The Denver Broncos played a complete game in their “dress rehearsal” for the season opener, easily playing their best football of the preseason.

There were certainly more positives than negatives as the team beat the Washinton Redskins to a tune that the 29-17 final score doesn’t do justice to. Multiple players made statements about their status on the roster and on the depth chart.

Here’s whose stock is rising and whose stock is falling heading into the final week before cut day.

Rising

⬆️Dymonte Thomas

Have a game, kid. With a slew of injuries at the safety position—more specifically the “dime linebacker” position—the former undrafted man out of Michigan busted onto the scene with a massive game.

In the first half alone, Thomas had a tackle for a fourth-down stop, two tackles for third-down stops and a pass breakup for a third-down stop.

While it’s certainly not an ideal situation, with minor injuries to Su’a Cravens and Will Parks and a season-ending injury to Jamal Carter opening the door, the opportunity for Thomas opens up and interesting option for Joe Woods. Back at his Michigan pro day, Thomas ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, and he looks every bit of that, if not faster on the field. Because of that speed, he presents a skillset that could be utilized in helping the Broncos cover tight ends and backs out of the backfield.

It’s not quite sharpie time for Thomas, but you can at least pencil him in.

⬆️Royce Freeman

Rumble big man, rumble.

Goodness, you don’t want to be in the defensive backfield when No. 37 gets a head full of steam, multiple Redskins learned that on Friday night.

After fullback Andy Janovich threw a massive block to open a hole, Freeman busted into the second level, stiff-armed one would-be tackler before another defender bounced off of him and the big back waltzed the rest of the way for his third score in three preseason games.

It’s been obvious ever since the preseason lights came on, Freeman is this team’s starting running back, and his nose for paydirt should have fantasy owners on notice.

⬆️Phillip Lindsay

If you’re ranking the Broncos running backs by their performance this offseason, you would be wrong to put Phillip Lindsay anywhere but second.

While the depth chart may not reflect if, yet, the Broncos will have themselves a classic “Thunder & Lightning” paring in the backfield for years to come.

In this one, Phillip had his best game running the ball, but his greatest asset to this team was on full display early. Working with the first team on 3rd-and-long, Lindsay burst out of the backfield, and Case Keenum lobbed up a beautiful pass that landed right in Lindsay’s breadbasket for what amounted to an 18-yard gain.

On the night, Lindsay posted 67 all-purpose yards, including 31 yards on just five carries, good enough for a 6.2 yards per carry, the best of any Broncos’ back on the night.

I’m thinking No. 2 will be wearing No. 28 come the season opener.

⬆️Case Keenum & Emmanuel Sanders

In the first three weeks of the preseason, the connection of training camp had been missing. While Emmanuel Sanders was clearly his favorite target, Keenum struggled to truly get the connection rolling.

On Friday, the two finally broke out in a game scenario.

It started with a 3rd-and-15 connection right at the sticks to move the chains. On the very next play, Keenum dialed up Sanders down the right sideline, overthrowing the speedy receiver a bit but not too much for him to make the diving catch for a 33-yard gain.

Sanders then followed it with a 27-yard rushing touchdown on a reverse.

We knew it was coming, but it was a great sign for the two to finally connect with live bullets flying.

For the third-straight week, Keenum took a step forward.

Honorable Mention

Andy Janovich was a beast, opening lanes for backs and showing why he’s likely not going anywhere come cut day.

David Williams had his best game, totaling 65 yards from scrimmage.

Bradley Chubb had four total tackles and his first sack. A half-sack with Von Miller getting the other half.

Falling

⬇️Devontae Booker

As promising as Freeman has looked in the preseason, Booker has been equally as disappointing. While he took the first carry of the game for the third consecutive time, he was the least inspiring back in the game.

When all was said and done, the Broncos veteran-most back posted nine yards on three carries, with that three-yard average looking far too familiar. Booker did have one nice run that would have helped the optics of his game, but it was unfortunately negated by a holding call.

Booker just hasn’t shown anything that justifies his spot on the depth chart at this point.

⬇️Issac Yiadom

Time. Time. Time. Yiadom needs time.

He’ll get that time in two weeks, when the Broncos will likely relegate him to a special teams role, but for now, it’s baptism by fire for the rookie, who has been beat countless times in the preseason.

On Friday, Yiadom gave up an 18-yard touchdown to Redskins receiver Simmie Cobbs, who burnt the young DB as badly as anyone has this offseason.

Yiadom also nearly caused a turnover as he failed to get out of the way of a dropping punt that eventually hit him in the leg. Isaiah McKenzie, who may have forgotten to indicate that he wasn’t fielding the punt, dove on the ball to avoid the disaster.

⬇️Brendan Langley

On the same drive that Yiadom gave up a touchdown, Langley was badly torched by undrafted rookie Darvin Kidsey for a 40-yard connection from third-string QB Kevin Hogan.

While Yiadom has been given a pass for always being in postion—save tonight’s touchdown—the same cannot be said for Langley, who was drastically out of position on the play.

While Yiadom’s excuse is his lack of experience, it’s getting a bit to o late for Langley to say the same.