Gary Kubiak and the Denver Broncos are heading into their second preseason game of the 2016 NFL season and are without question intrigued to see what has improved over the last week.

There are a lot of stories surrounding the Broncos at this point in the season. They still have to figure out who their starting quarterback will be and have to figure out who will take up the leadership role on the offensive side of the football that Peyton Manning filled last season. It won’t be easy, but the Broncos are still considered to be one of the top contenders in the AFC once again.

John Elway has done a great job of building a defense that can carry a team. Von Miller and company showed that during the Super Bowl against the Carolina Panthers last season.

Denver is set to take on the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday evening. It will be interesting to see what ends up happening and what improvements have been made from last week. Kubiak and company have to be happy with the 22-0 victory that they showed off last week against the Chicago Bears.

All of that being said, which five players should fans keep an eye on in particular in tomorrow’s game?

[Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini]

Paxton Lynch, Quarterback

Could there be a more obvious pick that fans should keep an eye on than rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch? He is looking to earn a starting job and has a chance to improve his chances this week. Denver will start whoever will give them the best chance to win and the competition is heated right now.

Mark Sanchez, Quarterback

Obviously, Mark Sanchez has to be the next player on the list. He is looking to prove that he is still a starting caliber quarterback in the NFL and seems to have made a positive impression on the Broncos as the NFL website reported. It won’t be easy for him to beat out Lynch, but he can help his cause against the 49ers.

Cody Latimer, Wide Receiver

One of the biggest surprises last week was third-year wide receiver Cody Latimer. He caught seven passes for 82 yards and is hoping to earn a big role with the Broncos this season. If he can put together a consistent preseason for the Broncos, there is a good chance that he could earn a No. 3 wide receiver role.

[Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini]

Shane Ray, Linebacker

Shane Ray is heading into his second NFL season and is looking to show major improvement. He is going up against a lot of talented linebackers and pass rushers trying to earn playing time within the Denver defense. Last week, Ray looked very solid and is doing all the right things to earn some time on the field this season.

Devontae Booker, Running Back

Denver is also trying to figure out who the starting running back will be this season. Devontae Booker is a rookie, but Jon Schlosser of Today’s Pigskin mentioned that he has a chance to start for them. It will be interesting to see how the competition goes, but Booker should be a playmaker for them this season.

Expect to see the Broncos come out and put a hurting on the 49ers. Even though it is simply a preseason game, they are looking to set the precedent that they are one of the teams to beat this season. Denver has the talent to win another Super Bowl if they can get a quarterback to be a solid game manager.

Do you think the Denver Broncos should be considered a serious Super Bowl contender this season? Which quarterback do you think will end up winning the starting job? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

[Photo By Tae-Gyun Kim/AP Images]