RADIO
Jaylen Waddle Carries WR2 Appeal at Carolina
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle practiced fully all week and carries no game designation for Sunday's visit to Carolina. He was questionable against Kansas City last week and played 28 of Denver's 62 offensive snaps, yet still led the team with six targets. A 35-yard catch and a one-yard touchdown highlighted his three-catch, 39-yard day. Waddle has finished below 50 receiving yards in four straight games, making the possibility of more playing time particularly important this week. He still leads Denver with 29 catches and 315 receiving yards. Carolina gave up a 53-yard completion to Christian Watson in Week 8, and the Packers wideout finished with 113 yards on eight receptions. Panthers cornerback Will Lee III (hamstring) went down on the long completion, missed Friday's practice, and has been ruled out. Waddle's full practice week and the matchup support using him as a WR2 in 12-team PPR leagues, where RotoBaller ranks him WR22. He's the stronger Denver receiver to start if managers are choosing between him and Courtland Sutton.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J.K. Dobbins Hard to Trust as Carries Decline
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins averaged 15.8 carries per game from Weeks 3 through 6. In the two games since Jonah Coleman returned, Dobbins has carried 13 times for 36 yards without a reception. His touchdown at Arizona was his third in as many games, but that streak ended against Kansas City, when he played only 21% of Denver's offensive snaps. Coleman also got the carry from the five-yard line that put Denver ahead for good. Carolina has allowed 4.8 yards per carry this season, but the Panthers held Green Bay's running backs to 48 yards on 25 carries in Week 8. Josh Jacobs still scored from a yard out, which shows where Dobbins could find value if he gets a similar chance on Sunday. That's a narrow path given Denver's recent usage. Dobbins has just 27 receiving yards all season and is RB39 in RotoBaller's Week 9 PPR rankings. Leave him on the bench in 12-team leagues and treat him as an emergency flex in deeper formats with multiple flex spots.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonah Coleman Enters Week 9 With the Lead-Back Role
Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman turned a short pass into a 51-yard gain on the winning drive against Kansas City, then ran in the go-ahead touchdown from five yards out. He finished with 104 scrimmage yards on 11 carries and four catches, playing 41 offensive snaps to J.K. Dobbins' 13. He also gained 69 yards on 11 touches at Arizona the previous week, giving him 173 scrimmage yards on 26 touches since returning from injured reserve. With RJ Harvey (knee) on injured reserve, the rookie is in line to lead the backfield again on the road Sunday at Carolina. The Panthers have allowed 985 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in seven games, though they held Josh Jacobs to 39 yards on 21 carries last week. Jacobs still scored on the ground and caught six passes for 13 yards and another touchdown. Coleman can stay involved through the air if Carolina is similarly stingy between the tackles. He ranks as RotoBaller's RB12 in Week 9 PPR and belongs in 12-team lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bo Nix Is a Week 9 Superflex Start
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is a QB2 for Sunday's game at Carolina, where the Panthers will be without cornerback Will Lee III (hamstring) and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (hamstring). Neither practiced Friday. Carolina gave up 288 yards and three touchdown passes to Jordan Love on 41 attempts in Week 8 without recording a sack. Nix has shown some improvement through the air, throwing for 222 yards in each of his last two games after being held to 107 and 123 in the previous two. He threw two touchdown passes against Kansas City last week and accounted for two scores at Arizona in Week 7, including a 62-yard touchdown run. He has 114 rushing yards and two scores on the ground through eight games, which helps in Superflex when his passing volume is modest. RotoBaller's weekend rankings have him at QB17. Carolina makes him a reasonable bye-week fill-in in deeper one-quarterback leagues, though his 6.0 yards per attempt this season still leave him dependent on touchdowns or a productive day as a runner.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Pat Bryant Expected to Return Against Panthers in Week 9
Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) is expected to play Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers after practicing in full Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, according to Zac Stevens. Although Bryant remains officially questionable, head coach Sean Payton indicated Friday that the second-year receiver has practiced well enough to be activated from injured reserve. Bryant has missed four consecutive games since suffering his ankle injury against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. He caught nine of 12 targets for 133 yards and a touchdown across his first four appearances, playing 70% of Denver's offensive snaps in Week 3. His return could affect Troy Franklin's workload after Franklin played 44 offensive snaps in Week 8. With Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton handling the primary receiving duties, Bryant remains a deeper-league stash rather than a dependable Week 9 fantasy starter.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Jonah Coleman Continuing to Carve Out a Meaningful Role in Denver
In his two games since returning from the high-ankle sprain that landed him on Injured Reserve, Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman leads the team with 26 total opportunities, racking up 173 yards and a touchdown. With RJ Harvey (knee) on Injured Reserve with a knee injury, Coleman split the backfield with J.K. Dobbins in a Week 8 divisional matchup with the Chiefs, and in a game that stayed close throughout, the rookie outsnapped the veteran 41 to 13 and appears to have taken over the lead back role. The Broncos face a Panthers defense in Week 9 that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points above average to the running back position, firmly putting Coleman into must-start territory as RotoBaller's RB12.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J.K. Dobbins Has Become Droppable After Losing Starting Job
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has lost his starting job and is a drop candidate across all fantasy leagues. In eight games, Dobbins has totaled 94 carries for 306 yards and three touchdowns, along with eight receptions for 27 yards. In 2026, Dobbins is averaging 3.3 yards per carry, the lowest mark of his NFL career by far. With R.J. Harvey (knee) on injured reserve, many expected a 50/50 split between Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman. That was the case in the first half of Week 8's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Coleman took every backfield touch in the second half and was far more productive than Dobbins. The rookie back appears to have taken the starting job from Dobbins, and with Harvey expected to return later in the season, Dobbins is only a handcuff and can be dropped in most leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Waddle a Full Participant in Practice with Broncos on Wednesday
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Denver's official injury report for Wednesday confirms his status. Quarterback Bo Nix noted on Wednesday that Waddle is getting "more and more comfortable" in Denver's offense and that he is playing with "confidence." Waddle has played in all eight of Denver's games in 2026 thus far and has recorded 29 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
Source: Zac Stevens - DNVR Broncos
Source: Zac Stevens - DNVR Broncos
Pat Bryant Practices Fully After IR Return Designation
Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice after being designated to return from injured reserve. Bryant suffered the injury against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4 and has missed Denver's last four games. The second-year receiver caught nine passes for 133 yards and a touchdown before going on IR, having played 70% of the team's offensive snaps in Week 3. His full participation is encouraging ahead of Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, although Denver must activate him to the 53-man roster before he can play. Troy Franklin has taken on a larger role during Bryant's absence, playing 44 offensive snaps in Week 8. Bryant's potential return could affect Franklin's workload, but the rotation behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle remains uncertain. That competition makes Bryant a deeper-league fantasy stash rather than an immediate starting option.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Pat Bryant Trending Toward Practicing This Week
Indications point to Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) returning to practice this week after missing the required four games while on Injured Reserve, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. Bryant has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury on Oct. 4 in the loss on the road to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4, but if he returns to practice this week and looks good, he could be officially activated and return this Sunday to face the Carolina Panthers. Before getting hurt, the 23-year-old former third-rounder from Illinois caught nine of his 12 targets for 133 yards (14.8 yards per reception) and one touchdown in the first four games of his sophomore season in the NFL. Considering Jaylen Waddle's and Courtland Sutton's struggles in the passing game so far in 2026, Bryant is absolutely worth a flier off the waiver wire for fantasy managers seeking additional depth and upside at the position going into Week 9. Bryant is widely available and is only rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues with a strong upcoming matchup against Carolina's defense.
Source: Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
Source: Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
Courtland Sutton Worth Deep-League Usage in Week 9
Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton is worth deep-league fantasy utilization in Week 9 against Carolina. He has just 221 receiving yards and a touchdown across 20 receptions and 37 targets in eight games played this season, but has fared better the past two weeks. Sutton had 45 yards on three receptions and five targets in Week 7, before tallying 53 yards on four receptions and targets in Week 8. A slightly below-average matchup against Carolina in Week 9 keeps Sutton as a better deep-league option, but he's one to keep in mind for possible standard league usage down the road if his recent production keeps up.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jonah Coleman Sees Increased Role in Win
Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman saw an increased workload during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fellow back RJ Harvey (knee) was recently placed on the Injured Reserve, so Coleman moved into the No. 2 role in the backfield. The rookie back carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards and a touchdown in the win. He also hauled in four of his five targets for an additional 63 yards through the air. Coleman took advantage of his expanded role and figures to stay heavily involved going forward. The 23-year-old will likely take over Harvey's role as the primary receiving back in Denver. It wouldn't be shocking if Coleman jumps J.K. Dobbins on the depth chart soon. Coleman should be a safe flex option against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jaylen Waddle Active Against Chiefs in Week 8
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest) is active for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs after entering the weekend with a questionable tag. Waddle missed Wednesday's practice before logging limited sessions Thursday and Friday after aggravating his chest injury against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. He caught four of seven targets for 48 yards in that contest and leads Denver with 26 receptions for 276 yards and one touchdown this season. Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. are also available in the receiving corps, with Mims recovering from an ankle injury. Waddle managed just one reception for two yards against Kansas City in Week 1, and RotoBaller's Week 8 rankings place him at WR46. Despite being available, his inconsistent production makes him a risky flex option for fantasy managers.
Source: Mike Klis
Source: Mike Klis
Jonah Coleman Faces Workload Questions Despite Week 8 Opportunity
Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman has a better opportunity to contribute in Sunday's rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs than he did in Week 1, when he did not record a carry. RJ Harvey (knee) was limited Thursday, did not practice Friday, and was ruled out before Denver placed him on injured reserve Saturday. Coleman led the Broncos' backfield in snaps upon returning from an ankle injury in Week 7, rushing nine times for 54 yards and catching two passes for 15 yards against Arizona. He also produced 58 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 13 touches when Harvey missed Week 2. Coleman sits at RB26 in RotoBaller's Week 8 rankings, putting him in the flex conversation for 12-team leagues. However, J.K. Dobbins remains involved and handled Denver's one-yard touchdown carry against Arizona last week. Kansas City also allowed 100 rushing yards to Emanuel Wilson in Week 7, although he needed 24 carries to reach that total. Coleman's expanded opportunities are encouraging, but his workload and goal-line involvement remain uncertain.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Waddle Trending in the Right Direction for Week 8
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest) is "trending in the right direction to play" against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Waddle, who has not missed a game this season, is officially listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday. Denver will be grateful to have their top receiver available for a key battle against the division-leading Chiefs, but it's also worth acknowledging that Waddle has been quite disappointing during his first year with the Broncos. Despite optimism that playing in a potent offense would unlock his true potential, Waddle ranks as the overall WR36 in PPR leagues with a modest 26 catches, 276 yards, and one touchdown through seven games. Managers should temper expectations for Week 1; the last time Waddle played against the Chiefs, he caught just one pass for two yards.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
