Fantasy Football News

Nick Kosmider of The Athletic deems RB J.K. Dobbins one of the Broncos' 10 most important players for 2026, putting him ahead of backfield mates RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman.

We passed along earlier in June that Broncos RB RJ Harvey was missing on-field workout time while he rehabbed a surgically repaired shoulder. That time off might have given rookie RB Jonah Coleman a chance to challenge for more playing time this season. Coleman impressed in spring workouts, including in passing situations.

Broncos QB Bo Nix needed two surgeries on the right ankle he fractured in January's playoff win over the Bills. The first repaired the ankle and the second, which came in April, was to remove bone spurs, Nix said this week. He's been a limited participant in minicamp and is on track to be a full-go for training camp. Nix isn't worried about the ankle heading into the 2026 season.

Broncos RB R.J. Harvey suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder in January's playoff loss to the Patriots, according to The Denver Post's Luca Evans. Harvey had surgery this offseason and "hasn’t done much team work in OTAs," Evans adds.

Broncos HC Sean Payton said Saturday that he expects QB Bo Nix (ankle) to be cleared “full speed by training camp.” Nix should also participate in June minicamp.

Broncos QB Bo Nix underwent a second procedure on his surgically repaired right ankle, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The “clean-up” surgery was performed last week in Birmingham, AL, by Dr. Norman Waldrop III, who also handled the initial procedure on January 19.

The Denver Broncos selected NC State TE Justin Joly in Round 5 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Joly entered college as a two-star WR at 190 pounds. He committed to UConn, bulked up to 228, and played a WR/TE hybrid role. He led the team in receiving as a sophomore, finishing with a 56-578-2 line. A transfer to NC State expanded his role at a higher level. He added weight to reach 251 pounds and totaled 92-1,150-11 over two seasons with the Wolfpack. Among the 27 TEs invited to the NFL Combine, Joly ranked 14th in 2025 aDOT (7.6), and 10th in team market share of receiving yards (18.6%). He ranked ninth in 2025 receiving yards per team pass attempt (1.38) and seventh in receiving yards per route run (1.78). He is currently 21 years old.

The Denver Broncos selected Washington RB Jonah Coleman in Round 4 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Coleman’s dynasty appeal isn’t tied to one spike season. It’s rooted in three years of steady production, physical running, and usable pass-game skills. He carved out a role early at Arizona before following H C Jedd Fisch to Washington and immediately claiming the No. 1 job. Coleman handled nearly two-thirds of the team’s carries in 2024. And that workload came with elite contact balance and strong yards-after-contact numbers -- despite poor run blocking. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Coleman ranked 11th in 2025 rushing market share (41.5%), and seventh in yards after contact per attempt (3.58). He ranked seventh in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.24) and fourth in receiving yards per route run (1.73). He is currently 22 years old.

The Dolphins are sending WR Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos, according to multiple reports. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Miami will also send the 11th pick of Round 4 in this year's draft, while getting back first-, third-, and fourth-round picks this year. Each of the picks Denver's sending sits 30th in that round. Waddle spent his first five seasons with the Dolphins after arriving as the sixth-overall pick in 2021. He set a then-record for a rookie with 104 receptions in 2021 and topped out at 1,356 receiving yards in Year 2.

The Broncos are nearing an agreement to re-sign RB J.K. Dobbins, according to beat writer Zac Stevens. Dobbins ran for 772 yards and four TDs on 5.0 yards per carry across 10 games for Denver last year. His season ended in Week 10 with a foot injury that required surgery, although it seemed like Dobbins had a chance to make it back had the Broncos reached the Super Bowl.

It took an injury to RB J.K. Dobbins for RB R.J. Harvey to earn a full-time role for the Broncos last year. Harvey was just-OK from an efficiency standpoint after taking over as the clear lead back. But GM George Paton said from the Combine that the team does view Harvey as a three-down back going forward.

The Broncos have fired OC Joe Lombardi, NFL Network reports. Lombardi spent the past three seasons leading Denver's offense under HC Sean Payton and also spent 12 seasons under Payton in New Orleans. Denver's offense has been just fine under the Payton-Lombardi battery, ranking between 10th and 19th in points all three years. The Broncos did climb in total yards each season, from 26th to 19th to 10th. We'll see who's tabbed to replace Lombardi, but we wouldn't expect sweeping changes to the offense with Payton remaining at the helm.

Broncos WR Troy Franklin (hamstring) has been ruled out for the AFC Championship against the Patriots. Franklin was limited in practice all week after injuring the hamstring early in last week’s win over Buffalo, but couldn’t get cleared in time. With Franklin sidelined, Pat Bryant, now out of the concussion protocol, will start opposite Courtland Sutton, while Marvin Mims and Lil’Jordan Humphrey should see increased snap counts.

Broncos QB Bo Nix is expected to be sidelined for 12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair his broken right ankle this past week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. That timeline would have Nix back on the field in mid-April. He'll miss the early portion of the offseason program but should be a full-go well before training camp. Barring a setback, we're not expecting the ankle to impact Nix's 2026 campaign.

Broncos WR Troy Franklin (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC Championship vs. the Patriots. He was limited in practice all week. WR Pat Bryant (concussion) is off the final injury report and figures to serve as Denver's No. 2 WR this weekend. Franklin's absence would leave Marvin Mims and Lil'Jordan Humphrey as the third and fourth WRs.

Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins (foot) is out for Sunday's AFC Championship vs. the Patriots. He returned to limited practices this week for the first time since going down in Week 10. Dobbins would seemingly have a chance to play in the Super Bowl if Denver advances. R.J. Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin will again operate as the top two RBs vs. New England this weekend.

Broncos WR Pat Bryant (concussion) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. That puts him on track to play vs. the Patriots on Sunday, despite suffering his second concussion of the season in last week's win over the Bills. The rookie was primed to play a big role in that one, catching three balls on Denver's first four offensive snaps. Consider Bryant the second-best fantasy bet in the Broncos' WR corps vs. New England, behind only Courtland Sutton. WR Troy Franklin has been limited in the first two practices of the week with a hamstring issue.

The Broncos are designating RB J.K. Dobbins to return from IR, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Dobbins will practice this week and "has a chance" to play vs. the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship, per Schefter. Dobbins has been sidelined since suffering a foot injury in Week 10 that required surgery. We'll keep an eye on his status throughout the week. We'd be surprised if he played a big role in his first action since early November, but his presence would certainly add downside to RB R.J. Harvey's fantasy profile.

Broncos QB Bo Nix needs surgery for a broken ankle suffered in Saturday's win over the Bills and will miss the rest of the playoffs, HC Sean Payton announced. It's unclear when Nix suffered the injury, as he didn't miss a single snap vs. Buffalo. We'll look for more info on Nix's injury and timeline for return, but it's unlikely to impact his 2026 season. It's obviously a brutal blow to the Broncos' playoff hopes, though. They'll turn to QB Jarrett Stidham in next Sunday's AFC Championship vs. the Patriots or Texans. Stidham has not thrown a regular-season pass since 2023. He started the final two games of the season for Denver that year, completing 60.6% of his passes at 7.4 yards per attempt with two TDs vs. one INT.

Update: Nix fractured a bone in his right ankle on the second-to-last play of overtime and will have surgery on Tuesday, Payton said.

Broncos WR Pat Bryant sustained a concussion on the first possession of Saturday's win over the Bills. The rookie was busy before exiting, catching all three of his targets for 32 yards on Denver's first four offensive snaps. He'll have an extra day to get cleared for next Sunday's AFC Championship, but Bryant won't be helped by the fact that this is his second concussion in the past month. He was hospitalized and eventually diagnosed with a concussion in Week 16. WR Marvin Mims stepped up sans Bryant in the win over Buffalo, catching eight balls for 93 yards and a score. WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey caught two of five targets for 33 yards and a score. WR Troy Franklin did not see a target.