Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos get early holiday gift: Jerry Jeudy becoming top option

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 12/14/22

In a Week 14 loss to Kansas City, Jerry Jeudy became the first Broncos wide receiver to score three receiving touchdowns in a game since Demaryius Thomas in 2014. Now Denver (3-10) must continue to feed him the ball to see if the former No. 1 draft pick can reach his potential.

That's what we call a hat trick.

@jerryjeudy pic.twitter.com/kg3BX2QDDd
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 13, 2022

"The catches brought a crowd starved for offense to life," wrote The Athletic's Nick Kosimider.

Perhaps the performance is an appetizer preparing Denver for a rich main course. The game against the Chiefs was Jeudy's best of 2022. Amidst the turmoil in Denver, he's quietly having a solid season.

Through 11 starts, he has six receiving touchdowns, tied with Justin Jefferson (Vikings), Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) and CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys) for 11th in the league.

Touchdown, @jerryjeudy.

: CBS pic.twitter.com/CbjokCJp8q
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 11, 2022

Other numbers paint a contrasting picture of Jeudy's potential to develop into a star. Per Kosimider, he's the best in the league against man-to-man coverage, averaging 4.67 yards per route.

Jeudy, however, has four games of three receptions or fewer, raising questions about his consistency. Also, Denver has targeted him 42 times in 11 games, tied for 63rd in the league.

By comparison, the Raiders have targeted Davante Adams more than three times that number (142) through 13 games. Adams leads the league in receiving touchdowns (12).

If the 23-year-old continues trending upward, Denver may finally have the No.1 receiver it has lacked since trading Thomas in 2018.

In this lost season, it won't hurt to find out for sure.

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