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QB Bo Nix:For those who don’t keep up with our NFL Draft scouting reports, we love Nix—ranking him as our No. 2 overall prospect on our big board—and the No. 12 overall pick has a very high ceiling despite the media saying otherwise. In addition to intelligence, poise, accuracy, and instincts, Nix is an extremely underrated runner, and doing damage with his legs should boost his fantasy value in Year 1. The downside is Denver being very run-slanted to protect the rookie, but Nix should be viewed as a borderline dynasty QB1 in Sean Payton’s offense, and the key to him being a mega star is the Broncos hitting on draft picks around him over the next couple of years.
QB Zach Wilson:Wilson would have been in a tremendous spot to reach his potential if the Broncos didn’t take Bo Nix in April’s draft, but he will still be able to rebuild himself under Sean Payton—and all you have to do is listen to what his former Jets teammates have said about his ability to keep hope alive. Even players on other teams (such as Micah Parsons) have seen the talent of Wilson and spoken out about the situation not helping him, so he’s worth a bench stash in dynasty leagues and could get a shot to start elsewhere in 2025.
QB Jarrett Stidham:Maybe the competition will allow Stidham to shine in August and start the season under center, but it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where Bo Nix doesn’t make the majority of starts for Denver this season—and it would be a surprise if the rookie wasn’t the guy in Week 1. For his part, Stidham was solid in two starts to close out 2023 while completing 40-of-66 passes (60.6%) for 496 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
RB Javonte Williams:Denver’s backfield was already crowded, but the selection of Audric Estimé in the 2024 NFL Draft could make it a four-man rotation—which would potentially spell trouble for Williams on team that oddsmakers don’t believe will be a contender. On the bright side, the Broncos gave Williams 264 touches coming off a torn ACL when there was already a backfield committee last year, and we believe Denver can be more competitive than many are expecting with Bo Nix under center. Consider Williams a quality low-end RB2/FLEX target.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin:The Broncos signing the speedy Blake Watson as an undrafted free agent seemed to put McLaughlin in some danger entering the summer, but he was apparently a standout at OTAs and has been praised for his work ethic—so the second-year back should be on stable ground to earn a role. As a rookie, McLaughlin rushed 76 times for 410 yards (5.4 YPC) and one touchdown, but we’d like to see a bit more as a pass-catcher with just 5.2 yards per target (36 targets) and 4.4 yards per reception (31 receptions).
RB Audric Estimé:We’ll have a much clearer picture of the pecking order for the Broncos as training camp and preseason action play out, but Estimé could have easily been a Day 2 selection despite going in the fifth round as a 221-pound runner with underrated feet for a bigger back. Estimé can also catch the ball out of the backfield, and becoming the lead runner if Javonte Williams starts slow is a real possibility.
RB Samaje Perine:Perine didn’t quite have the role he was expected to in his first year with the Broncos by rushing just 53 times (for 238 yards), but he did average 4.5 yards per carry—and the lead role in the passing game was his with 50 receptions (on 56 targets) for 455 yards. A room that will likely run four options deep complicates his path to being better than he was in 2023, so August usage should be telling for the entire group.
RB Blake Watson:Watson not getting drafted was a bit of a surprise, but he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and totaled 245 touches for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns in his lone season at Memphis. Just last year, we saw Keaton Mitchell emerge in Baltimore as an undrafted free agent, and Watson flashing enough in camp could earn him a roster spot and role.
WR Courtland Sutton:Sutton is one of the toughest players to rank this year as he seeks a new contract and has been the speculation of trade rumors, but he’s coming off a ten-touchdown season after just 14 scores across his first 55 career games, and he’s recently expressed a desire to stay in Denver. If so, the magic shown with Russell Wilson might not be replicated with Bo Nix operating a more structured attack, and the Broncos—considering all the options on the roster—could have a complete spread-the-wealth attack that prevents anyone from really becoming a reliable weekly play.
WR Marvin Mims Jr.:Mims began his career with 19.3 fantasy points and 15.1 fantasy points in two of his first three games, but the production and excitement cooled off considerably with just 25.3 fantasy points in the other 14 games. The question this year will be exactly what role the Broncos have pegged for Mims, as Sean Payton took accountability for not giving him enough opportunities last year by saying he was behind Jerry Jeudy because he played the same role in the offense—but rookie Troy Franklin would seem to be a natural candidate to slide in for the departed weapon. Based on the speed, talent, and upside, Mims is worth taking well above his WR65 ADP.
WR Troy Franklin:Franklin lasted until Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft—but Denver is the perfect landing spot as he enters the league with his college quarterback, and he’s another option that could have gone much higher. As we wrote in our pre-draft scouting report, Franklin has a great package of releases to help create early separation as a deep threat, and we would anticipate him beginning his career in a rotational role that can provide a quality weekly ceiling in deeper fantasy leagues.
WR Tim Patrick:Patrick’s career has sadly been derailed by tearing his ACL early in training camp two years ago and suffering a torn Achilles last July, but it sounded like Sean Payton had big plans for him in 2023, and it’s a tremendous sign that he was on the field for OTAs last month. Before the back-to-back devastating injuries, Patrick had two solid seasons in a row with lines of 51/742/6 and 53/734/5, and he’d probably be the biggest beneficiary of Courtland Sutton being traded—but there might not be room for weekly value as things currently stand.
WR Josh Reynolds:Detroit expressed a willingness to bring back Reynolds this offseason, but the Broncos stepped in with a two-year, $9-million offer, and he instead joins a very crowded group that will be led by a rookie quarterback. The intermediate area where Reynolds was often a favorite of Jared Goff (including in Los Angeles) is somewhere Bo Nix thrives, though, and maybe they’ll form a strong enough connection this summer to become a consistent factor.
WRs Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Devaughn Vele, Brandon Johnson, and Phillip Dorsett:The No. 6 spot at wide receiver will be a fierce competition, and all four guys bring something a little different to the table. Humphrey has the most experience in Sean Payton’s offense and has been extremely efficient in his career (10.1 yards per target); Vele is a Payton favorite out of Utah at six-foot-four and comes in as an experienced rookie at 26; Johnson was great in limited action last year with a 19/284/4 line; and Dorsett is a deep threat that can provide insurance for and help out Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin.
TE Greg Dulcich:A nagging hamstring injury made last year a lost season for Dulcich, and it’s a huge concern after similar issues also impacted him as a rookie. When on the field, Dulcich can be a big-play weapon after averaging 17.6 yards per reception in Chip Kelly’s offense at UCLA, and Sean Payton is the kind of coach that can get the most out of him. The third-year tight end needs to have a healthy July and August to reach his potential.
TE Lucas Krull:Krull should be on all watchlists with Sean Payton telling the media they’ll “know who 85 is” after he was a surprise standout at OTAs, and Denver’s head coach previously emphasized how smart Krull is when promoted from the practice squad late last season. Greg Dulcich being unable to stay healthy wouldreallyopen the door for Krull to emerge, and the six-foot-six, 260-pound tight end will look to build chemistry with Bo Nix and the other quarterbacks to earn a role.
TE Adam Trautman:The Broncos acquired Trautman in a trade with the Saints before last season, and he is worth mentioning after playing 70% of the snaps for Denver in 2023. That said, the team would probably love for Greg Dulcich and Lucas Krull to both step up as the leading duo, and Trautman has been between 171 receiving yards and 263 receiving yards in all four years since entering the league.
Best IDP value: CB Ja’Quan McMillian
McMillian getting almost no buzz should give him a chance to be an absolute steal in IDP formats, as he did everything in the slot last season—totaling 51 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and five passes defended as a disruptor for Vance Joseph’s defense in 2023. Riley Moss is another option to consider if he can beat out Levi Wallace to start across from Patrick Surtain II.
Stat to know (via draft guide)
Bo Nix is one of two Power 5 quarterbacks in college football history to throw for 45+ touchdowns and six or fewer interceptions in a single season; the other is Joe Burrow.
