Broncos Fantasy Football Advice for Week 2 of the 2026 Season

The Denver Broncos will look to bounce back from a disappointing Week 1 loss when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday.

Denver’s clash with Jacksonville will give fantasy managers another opportunity to evaluate how the Broncos’ offense is coming together. The matchup also presents some interesting fantasy decisions after several of Denver’s players established or altered their roles during the season opener.

With Week 1 now in the books, it’s time to take an early look at which Broncos players are worth trusting, which ones are better left on the bench and which could become valuable fantasy options as the season progresses.

Start: Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle had about as poor of a fantasy debut with Denver as anyone could have imagined.

Waddle caught just one pass for two yards on three targets during the Broncos’ 31-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. After entering the season with significant expectations following his offseason trade from the Miami Dolphins, that performance likely cost plenty of fantasy managers their Week 1 matchups.

But fantasy managers should not panic.

Waddle remains an excellent bounce-back candidate in Week 2, particularly with the Jaguars coming to Denver. Jacksonville and the Broncos played one of the higher-scoring games on Denver’s 2025 schedule when the Jaguars emerged with a 34-20 victory in Week 16. Jacksonville controlled much of that contest, which forced the Broncos to rely heavily on their passing game. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence accounted for four total touchdowns in that game, including three through the air and one on the ground.

Lawrence is coming off another strong performance to open the 2026 season, throwing four touchdown passes in Jacksonville’s 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. If Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offense are able to produce again, Denver could once again find itself in a game that requires Bo Nix to throw frequently.

That was good news for Courtland Sutton in last year’s matchup, when he was operating as the Broncos’ clear No. 1 wide receiver. Sutton finished that game with six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, demonstrating the type of fantasy production Denver’s top pass-catchers can provide when the Broncos are forced into a pass-heavy game script.

There is also a reasonable chance Denver is more intentional about getting Waddle involved this week. His three targets against Kansas City were surprisingly low for a player the Broncos acquired with the intention of making him a major part of their offense. Even if Waddle’s role remains similar to what was expected entering the season, it would be surprising to see him receive such limited involvement every week.

Waddle’s Week 1 performance was ugly, but one poor game should not erase everything that made him an appealing fantasy option entering the season. His speed, big-play ability and established track record remain intact, and a potentially high-scoring matchup against Jacksonville gives him a strong opportunity to get back on track.

Fantasy managers who drafted Waddle should not be looking for an excuse to bench him. Instead, this is a good opportunity to show some confidence in a player who remains one of the most dangerous pieces of Denver’s passing attack.

Sit: J.K. Dobbins

The Broncos’ Week 1 loss provided some clarity in their running back room.

J.K. Dobbins appears to be firmly at the top of the pecking order, tallying eight carries for 36 yards against the Chiefs. RJ Harvey, meanwhile, registered just three carries for 18 yards, while Jonah Coleman did not record a carry or a reception.

That makes Dobbins the easiest Denver running back to identify from a workload perspective. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, his lack of involvement in the passing game makes that workload less valuable than it might initially appear.

Dobbins did not record a reception against Kansas City, and his limited pass-catching role is a significant concern for his fantasy value. The Broncos have a much more natural receiving option in Harvey, who caught four passes for 23 yards in Week 1. With Denver likely to be cautious about exposing Dobbins to unnecessary contact and Harvey offering more versatility as a pass-catcher, Dobbins does not have much of a path to consistent receiving production.

That puts a lot of pressure on Dobbins to score touchdowns or receive a significantly larger rushing workload. While his position atop the depth chart gives him a better opportunity to produce than Harvey or Coleman, there is still no guarantee that the Broncos will run the ball enough for Dobbins to provide a reliable fantasy floor.

The matchup with the Jaguars could also force Denver to throw the ball often, particularly if Jacksonville is able to put points on the board. If the Broncos find themselves in a pass-happy game script, Dobbins could be left with a relatively modest workload once again.

Harvey at least warrants some FLEX consideration after his four-catch performance in Week 1, while Coleman remains difficult to trust until his role expands. Dobbins, however, is too dependent on rushing volume and touchdowns to justify starting him with confidence.

Until he demonstrates a greater role in Denver’s passing game or begins receiving significantly more carries, fantasy managers should keep Dobbins on the bench in Week 2.

Watch: Pat Bryant

Pat Bryant may have been one of the few Broncos players to emerge from Week 1 with his fantasy stock clearly moving in the right direction.

Bryant caught four passes for 42 yards on six targets against the Chiefs, finishing second on the team in receiving yards behind Evan Engram. More importantly, his six targets represented a meaningful share of Denver’s passing offense in a game where Bo Nix struggled to consistently move the ball.

One game is not enough to make Bryant a fantasy starter, but his usage is worth monitoring.

Bryant could benefit from the attention opposing defenses are likely to devote to Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. If Waddle and Sutton command the majority of the coverage, Bryant could find himself facing more favorable matchups as the Broncos’ offense looks for other ways to move the ball.

His potential role in the slot is particularly interesting. If Bryant spends a significant amount of time working from the slot, he could become a useful security blanket on plays where Nix does not like what he sees downfield. That type of role could lead to a steady stream of short and intermediate targets even when Waddle and Sutton are receiving the most defensive attention.

Of course, fantasy managers should not overreact to four catches for 42 yards. Bryant did not find the end zone, and Denver’s offense produced just 176 total yards against Kansas City. There is still plenty that needs to improve before Bryant can be considered a reliable fantasy option.

But another respectable performance against the Jaguars would change the conversation.

If Bryant once again sees five or more targets and remains involved in the offense, he could become a legitimate stash candidate for fantasy managers looking for a young wide receiver with a path to consistent volume. For now, he is better left on the watch list – but Week 2 could provide an important indication of whether Bryant is ready to become a bigger part of the Broncos’ passing game.