Linebacker Shaquil Barrett watches Andy Janovich set a block — pick any one one of countless monster stuffs this season — and Barrett considers himself lucky to play for the Broncos and not whoever lines up across from the Broncos’ fullback on game day.

“He’s broken face masks,” Barrett said. “You’ve got to be ready.”

Janovich, a 6-foot-1, 238-pound, special teams captain in his third season out of Nebraska, enjoys few things more than laying out an opponent with a clean block: “I really take pride in it.” But that’s not all.

The Broncos are one of 18 NFL teams, just over half of the league, to utilize a fullback entering Week 8 at Kansas City. Janovich ranks inside the top-five for offensive usage by accounting for 21 percent of Denver’s total offensive snaps (101-470). What makes Janovich more unique, though, is how offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has employed him through multiple formations — traditionally in the backfield, pulling as a lead blocker for receiver Emmanuel Sanders’ end-around runs, interchangeably with tight ends and even motioning out wide at receiver to set the edge for bubble screens.

“Where a lot of teams will use a third tight end, we’ll use a fullback,” tight end Brian Parker said. “It’s pretty cool to have such a versatile guy.”

And, when given the opportunity, Janovich has showcased pass-catching talent. Like when the Broncos led Kansas City by a touchdown in Week 4 to start the fourth quarter. Quarterback Case Keenum faced first down, Janovich motioned into the flat pre-snap and Keenum connected with his fullback on a 32-yard wheel route reception.

“He’ll be around the tight ends,” Parker said of Janovich, “telling us he wants to come run our routes.”

Janovich doesn’t dwell on his receiving role, calling it “not terrible” before adding: “I’m not going to out-run anyone.” Janovich understands his primary role is to make plays that don’t typically make highlight tapes. When Keenum hit Courtland Sutton on a 42-yard reception against the Chiefs last month, it was Janovich putting an impressive stuff on blitzing inside linebacker Anthony Hitchens that allowed Keenum time to make the completion.

“I want to be the best blocker there is,” Janovich said. “It’s nice to see when I come in they change their personnel, load up the box with eight guys and they really have to respect the run.”

Parker added: “He’s going 100 percent and he’s not bracing himself for contact. And, he’s athletic enough to not miss and fall on his face like some bigger guys.”

Janovich’s non-blocking statistics are far from gaudy. He touts one rush for two yards and two receptions for 43 total yards. But ask Vance Joseph and it’s clear Janovich is performing at a Pro-Bowl level.

“You would be hard pressed to find a guy better than him who blocks, who catches the football, who plays as a core guy on (special) teams,” Joseph said. “I would vote for him.”

Janovich takes a workman-like approach to interviews and football. Nothing fancy necessary for the Broncos’ versatile bulldozer.

“They just tell me what to do at practice, they put in the plays and we run them,” Janovich said. “It really doesn’t matter to me. Whatever they tell me to do, I’m going to do it.”