Broncos 2026 Fantasy Football Outlook: Evaluating the Wide Receivers

The Denver Broncos enter the 2026 fantasy football season with one of the NFL’s deepest and most talented wide receiver rooms. Denver made headlines by acquiring Jaylen Waddle during the offseason to pair with Courtland Sutton, giving quarterback Bo Nix another proven playmaker in an offense that took significant strides in 2025. Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, Jr., and Pat Bryant provide additional depth, giving the Broncos one of the league’s more complete collections of receiving talent.

That depth, however, also creates difficult decisions for fantasy managers. While Waddle and Sutton project to lead Denver in targets, Franklin, Mims, and Bryant will all compete for opportunities in an increasingly crowded passing attack. Fantasy managers will need to carefully balance upside, consistency, and projected workload when deciding which Broncos receivers deserve a spot on their roster.

Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle immediately becomes Denver’s most attractive fantasy option at wide receiver entering the 2026 season. A three-time 1,000-yard receiver, Waddle has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier big-play threats. His ability to stretch the field while creating yards after the catch gives him the highest fantasy ceiling among Broncos wideouts.

Although Waddle has not eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark since 2023, he remained highly productive with the Miami Dolphins in 2025. He finished the year with 910 receiving yards, a total that would have ranked second on the Broncos last season. Waddle has also surpassed 100 receiving yards in 13 career games and has recorded multiple touchdown receptions three times during his NFL career. His best statistical performance of the 2025 season came in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, when he caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Waddle projects as a high-end WR2 with legitimate WR1 upside in PPR formats. His combination of target volume, big-play ability, and proven production should make him the safest fantasy investment in Denver’s passing attack.

According to FantasyPros, Waddle currently carries an ADP of No. 47 overall. That draft position feels appropriate given his résumé and expected role as the Broncos’ top receiving option.

Courtland Sutton

Courtland Sutton continues to be one of Denver’s most reliable offensive weapons entering the 2026 season. Fresh off consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, he remains a trusted possession receiver and the Broncos’ top red-zone threat. While Waddle may emerge as the team’s leading receiver, Sutton’s ability to win contested catches should continue to produce consistent touchdown opportunities.

Sutton caught 74 passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2025 campaign. He surpassed the 100-yard mark twice, hauling in six receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 before catching seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. At the same time, Sutton’s fantasy production could be volatile. He failed to reach 30 receiving yards in four games last season, which could make him somewhat touchdown-dependent from week to week.

That combination of season-long production and week-to-week volatility makes Sutton an intriguing fantasy option. He profiles as a dependable FLEX option with WR2 upside, provided he continues to command meaningful opportunities in the red zone.

Sutton currently owns an ADP of No. 81 overall on FantasyPros. That price feels fair for a receiver who continues to offer a reliable fantasy floor over the course of an entire season despite some weekly inconsistency.

Troy Franklin

Troy Franklin quietly enjoyed the best season of his young NFL career in 2025, emerging as Denver’s No. 2 receiver opposite Sutton. He produced career highs across the board while becoming a dependable secondary option within the Broncos’ passing attack.

Franklin caught 65 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns during the 2025 season. His top performance came in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, when he caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He also delivered strong outings against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, catching eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, and against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15, where he finished with six receptions for 85 yards and another score.

The addition of Waddle significantly changes Franklin’s fantasy outlook. After operating as Denver’s No. 2 wideout in 2025, he now projects as the Broncos’ third option at wide receiver. That likely relegates him to a touchdown-dependent FLEX option in deeper leagues, although he becomes one of fantasy football’s better insurance policies. If either Waddle or Sutton misses extended time, Franklin has already shown he can produce starting-caliber numbers when given a larger role.

Franklin currently owns an ADP of No. 209 overall on FantasyPros. That draft position makes him an appealing late-round stash for managers willing to bet on either an expanded role or an injury opening the door to additional opportunities.

Marvin Mims Jr.

Marvin Mims Jr. possesses some of the most exciting athletic traits on the Broncos’ roster, but those tools have yet to translate into consistent fantasy production. His speed makes him a threat to score every time he touches the football, but projecting a meaningful weekly role becomes increasingly difficult following Waddle’s arrival.

Mims finished the 2025 season with 37 receptions for 322 receiving yards and one touchdown. He never eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a single game and surpassed 50 receiving yards only twice all season. His best statistical outing came in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he caught six passes for 69 yards and added a 16-yard rushing touchdown. While that performance showcased his versatility, it also proved to be an outlier rather than the norm.

Unless injuries force Denver to expand his role, Mims is unlikely to become a reliable fantasy contributor in 2026. His explosiveness gives him occasional big-play upside, but the Broncos simply have too many established receiving options ahead of him to justify drafting him in most standard fantasy leagues.

Mims currently carries an ADP of No. 275 overall on FantasyPros. Even at a modest draft cost, fantasy managers may find better late-round options with clearer paths to consistent production.

Pat Bryant

Pat Bryant enters his second NFL season looking to build upon a modest rookie campaign. While he demonstrated flashes of promise in 2025, he enters the season buried on one of the league’s deepest wide receiver depth charts, making consistent fantasy production difficult to envision.

Bryant caught 31 passes for 378 yards and one touchdown during his rookie season. He surpassed 50 receiving yards just once, catching five passes for 82 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11. Although Denver remains optimistic about his long-term development, his opportunities could remain limited with Waddle, Sutton, Franklin, and Mims all competing for targets.

Bryant was not a fantasy-relevant option in 2025 and is unlikely to become one in 2026. If Bryant finds himself in your starting lineup, your fantasy roster has probably been hit hard by injuries or bye weeks. His value is primarily limited to very deep dynasty leagues where managers can afford to invest in long-term development.

Bryant currently carries an ADP of No. 207 overall on FantasyPros, which feels somewhat aggressive given his projected role in the Broncos’ offense. While he could outperform that draft position if injuries elevate him up the depth chart, fantasy managers are generally better off using that pick on a player with a clearer path to consistent production.