Fantasy Preview: No. 1 Broncos Outscored Next-Best Defense By 21 Points Last Season

By Jack Dougherty

The Broncos enter the 2025-26 season with high expectations after winning 10 games and making the playoffs in Sean Payton’s second year at the helm. There were questions about Payton’s decision to draft Bo Nix as his next franchise quarterback, but those questions were answered right away in what was an exceptional rookie season for the Oregon and Auburn product. The Broncos gave Nix more offensive weaponry this offseason by signing Evan Engram and J.K. Dobbins and drafting R.J. Harvey to go along with Courtland Sutton on the outside. 

The strength of this team, though, is the defense that ranked third in points allowed and yards allowed per play and first in red-zone touchdown percentage allowed. Denver also loaded up at key positions this offseason by adding Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga. 

Even though Denver is in a tough division, it should have its sights set on a second straight playoff appearance. 

Odds to Make Playoffs: -114

• Quarterback: Bo Nix

  • 2024-25 stats: 17 games, 376-567, 66.3% completion percentage, 3,775 yards, 6.7 yards per attempt, 93.3 passer rating, 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions

  • Nix silenced the doubters in Year 1 by by throwing for nearly 3,800 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading the Broncos to the postseason for the first time since 2015. He also rushed for 430 yards and four scores, making him the 10th-ranked fantasy quarterback in terms of points per game last season. With more weapons at his disposal in 2025, Nix should have another QB1 season. 

• Running Back: R.J. Harvey: 

  • 2024-25 stats (UCF): 12 games, 232 carries, 1,577 yards, 6.8 average, 22 touchdowns, 131.4 yards/game, 0 fumbles lost

  • The Broncos will mix in multiple running backs with Dobbins, Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin also on the roster, but Harvey has the best chance to pop. The rookie out of UCF runs hard and is a capable receiver out of the backfield, and he could take over as the starter sooner than later. Despite his upside, Harvey is a wait-and-see fantasy option to start the season. 
    

• Wide Receiver: Courtland Sutton: 

  • 2024-25 stats: 17 games, 81 receptions, 135 targets, 1,081 yards, 13.3 average, 8 touchdowns, 63.6 yards/game, 179 yards after catch

  • Sutton quickly emerged as Nix’s favorite target last season, but he finished as just the 27th-ranked fantasy WR in terms of points per game. There’s optimism that Nix will feel more comfortable pushing the ball downfield in Year 2, which could vault Sutton to the high-end WR2 tier. The Nix-Sutton connection will only grow stronger with more reps.
    

• Tight End: Evan Engram: 

  • 2024-25 stats: 9 games, 47 receptions, 64 targets, 365 yards, 7.8 average, 1 touchdowns, 24 long, 40.6 yards/game, 150 yards after catch

  • The Broncos didn’t utilize their tight ends much in the passing game last year, but they didn’t have a receiving weapon like Engram in the room. The former Jacksonville Jaguar recorded nearly 1,000 receiving yards and four touchdowns just two years ago. If Engram can return to that form, he could be the second-leading receiver in this offense. 

• Defense

  • 2024-25 stats: 19.0 points allowed per game, 38.25% 3rd down, 56.25% 4th down , 15 interceptions, 63 sacks, 12 fumbles caused, 10 fumbles recovered, 6 touchdowns

  • The Broncos had the No. 1 defense in fantasy last season, outscoring the second-highest-scoring defense by 21 points. Denver should be one of the first defenses off the board in the last two rounds of your draft.