over the Colts.