The Broncos taking Bo Nix had everyone scratching their head last season, and we were wrong. The rookie led the Broncos to the playoffs and proved head coach/professional Football Absurdity opp Sean Payton, right, unfortunately. Headed into Nix’s sophomore campaign, the Broncos upgraded the running back room by booting Javonte Williams for RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins (Javonte, reportedly, refused to change his name to “JV” Williams and was summarily replaced). They also snagged Evan Engram and extended Courtland Sutton. Let’s dive into the 2025 Broncos and their fantasy football prospects!
Overdrafted:
RJ Harvey, Running Back (RB21, Pick 57 Overall)
There’s an idea around RJ Harvey that “somebody has to do it.” And apparently the “it” in question is, “being Alvin Kamara, because we just want to overlay the Saints on the Broncos.” I mean, I get it, Sean Payton spent his Denver tenure frantically jamming as many former Saints onto his roster as humanly possible, so it tracks that you think he is trying to make it the Prime Drew Brees Saints in Denver.
But, I don’t really see it with Harvey. So much about Kamara’s game is his heft and elusiveness combined. Kamara is two inches taller and ten pounds heavier than Harvey (5’10”, 215 pounds versus 5’8”, 205 pounds), and he is closer to Jerick McKinnon’s frenetic “athlete running the ball” style than Kamara’s refined vision, patience, and approach.
You can read more about Harvey in my Denver Broncos Rookie Roundup, and I anticipated perfectly the situation surrounding why I am out on Harvey. Everyone is getting far too excited for him, and I don’t see the value in paying RB21 for a guy who could finish RB18.
Underdrafted:
Evan Engram, Tight End (TE9, Pick 91 Overall)
The Broncos only have two pass catchers with any pedigree on their roster: newly extended WR1 Courtland Sutton and Engram. He comes over from the Jaguars, where he averaged 121 targets, 93 receptions, 828 yards, and nine touchdowns per 17 games over the last three seasons. He soaks up volume like a sponge, despite not being very efficient (28th in tight end depth of target, 35th in tight end yards after the catch).
But none of that matters in our beautiful game, where I once again must remind you all: two five-yard catches are worth a combined three points, and one ten-yard catch and run is worth two points. It’s a stupid game, but sometimes you play the game and not the talent. Evan Engram is a shoo-in to be top-five in tight end targets, barring injury, and you can get him for a song. There’s very little to separate Evan Engram from T.J. Hockenson, Travis Kelce, and Mark Andrews… except price.
Sleeper:
Devaughn Vele, Wide Receiver (WR98, Pick 283 Overall)
Devaughn Vele didn’t get consistent playing time last season, but he’s big and fast, and probably the second-best wide receiver on the Broncos. He played over 60% of snaps just four times last season, and he averaged six targets, 4.5 receptions, and 66 yards per game in those contests. Those are a great starting point in PPR leagues, where his deep threat skill set could unlock Bo Nix, finally going deep. Vele is also a big guy, who the Broncos used in and around the end zone (14.6% of his receptions came on red zone targets), which could turn a flex play into a WR2 play.
Ultimately, however, the Broncos are built on their stellar defense and pounding the rock. So, uncorking one won’t often be in the cards for Bo Nix. So, I prefer Vele in a best ball league, where I don’t have to worry about whether this is a game where Nix uncorks one. However, I will keep a close eye on Vele, as the Broncos can’t go into the season with just three viable pass catchers (Sutton, Engram, and, I guess, RJ Harvey), and Vele is their only end zone weapon outside of Engram.
