The 2026 NFL season kicks off later tonight with a Super Bowl rematch (it should have included the Broncos) between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. That also means the 2026 fantasy football season is underway, and I am here to tell you which Denver Broncos players you should start confidently, cautiously, or keep on the bench.
The Broncos cap off the start of Week 1 with a key AFC West divisional showdown against the returning quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Broncos will also have their quarterback, Bo Nix, returning from offseason ankle surgery and will be debuting explosive wide receiver and big offseason addition, Jaylen Waddle.
So, with all that said, here are the Denver Broncos players I believe you should start or sit during Week 1 of the 2026 fantasy football season.
Quarterback Bo Nix – Start
Nix has had success vs. the Chiefs throughout his career. He has a 3-1 record vs. them and would be undefeated if it were not for a blocked game-winning field goal. Nix also has a passer rating of 108.8 with 1,013 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 1 interception in 4 games against the Chiefs in his career.
Now, add Jaylen Waddle, an improved Pat Bryant, a strong running game, and Davis Webb calling the offense. This will be the strongest supporting cast Nix has ever had with the Broncos, and this offense is ready to take that next step.
If Bo Nix is your quarterback, I would feel confident starting him this week.
Running Backs: JK Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and Jonah Coleman
JK Dobbins – Start: The Broncos are ready to unleash Dobbins after sitting him out the entire preseason. However, how many carries he gets is TBD. Second-year back RJ Harvey will get third down/passing game work, and rookie Jonah Coleman is expected to factor in as well. I have Dobbins as a cautious RB2/FLEX this week due to the uncertainty surrounding the backfield. It’s great for real football but muddy for fantasy.
RJ Harvey – Start (PPR only): Harvey will be a risky flex start in deeper PPR leagues. His rushing output isn’t going to be consistent or good enough to warrant a spot on your team. However, he’s expected to be a big player in the Broncos’ passing offense and did have 12 total touchdowns last season. If you’re in a deeper league and have a FLEX option, I would consider starting him.
Jonah Coleman – Sit/Stash: Obviously, Jonah Coleman isn’t fantasy relevant right now, but he’s worth a stash on your bench. He’s a JK Dobbins injury away from being a surefire RB2 and potentially a league-winning RB1. I have him stashed on my bench, and if he’s available in your league, I would do the same.
Wide Receivers: Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, and Pat Bryant
Jaylen Waddle – Start: Waddle is a popular breakout candidate in fantasy and is expected to get a heavy workload vs. the Chiefs. Sean Payton and Davis Webb likely have been drawing up plays for him all offseason and are prepared to showcase their new weapon on the primetime stage vs. their rivals on Monday Night Football. I would confidently start him as my WR1, and I believe he’s going to have a big game.
Courtland Sutton – Start: Sutton’s overall production may take a hit, but he’s still Bo Nix’s trusted third-down and red-zone target. You’re chasing touchdowns here, and I believe Sutton could see plenty of touchdown opportunities with defenses focusing on Waddle. He’s a solid WR2 and a strong WR3/FLEX play for me.
Pat Bryant – Sit but roster: Second-year wide receiver Pat Bryant was the star of training camp and is the Broncos’ WR3. However, I would keep him on my bench for now. We have to see how he’s utilized, how they split snaps with Mims, Franklin, and/or Lil’Jordan Humphrey, but there’s plenty of upside there. There’s a reality where he’s the Broncos’ WR2 by the end of the season. Roster and stash for now, and wait and see if it pays off down the road.
Tight End Evan Engram – Only start in deeper leagues
If you’re in a deeper league and do not have one of the top and more consistent fantasy tight end options, I would roll the dice on Evan Engram. He is expected to see a larger role in Davis Webb’s offense, which could lead to some red zone/touchdown opportunities. With that said, he will be competing for targets in a suddenly crowded Denver Broncos passing offense.
For me, he’s borderline roster-worthy at this point, but hey, tight end is a roll of the dice most weeks, and if you’re desperate, Engram could pay off for you.
Kicker Wil Lutz – Start
During his career with the Broncos, Lutz has made 89% of his field goal attempts and 98.3% of his extra points. He’s a reliable kicker and will be paired with what is expected to be a high-scoring offense this season. There aren’t many better options out there than Wil Lutz, so I would feel confident starting him if he was the kicker on my team this week.
Broncos Defense/Special Teams – Start
Vance Joseph’s defenses have always fared well vs. Mahomes and the Chiefs during the time with the Broncos (even when they were bad), and I don’t see that changing this week.
Mahomes will be playing his first game since suffering a major knee injury last season. Also, they will reportedly be down their starting left tackle and will be starting an undrafted rookie vs. the Broncos’ league-leading pass rush. I can see them get 3+ sacks and possibly multiple turnovers. If you drafted the Broncos defense, you should probably start them most weeks.
As for their special teams, All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. is always a threat to take one back for a touchdown. Combine that with their defense, and you have a high-upside pairing that I would start confidently this week.
