Peyton Manning: How Star QB Will Affect Broncos' Top Playmakers' Stats

When the Denver Broncos signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning to a five-year, $96 million deal and jettisoned incumbent Tim Tebow, most analysts agreed that it would mean only good things for the team's anemic passing game.

At just 152.1 yards per game, the Broncos passing attack ranked 31st in the NFL last season as Tebow struggled to consistently complete passes. His 46.5 completion percentage ranked last of all qualifying quarterbacks, and the former Florida Gator's 72.9 quarterback rating was better than just four other signal-callers in 2011.

On the other hand, Manning has not completed less than 65 percent of his throws in over a decade or posted a rating below 80 since his rookie season in 1998.

For the Broncos playmakers on the outside, that can only mean big things.

How will adding Manning affect the regular season stats of these players? Here's a breakdown and prediction for the top Broncos targets:

Demaryius Thomas

2011 Stats: 32 receptions, 551 yards, four touchdowns

Though we've already established why Thomas will likely become Manning's second option as the season progresses, that doesn't mean the third-year wideout will be a slouch.

With Tebow at the helm, Thomas' penchant for the big play meshed well with the young quarterback, and their connection led to a big-time breakout end to the season.

In the final seven games (including the playoffs) last season, the former Georgia Tech standout put up stats that would make Calvin Johnson envious. His 35 grabs and four touchdowns helped lead the Broncos to the divisional round of the playoffs, and Thomas' 745 yards led all receivers in those seven contests.

For Manning, Thomas will likely act as his new Pierre Garcon—a player who stretches the field to open up the offense, but ultimately serves as an inconsistent target.

That's the bad news.

The good? Garcon's last season with Manning in 2010 (which was Garcon's third NFL campaign) is better than anything Thomas has done so far.

2012 Stats Prediction: 55 receptions, 825 yards, seven touchdowns

Eric Decker

2011 Stats: 44 receptions, 612 yards, eight touchdowns

While Thomas was breaking out as the Broncos' star during the team's march to the playoffs, Decker was becoming a forgotten man.

After starting the 2011 season on fire with Kyle Orton at the helm, Decker went over the 50-yard mark just three times and caught more than three balls just once during the Tebow era.

That all should change with Manning tossing him the ball.

Though the former Minnesota Gophers star's 46 percent catch rate from last season is usually indicative of a poor route runner, Decker is actually runs the second-most consistent patterns on the team behind Brandon Stokley. The 46 percent figure is far more of an indictment of the inefficient quarterback that was throwing him the ball.

And while he has never been known as a burner, Decker's 13.9 yards per reception last season is more than respectable.

As Decker quickly ingratiates himself to Manning, it will only mean good things for the 25-year-old youngster.

2012 Stats Prediction: 80 receptions, 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns

Joel Dreessen

2011 Stats: 28 receptions, 353 yards, six touchdowns

Just because Dreessen is a pass-catching tight end and will have Manning throwing him the ball doesn't automatically make him 2009 Dallas Clark. The former Houston Texan isn't as talented as Clark, and quite frankly, Manning isn't as good as he was three years ago.

Regardless, expect a career-best season from the seven-year veteran.

According to Football Outsiders' DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) metric, Dreessen was the ninth-best tight end in football last season. Not bad. However, when you adjust it to a per-play metric, called DVOA, Dreessen vaults to the second-ranked tight end in the NFL.

Over a larger sample size, it's likely that Dreessen will revert somewhere into the latter half of the top 10. But considering the thinness of the Denver receiving corps, having a top-tier player at any position will pay massive dividends for Manning.

2012 Stats Prediction: 60 receptions, 750 yards, six touchdowns