Broncos 2026 Fantasy Football Outlook: Evaluating the Tight Ends

The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 fantasy football season with one of the NFL’s more difficult tight end rooms to evaluate. Veteran Evan Engram returns as Denver’s projected starter after leading the position group in receiving production last season, while Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley provide intriguing developmental upside. Adam Trautman is a veteran blocker and a rotational piece in the Broncos’ offense.

Unlike Denver’s running backs and wide receivers, however, the Broncos’ tight ends are unlikely to produce multiple fantasy contributors in 2026. Engram remains the only player with realistic redraft value entering the season, while Joly is best viewed as a dynasty stash with long-term upside. Bentley and Trautman, meanwhile, are unlikely to provide meaningful fantasy production.

Evan Engram

Evan Engram enters the 2026 season as Denver’s clear-cut starting tight end and the Broncos’ most fantasy-relevant player at the position. While his experience and receiving ability should keep him involved in the passing game, his fantasy outlook has become increasingly difficult to trust as his production continues to decline.

Engram caught 50 passes for 461 yards and one touchdown during the 2025 season. He eclipsed 50 receiving yards just once all year and never recorded more than six receptions in a single game. Across nine NFL seasons, he has never tallied 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and has surpassed 500 receiving yards just five times. Perhaps more concerning, Engram has caught only two touchdown passes over the past two seasons, raising legitimate questions about both his red-zone role and fantasy ceiling.

The addition of Jaylen Waddle could make Engram’s path to fantasy relevance even more difficult. Waddle joins Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and RJ Harvey as established receiving options, leaving Engram with even greater competition for targets. As a result, he may struggle to see the volume necessary to become a dependable fantasy starter.

Engram profiles as a worthwhile backup tight end or streaming option, particularly in PPR leagues. According to FantasyPros, he currently carries an ADP of No. 226 overall, a draft position that reflects his low-end streaming profile and limited weekly ceiling.

Justin Joly

Justin Joly enters the NFL with considerably more long-term fantasy appeal than immediate redraft value. Although he is expected to begin the season behind Engram on the depth chart, his collegiate production suggests he has the potential to develop into Denver’s starting tight end in the future.

Across four collegiate seasons, Joly caught 166 passes for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns. Seven of those touchdown receptions came during the 2025 season with the NC State Wolfpack, where he emerged as one of the team’s most productive offensive weapons. His receiving ability made him one of the more intriguing tight end prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Joly is unlikely to provide consistent fantasy production as long as Engram remains healthy, but his value could change quickly if an injury or significant decline opens the door to additional playing time. With Engram scheduled to become a free agent following the 2026 season, Joly also offers appealing long-term upside for dynasty managers.

Joly is best viewed as a late-round dynasty stash and a player to monitor on the waiver wire in redraft leagues. According to FantasyPros, he currently carries an ADP of No. 292 overall, a valuation that feels appropriate for a rookie expected to begin the season behind Engram.

Dallen Bentley

Dallen Bentley enters his rookie season as one of the biggest unknowns in the Broncos’ tight end room. Although he flashed receiving ability during his final collegiate season, his overall résumé leaves plenty of questions about how quickly he can contribute at the NFL level.

Bentley caught 48 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns with the Utah Utes in 2025. However, he caught just three passes for 20 yards combined during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, making it difficult to determine whether his breakout season represents his true potential or an outlier.

Bentley also faces an uphill battle simply to establish himself as Denver’s backup tight end, meaning opportunities to get on the stat sheet will be hard to find. He’s not even a lock to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

Bentley does not currently carry a consensus ADP on FantasyPros, underscoring how little redraft fantasy value he offers entering the 2026 season. Unless injuries create an unexpected opportunity, he is best left undrafted while remaining a player to monitor in dynasty leagues.

Adam Trautman

Adam Trautman continues to provide valuable leadership and blocking ability for the Broncos, but that role has never translated into meaningful fantasy production. Entering his seventh NFL season, he remains a depth option in Denver’s offense.

Trautman caught 20 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown during the 2025 campaign. His career high for receiving yards in a season remains just 263, which he recorded with the New Orleans Saints in 2021. Across six NFL seasons, he has totaled 115 receptions for 1,228 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Simply put, Trautman’s responsibilities as a blocker and complementary tight end severely limit both his target volume and scoring opportunities, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most formats. He should not be rostered in standard fantasy leagues entering the 2026 season, even in deeper formats where speculative tight end options are considered.

Trautman does not currently carry an ADP on FantasyPros, which accurately reflects his minimal fantasy value entering the 2026 season. His contributions as a blocker and veteran presence are important to the Broncos’ offense, but they do not translate into meaningful fantasy production.