Troy Franklin Enduring a Massive Dip in Volume
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin is quickly losing the fantasy stock that he worked hard to earn last season. Franklin finished the 2025 season as the overall WR31 in PPR leagues with over 100 targets and six touchdowns. Managers knew his fantasy-relevant role was going to be threatened in 2026 after the team traded for Jaylen Waddle, but perhaps everyone underestimated the extent to which Franklin would be taken out of the offense. He played just 33% of the snaps on Monday night, fetching one target (zero receptions). In addition to Waddle, Franklin was out-snapped and out-produced by both Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant, potentially dropping him to No. 4 on the depth chart. Between his low snap share and the crowded receiver room, Franklin is no longer worth considering for fantasy lineups, starting with Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Managers could even justify dropping him in leagues with 10 or fewer teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Pat Bryant Shows Potential Upside in Week 1 Loss
Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant led the team in targets against the Chiefs and finished with four catches for 42 yards during Monday Night Football of Week 1. Bryant played 59% of snaps, serving as the team's third receiver behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. His six targets were the most on the team, though, which indicates he could be ready to deliver on all the preseason hype he got as a fantasy sleeper. The Broncos' passing game looked out of sorts in their road loss on Monday, with Bo Nix only managing 131 passing yards. If Nix and the rest of Denver's offense get back on track next week at home against the Jaguars, Bryant could quickly become a wide receiver with enough upside to be a good fantasy addition. He is a good stash for deep leagues at this point, and someone to definitely keep an eye on in all formats as the Broncos find their rhythm.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Waddle a Bust in Broncos Debut, Catches Just One Pass
Denver Broncos prized offseason acquisition, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, fell flat in the team's season-opening loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night in a 31-10 blowout, catching just one of three targets for two yards on the night. Denver's offense, managed by first-time play-caller Davis Webb, looked lost on Monday on the road, with quarterback Bo Nix going 17-for-28 passing for only 131 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. The 27-year-old dropped one of his three targets on a third down that would have been converted had he hung onto the ball. The Broncos will surely be looking to get the 27-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2021 the ball early and often as they look to bounce back in another tough matchup in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the tough showing in his Broncos debut, fantasy managers should be keeping Waddle in their starting lineups this week in what could turn into a shootout. Savvy fantasy managers will want to consider buying low on Waddle after his Week 1 dud.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Courtland Sutton a Risky Flex for Week 1
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is still usable Monday night against Kansas City, but he is no longer an automatic fantasy start. Sutton caught 74 passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns last season, though Denver has since added Jaylen Waddle to a receiving room that also includes a rising Pat Bryant. That makes the target split harder to trust right away. Kansas City does not make things any easier. Sutton was held to four catches in both meetings with the Chiefs last season, finishing with 59 yards in one and 40 in the other without scoring. RotoBaller has Sutton at WR38 for Week 1 and lists him as a risky start for Monday night. There is still touchdown upside, and Sutton should remain involved near the goal line, but fantasy managers with another solid WR3 or flex option can leave him on the bench. He is more of a matchup-dependent flex than a receiver who needs to be forced into lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marvin Mims Jr. Buried Too Deep to Have a Role on Offense
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy football radar in most leagues ahead of Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos traded for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle over the offseason, leaving Mims behind Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin. In addition to those receivers, Mims is also behind tight end Evan Engram in the pecking order, although those two players occupy very different roles. Mims, 24, is a speed threat who has sporadically hauled in big touchdown catches throughout his career when he takes off from his defender. Even if he has a few deep-play touchdowns this season, they're so unpredictable that he's impossible to start. We expect him to spend a lot of his time on special teams, serving as the Broncos' primary kick and punt returner. He has fallen to WR114 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, making him droppable in all leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Pat Bryant Belongs on the Bench in Week 1
Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant is worth rostering in deeper fantasy football leagues, but he belongs on the bench for Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. First and foremost, we don't know what role Bryant will occupy this year. He'll certainly be behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton, and he'll likely compete with Troy Franklin for volume behind them. That leaves Bryant in line for the No. 3 or 4 role, but regardless of which spot he occupies, it's tough to say what his volume will look like after the Broncos added Waddle to the offense. Maybe this offense can support three fantasy-relevant receivers, but until we see it happen, Bryant belongs on the bench. Additionally, this isn't the greatest matchup to start a Broncos receiver not named Waddle or Sutton. The Chiefs' defense has come to play in recent years, and they'll be at their best for this Week 1 divisional showdown. This cornerback unit, led by former Pro Bowler L'Jarius Sneed, allowed the fifth-fewest touchdowns and the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. RotoBaller's experts have ranked Bryant as the overall WR74 in PPR leagues for Week 1 against the Chiefs. Even in leagues where he's rostered, he belongs on the bench.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Courtland Sutton Still a Flashy Flex Option in Most Leagues
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton continues to be a worthwhile WR3/flex option in most fantasy leagues, despite the offseason acquisition of Jaylen Waddle. The Broncos' trade for Waddle dropped Sutton to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but he still projects to play a large role as the physical complement to a more shifty and athletic receiver in Waddle. As a result, we envision Sutton continuing to play a key role around the end zone and in contested situations. This week, Sutton will be tasked with facing off against a Chiefs secondary led by L'Jarius Sneed. Having Waddle on the field should take some of the defensive pressure off Sutton. With that being said, we wouldn't be surprised to see Sneed cover Sutton for at least part of the game, because he's the Chiefs cornerback who is best equipped to defend a physical receiver. If Sneed rotates between the two receivers, Sutton will benefit from running the rest of his routes against Delane, who is a rookie, and Williams, who is a first-time starter. The 30-year-old finds himself in the high-end WR3/flex range for this week, with additional upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Waddle Looks to Start New Chapter of Career as a WR2 in Fantasy
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle kicks off the next chapter of his career on Monday against the Kansas City Chiefs. After five years with the Miami Dolphins, Waddle was traded to the Broncos this offseason. He'll immediately step in as the team's top receiver, and he should benefit from a quarterback upgrade, as he will now get to catch passes from Bo Nix instead of Tua Tagovailoa. Playing with Nix should boost Waddle's ceiling and floor in fantasy football. He was a top-13 fantasy receiver in each of his first two seasons, but he dropped to WR24 or lower in each of the last three years. Part of that was due to poor quarterback play, but Waddle's own injury issues can also be to blame. He'll now get a fresh start as he kicks off the 2026 season in an immediate statement matchup against the Chiefs. L'Jarius Sneed is the top cornerback in Kansas City's secondary, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll cover Waddle all game. The Broncos also have a very physical receiver in Courtland Sutton, who Sneed may be better equipped to cover. We wouldn't be surprised to see the Chiefs rotate between Sneed, Mansoor Delane, and Nohl Williams covering Waddle. Delane is a rookie and Williams is a first-time starter, so there's an opportunity for Waddle to feast if he's indeed not going up against Sneed all game long. We're confident in Waddle as a WR2, especially in a game that is projected to be close, which means that both teams will be throwing the ball often.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marvin Mims Jr. Looks Ready for Week 1 Against Chiefs
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (foot) was the only player listed on the team's practice report on Thursday, but he was a full participant, according to Aric DiLalla of the team's official website. Mims looks ready to go after suffering a foot contusion in the team's preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 28. He was listed as one of Denver's starting wideouts on their first unofficial depth chart going into Week 1, but that does not mean he will have a big role out of the gate after the Broncos added Jaylen Waddle in an offseason trade. Mims will be competing for the WR3 role this year with Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin behind Waddle and Courtland Sutton. The 24-year-old former second-rounder from Oklahoma has intriguing big-play ability, but he regressed in 2025 in his third year in the league with 37 catches, 322 yards, and only one touchdown in 15 regular-season games after he had a 39-503-6 line in 2024. Mims should be on the waiver wire in 12-team leagues to begin the 2026 campaign and will probably be a boom/bust WR4/flex option, at best, in his fourth year in the league.
Source: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
Source: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
Pat Bryant Could Force his Way into Bigger Role in 2026
There was a lot of positive talk coming out of Denver Broncos training camp this summer about second-year wide receiver Pat Bryant, the team's third-round pick in 2025. The Broncos' big offseason move was acquiring speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins, and Courtland Sutton will continue to be a factor. But the praise about Bryant's Year 2 improvements makes ESPN's Dan Graziano wonder if he could "force his way into a bigger role than expected." Graziano does not think that people should be shocked if Bryant is a big part of Denver's new-look passing attack in their Monday night opener on the road in Week 1 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. The 23-year-old from Illinois caught 31 of his 49 targets for 378 yards and only one touchdown in 15 regular-season games in 2025 as a rookie, but he was more involved later in the year while battling multiple injuries. The Broncos' WR room is more crowded than ever, and Bryant will have to compete for targets with Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr., but he is an intriguing upside bench stash in deeper fantasy formats in an ascending Broncos offense. Bryant is currently rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Marvin Mims Jr. Joins Broncos' Starting Receiver Trio
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. joins Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton in the team's starting receiver group, according to Zac Stevens. Mims started only four games last season, finishing with 37 catches for 322 yards and one touchdown while adding 78 yards and another score on 12 carries. He did show more as a receiver during Denver's playoff run, catching 12 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown across two games. The Broncos still have plenty of competition for snaps and targets with Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin in the receiver room, so being listed as a starter doesn't guarantee Mims a major weekly workload. Still, his place alongside Sutton and Waddle is a positive sign for how Denver plans to use the fourth-year receiver when the season begins.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Pat Bryant Drawing Rave Reviews After Breakout Camp
Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant turned plenty of heads during training camp and could be in line for more work in Year 2. According to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post, Sean Payton keeps coming back to one fairly simple trait when talking about Bryant: he rarely has to leave his feet to make a clean catch. That allows him to stay in stride and create more after the catch. Payton has also praised Bryant's strong hands, intelligence, size and consistency after what he called a "heck of a camp." Bryant caught 31 passes for 378 yards and one touchdown across 15 games as a rookie, starting seven of them. Denver still has Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims Jr. ahead of him on the current depth chart, but Bryant can work outside or from the slot. After the summer he just put together, finding him more snaps shouldn't be difficult.
Source: The Denver Post
Source: The Denver Post
Marvin Mims Jr. Could See Reduced Role
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. might have taken a step back on the depth chart. The 24-year-old appears to have lost the No. 3 wideout battle to Pat Bryant during the summer. Bryant posted a decent rookie campaign and appears to have secured himself a starting gig to begin the season. Mims will likely take a step back and play more of a reserve role to start the season, which makes him a shaky option in redrafts. The Broncos already have Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton as their primary passing options. There might not be enough room for Mims to be a serious threat this upcoming season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jaylen Waddle's First Denver Summer Raises Expectations
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has made a strong first impression with his new team. The Broncos gave up first-, third- and fourth-round picks to acquire him from Miami in March, and Waddle spent much of camp showing exactly what they paid for. Denver's own coverage repeatedly highlighted his ability to separate and create explosive plays during the first six practices. A leg strain on Aug. 5 interrupted that run for nearly two weeks, but it didn't take long for Waddle to get going again. He returned to practice Aug. 17 and, two days later, hauled in a roughly 60-yard touchdown from Bo Nix during the final open practice of camp. Waddle is coming off 64 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns on 100 targets last season and now enters a Denver offense that clearly has plans for his speed. Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Evan Engram will all get their opportunities, so the targets could be spread around. Still, Waddle's first summer in Denver has given fantasy managers more reason to expect a rebound toward his earlier production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Courtland Sutton Faces Major Target Competition in 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is expected to see less volume as competition increases in 2026. Sutton has spent the last two seasons as Denver's clear WR1, totaling 155 receptions for 2,098 yards and 15 touchdowns in 34 games, averaging just over 11 half-PPR fantasy points per game. However, the trade for speedy wide receiver Jaylen Waddle should limit Sutton's production in 2026. Waddle has been used across the formation and has earned significant praise from the coaching staff and players. The emergence of second-year receiver Pat Bryant could also take targets away, as the 2025 third-round pick had a strong summer. Sutton will be in a primary X-receiver role, and while he'll have his great games, he'll be less consistent than in years past. Ranked as the WR40 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Sutton doesn't offer enough upside despite his recent production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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