The Denver Broncos went to the AFC Championship Game last season. Bo Nix broke his ankle late in the playoffs and watched from the sideline as the Patriots knocked them out. The Broncos then spent the offseason adding Jaylen Waddle from Miami and re-signing Courtland Sutton to a big extension, creating one of the most crowded wide receiver rooms in football. Sean Payton returns for his fourth season with the reigning AFC West champions. The talent is real. The problem is the same as it has been since Peyton Manning retired. For fantasy managers, the Broncos ran the fifth-most offensive plays in the league last year, which means there are targets available. The question is who gets them.
Bo Nix: Talented, Confusing, and Healthy Again
Nix led the Broncos to the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2025 and outdueled Josh Allen in the Divisional Round, but it is still tough to find a passing efficiency metric that paints him as anything more than average-to-below-average. Since the start of 2024, he ranks 31st out of 41 qualifying quarterbacks in success rate. He is fully healthy after the ankle injury and has shown genuine flashes of elite play. Nix has also racked up the position’s fifth-most fantasy points from rushing over the past two seasons, posting QB8 and QB11 finishes despite the efficiency concerns.
The Broncos play home games at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Fantasy verdict: QB2 in standard leagues at his current ADP. The rushing floor protects his fantasy value even when the passing game sputters.
Jaylen Waddle vs. Courtland Sutton: Pick One
Fantasy Life projects the target edge going to Jaylen Waddle (118) over Courtland Sutton (108) in 2026. Waddle comes from Miami where the offense fell apart around him. In Denver he gets a legitimate running game. Waddle’s fantasy value stems from Sean Payton’s quick-pass scheme designed to maximize Waddle’s elite run-after-catch (RAC) ability.. The speedy ex-Dolphin adds a field-stretching dimension that should make things easier for everyone in the receiver room, including Sutton.
Sutton has posted only 20 fantasy points above expectation over the past two seasons combined — relying on target volume rather than efficiency to generate fantasy value. With Waddle now competing for those targets, some regression is expected. Only eight receivers have more PPR points than Sutton’s 460 over the last two years — the production is real — but the target share compression is a legitimate concern heading into 2026.
Fantasy verdict: Waddle is the preferred pick — WR2 with upside as the field-stretcher. Sutton is a WR3 with floor given the added competition.
The Running Back Committee: Proceed With Caution
J.K. Dobbins returns as the presumed lead back after handling 164 touches compared to just 75 for RJ Harvey in the first ten weeks of last season. Dobbins was considerably more efficient as a rusher at 5.0 yards per carry versus 3.7 for Harvey. Harvey flashed as a pass catcher down the stretch and handled 16.2 touches per game when Dobbins was unavailable. Multiple analysts agree no Broncos back should be trusted as a standalone fantasy starter given the committee nature of the backfield. Evan Engram returns as TE1 but produced just a PPR TE32 finish in 2025 with 76 targets — not worth rostering in most formats.
Fantasy verdict: Skip the backfield in standard leagues unless someone gets injured. The committee is real and nobody is safe enough for an early pick.
2026 Denver Broncos Schedule
Denver opens on Monday Night Football in Week 1 visiting the Kansas City Chiefs in an immediate AFC West statement game. The schedule includes a Black Friday game at Pittsburgh in Week 12 and a Christmas Day home game against the Buffalo Bills. The bye week falls in Week 10. Earlier than last season, leaving 12 straight games to close the year with no additional break.
| Week | Opponent | Location | Day/Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Chiefs | Away | Mon 8:15 PM | ESPN |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Home | Sun 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 3 | Los Angeles Rams | Home | Sun 8:15 PM | NBC |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | Away | Sun 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 5 | Los Angeles Chargers | Away | Sun 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 6 | Seattle Seahawks | Home | Thu 5:15 PM | Prime |
| 7 | Arizona Cardinals | Away | Sun 4:05 PM | CBS |
| 8 | Kansas City Chiefs | Home | Sun 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | Away | Sun 1:00 PM | CBS |
| 10 | BYE WEEK | — | — | — |
| 11 | Las Vegas Raiders | Home | Sun 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Away | 🦃 Black Friday | Prime |
| 13 | Miami Dolphins | Home | Sun 2:05 PM | FOX |
| 14 | New York Jets | Away | Sun TBD | — |
| 15 | Las Vegas Raiders | Away | Sun 4:25 PM | CBS |
| 16 | Buffalo Bills | Home | 🎄 Christmas Day | Netflix |
| 17 | New England Patriots | Away | TBD | — |
| 18 | TBD | — | TBD | — |
Fantasy note: Denver plays five of their first six games against 2025 playoff teams. The toughest opening gauntlet in the AFC. The Week 10 bye leaves a demanding 8-game closing stretch. Black Friday at Pittsburgh on a short week in Week 12 is a difficult spot. The Christmas Day home game against Buffalo is a high-profile showcase on Netflix.
Your Draft Board Deserves Better Than a Whiteboard
Fantasy football draft season is here, and Commish Kit has been making professional-grade fantasy football draft boards since 2002. Whether you need a wall-hanging paper board, a free-standing corrugated board, or the Digital Draft Board Big Screen Edition, we have the right setup for your league. Find the right board for your league size →
Since 2002 — Commish Kit started in Daly City, California, and moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, making 2026 its 24th season in business. As a result, the brand has become the go-to draft board for fantasy leagues across the country, as featured on Thrillist.
FAQ
Is Bo Nix a good fantasy quarterback in 2026?
He is a QB2 in standard leagues. Nix has posted QB8 and QB11 fantasy finishes in his first two seasons thanks to rushing production that pads his floor, despite ranking below average in most passing efficiency metrics. He is fully healthy after a late-season ankle injury.
Should I draft Jaylen Waddle or Courtland Sutton in fantasy?
Waddle is the preferred choice — projected at 118 targets versus 108 for Sutton — and his field-stretching ability adds a dimension Denver lacked. Sutton remains a WR3 floor with some upside if Waddle’s role is smaller than expected.
Is J.K. Dobbins worth drafting in fantasy football?
He is a low-end RB2 at best given the committee. RJ Harvey pushes him for carries and multiple sources suggest no Broncos back should be trusted as a standalone fantasy starter in 2026.
Does Denver play on Thanksgiving or Christmas in 2026?
They play the day after Thanksgiving on Black Friday at Pittsburgh (Week 12, Amazon Prime) and Christmas Day at home against Buffalo (Week 16, Netflix).
What is Denver’s bye week in 2026?
Week 10.
What stadium do the Broncos play in?
Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
How long has Commish Kit been making fantasy football draft boards?
Since 2002 — Commish Kit started in Daly City, California, and moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, making 2026 its 24th season in business.
