After missing five field goals the first five weeks of last season, McManus rebounded to convert 16 of 19 attempts the rest of the way, falling more in line with his respectable track record. Oddly enough, his career conversion rate is 11 percentage points higher on the road, though it may just be a matter of limited sample (four seasons). McManus probably isn't good enough to be useful unless Case Keenum excels.

The Broncos ranked 28th in red-zone TD conversion rate last year, which led McManus to finish one field-goal attempt short of tying his career high. Unfortunately, kicking in high altitude didn't help, as he made three of six tries from 50-plus yards. His PATs also were down slightly from the year before as he finished 17th in scoring. The Broncos' offense could improve this year if Jamaal Charles is healthy and Trevor Siemian (or Paxton Lynch) takes a leap, but it's unlikely to be enough to move McManus into a higher tier of fantasy kickers.

The thin mile-high air in Denver always makes Broncos kickers of interest for fantasy players, as the ball travels farther and allows for more attempts from deep. That being said, the number of attempts from that distance in Denver doesn't actually outpace the rest of the league, as only once in the last three years has a Broncos kicker led the league in attempts from at least 50 yards, and that came in 2013 and ended in a six-way tie for first with seven attempts. The Broncos have finished 11th in kicker scoring both of the last two seasons, and with the offense not expected to be as good as the past few years, it may be tough for McManus to move up a tier.

McManus was the Broncos' kicker at the beginning of last season as a placeholder for Matt Prater, who was suspended for the first four regular-season games. However, McManus held onto the job, as the Broncos let Prater and his significantly bigger contract go. Unfortunately, McManus didn't have nearly enough success to hold down the job, and the Broncos brought in Connor Barth to take over. Barth will handle field goal and PAT duties this season, while McManus will be on the field for kickoffs.

McManus is expected to step in as the Broncos' kicker for the first four games while Matt Prater serves his suspension.