By R.L. Bynum
It was more of the classic Javonte Williams on Thursday night, and that was a big reason why the Denver Broncos rolled to a 33–10 victory at New Orleans on Thursday night.
Williams rushed for a season-high 88 yards, including a season-high 20-yard run, and scored his first two touchdowns of the season to match his season-high total yards output of two games ago against the Las Vegas Raiders of 111 yards. Williams caught all three passes targeted to him for 23 yards.
Williams’ 26.1 fantasy points are the most by a Tar Heel this season on a night when the big story was Denver coach Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans. Williams had two touchdown passes once before (in a 38–10 home win over oit on Dec. 12, 2021), but this was his first career game with two rushing touchdowns.
Williams got terrific blocking on his first touchdown and sped through the right side of the line for an 8-yard scoring run on a first-and-goal with 4:44 left in the first half for the game’s first touchdown to give Denver a 13–0 lead.
His second touchdown took some of that classic Williams strength to get the final couple of yards on a first-and-goal at the Saints 5 to give Denver a 26–3 lead with 5:53 left in the third quarter.
Denver (4–3) has won four of its last five games and plays host to the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 27 (CBS).
When Week 7 continues on Sunday, you can get up early to watch Drake Maye’s second start for New England. The Patriots face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 6 games, 8 catches, 105 yards (41 longest), 1 TD
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 204 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — First-string kick returner behind Kene Nwangwu; second-string running back behind Aaron Jones
Season statistics — 4 games, 42 rushes, 147 yards (25 longest); 6 catches on 5 targets, 42 yards (10 longest); no kick returns; sacked once for a 1-yard loss
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | 2nd NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver ahead of Anthony Gould
Season statistics — 4 games, 27 catches on 35 targets, 239 yards (25 longest), 8.8 average, 2 TDs; 1 carry, -1 yard
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Third-string right cornerback
Season statistics — 4 games, 6 tackles, 3 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 pass defended, 2 tackles on kickoff coverage
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 310 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle behind Thomas Andrew
Season statistics — 6 games, 3 offensive snaps, 19 special-teams snaps
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Amari Gainer, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker
Age 24 | 6–3, 235 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Fourth-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 6 games, 1 special-teams tackle
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Charlie Heck, Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman
Age 27 | 6–8, 311 | 5th NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle behind Paris Johnson Jr.
Season statistics — 3 games, had 13 offensive snaps, 7 special-teams snaps
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Mack Hollins, Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | 8th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting left wide receiver ahead of Keon Coleman
Season statistics — 6 games, 7 catches, 80 yards (21 longest), 2 touchdowns, 1 tackle on punt coverage
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Geno Smith
2023 statistics (Washington) — 17 games, 17 starts; 388 of 612, 63.4%, 3,946 yards (51 longest), 21 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 78.9 passer rating; 1 two-point conversion completion; 48 carries, 263 yards (24 longest), 5.5 average, 5 TDs
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 27 | 5–10, 191 | 7th NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting left cornerback ahead of Clark Phillips III
Season statistics — 6 games, 24 tackles, 6 assists, 3 tackles for losses, 2 passes defended
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Jacoby Brissett
Season statistics — 2 games, 24 of 41, 265 yards, 6.4 average (40 longest) 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 6 sacks for 47 yards, 81.9 passer rating; 7 carries, 50 yards; 1 tackle
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
24 | 6–4, 307 | 2nd NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 4 games; 19 offensive snaps, 18 special-teams snaps
Dallas has an open date this weekend
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 28 | 5–11, 205 | 7th NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string strong safety
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 tackle, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Green Bay, CBS
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 27 | 6–2, 233 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string middle linebacker
Season statistics — 6 games, 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 QB hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists
Week 7 — 8:20 Sunday at Pittsburgh, NBC
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–2, 220 | 8th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 4 games, 2 of 3, 5 yards; 3 carries, -3 yards
Week 7 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–1, 198 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver behind Rashod Bateman
2023 statistics (UNC) — 8 games, 41 catches, 699 yards, 7 TDs; 3 carries, 23 yards
Week 7 — 8:20 Sunday at Pittsburgh, NBC
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 24 | 5–10, 220 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
Season statistics — 7 games, 73 carries, 301 yards (20 longest), 4.1 average, 2 TDs; 23 catches on 29 targets, 166 yards (26 longest), 7.2 average; 2 fumbles
33–10 Thursday win at New Orleans — Started; 14 carries, 88 yards (20 longest), 2 TDs; 3 catches on 3 targets, 23 yards (9 longest); 41 offensive snaps (63%); 26.1 fantasy points
Week 8 — 4:25 Sunday, Oct. 27, vs. Carolina, CBS
On PUP list
Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb (recovering from left knee injury)
On injured reserve
Houston running back British Brooks (knee)
Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (shoulder)
Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green (concussion)
Las Vegas defensive tackle Tomari Fox
On practice squads
Arizona running back Michael Carter
N.Y. Giants linebacker Tomon Fox (has played 1 game with 1 special-team tackle)
Waived during training camp
Offensive lineman Marcus McKethan by the New York Giants
Cornerback Kyler McMichael by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive end Myles Murphy by the Arizona Cardinals
Offensive lineman Spencer Rolland by the Minnesota Vikings
Linebacker Andre Smith by the Denver Broncos
Photo via @Broncos
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