The Denver Broncos have gotten out to a hot start in the 2025 season, winning seven games in the first nine weeks to become one of the AFC’s favorites at 7-2. After a big season in 2024, wide receiver Courtland Sutton has had some nice outings this year, but also turned in a couple of duds.
While they’ve been able to tie the game in the second quarter of their Thursday Night Football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the offense has struggled with one of their offensive superstars, Sutton, getting shut down. Let’s take a look at the eight-year wideout’s slow start.
What Happened to Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton?
Sutton started the season off hot with a few big games in the first four weeks. However, since Week 5, the veteran wide receiver has cooled off considerably as quarterback Bo Nix has increased the involvement of fellow wideouts Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant.
This has had a direct effect on Sutton’s output as he has failed to post a double-digit fantasy total in two weeks in formats other than PPR. Through the first half against the Broncos, he’s trending towards the exact total, hauling in two of three targets for 20 yards.
Courtland Sutton has scored single-digit fantasy points in back-to-back weeks.
It’s the first time that has happened since Weeks 1 and 2 of last season. pic.twitter.com/CqQYhCBVC9
— Underdog (@Underdog) November 6, 2025
Outside of a one-reception, six-yard performance in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, Sutton hauled in 25 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns through the first five weeks. However, that pace would cool off dramatically in Week 6, catching one pass for 17 yards.
He was finally able to find his way back into the end zone in Week 9; however, the 30-yard strike was his only catch against the Houston Texans a week ago on six targets. Head coach Sean Payton and Nix will have to find ways to get their WR1 more integrated into the offense.
According to PFSN’s WR Impact metric, Sutton is the 26th-ranked receiver in the league this season.
Through two quarters, the Broncos have underwhelmed against a poor Raiders team. If they are genuinely going to be an AFC contender, they need to come out firing in the second half and show some dominance against a 2-6 Las Vegas squad. Payton needs Nix to limit the questionable decisions while maintaining the offense’s momentum. Plays like the interception at the end of the first half do nothing to help the team.
Whatever the message at halftime was, Payton needs to light a fire under his team to come out strong in the second half of their Thursday Night Football showdown.