DENVER — Position battles are so fluid in training camp. One day a guy is up, one day a guy is down. One day it’s this guy, one day it’s that guy. On top of it all, in the end, each day in camp is just a practice. Maybe the guy who had a bad day was purposely working on something he’s been struggling with. There are so many variables.

That all changes, though, when the preseason starts. For the first time, everything is full speed, everyone is playing real football and, in the end, one team gets an L strapped next to their name while the other gets a big ol’ W.

Because of that, the games are what matter most when it comes to evaluating players before the real bullets start flying.

After one game, here’s who’s trending up and who’s trending down for the Denver Broncos.

Rising

⬆️Will Parks

Su’a Cravens, Su’a Cravens, Su’a Cravens. When anyone was talking about the Broncos big safety or “dime linebacker” position this offseason, all you ever heard about was Su’a Cravens. Understandably so, too, the kid can play.

What was left out of all those conversations, though, was another third-year safety, Will Parks.

The former sixth-round pick is having a fantastic camp and was easily the defensive MVP for the Broncos on Saturday night, leading the team with five solo tackles, including a sack, and added a pass defensed.

“It’s always exciting when you’re able to see how well you’re moving and how fast and composed you are out there on the field,” Parks said after the game. “That’s credit to the hard work that I’ve put in thus far throughout this offseason.”

⬆️Chad Kelly

You knew it was coming. Chad Kelly is just too talented to not shred third and fourth-team defenders.

In the end, it was 14/21 for 177 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

This all comes on the heels of a scrimmage last week in which he also threw two touchdowns that were also the only two passing touchdowns of the day for the Broncos.

It’s not hard to see that Kelly deserves a chance with the second team this week. It will be interesting to see if he gets it.

⬆️Phillip Lindsay

Phillip Lindsay is no longer a feel-good, home-town story, he’s a budding weapon for an NFL team.

Matched up against a linebacker in a third-and-long situation with a blitz bearing down on Chad Kelly, Lindsay was the perfect blitz break as he cooked the LB with ease on a Texas route, hauled in the pass from No. 6 and waltzed into the end zone for the easy score.

It was a play that had Tom-Brady offense written all over it.

Earlier in the night, the University of Colorado product drew oohs and ahs from the crowd as he caught a pass near the sideline, hit the breaks as a defender flew by, and accelerated upfield for a 15-yard gain.

If the Broncos want a receiving back, they need not look any further than No. 2, who is going to need a new number when he starts playing on Sundays.

⬆️Isaiah McKenzie

Wow.

For a guy who came into Saturday’s game with everything to prove, Isaiah McKenzie sure did prove himself.

On his only return of the night, the second-year speedster took his time before bursting up the right sideline and taking it all the way to the house for the 79-yard touchdown.

It’s going to be hard for the Broncos to keep that type of game-breaking speed off of the roster.

⬆️Matt LaCosse

A quiet camp standout who hasn’t garnered much fanfare, LaCosse has been solid and possesses all the tools to be an NFL tight end.

On the night, LaCosse hauled in an easy touchdown pass from Chad Kelly, who used his eyes to help keep defenders from noticing No. 83 running wide open on a wheel route before delivering the ball right on the numbers for LaCosse.

It wasn’t the tight end who did anything special on the play, per se, but sometimes the bounces go your way and it was a nice cherry on top for a player who has done well in camp.

Falling

⬇️David Williams

Let’s be honest, it’s tough for a running back to get something going behind the third string offensive line, but Williams failed to make much of a mark on the night, turning his three touches into just seven yards.

Also of note, Williams was the last back to see time for the Broncos in the game, not getting on the field until there were just over five minutes left in the third quarter.

Up to this point, Williams just hasn’t done much to stand out, and Saturday was no different.

⬇️Paxton Lynch

There isn’t much to say here that wasn’t already said here.

Paxton was very bad.

⬇️River Cracraft

After stealing the show for most of the week of practice, Cracraft was virtually invisible on Saturday.

The second-year receiver had two catches on the night for a grand total of zero yards. On top of that, he misplayed two punts that cost the team field position.

There’s no reason to be down on Cracraft as he has plenty of time to get back into a groove, but if the sixth wide receiver competition is really down to him and McKenzie, No. 16 took the lead on Saturday.

⬇️Run Defense

After dominating the run game a year ago, the Broncos starting run defense had a concerning start to 2018.

On the opening drive of the game for the Vikings, running back Latavious Murray gashed the Denver defense, going for back-to-back runs of 20-plus yards to put the Vikings in scoring position. If you didn’t know better, you may have thought the defensive line was just simply uninterested in the early goings, getting blown off the ball repeatedly.

Considering the fact that the Broncos boasted one of the best run defenses in the league last season, and didn’t lose any pieces from it, there’s no reason to panic right now, but you definitely want to see a more inspired effort from them next week against the bears.