Fantasy Football Player Notes

Jaylen Waddle's 2025 season looked disappointing on the surface, but Miami's run-heavy approach masked another highly efficient campaign from the former first-round pick (13th in yards per route run). Now in Denver after a blockbuster trade, Waddle steps into a pass-heavy offense where he projects as the featured receiver. His explosiveness and efficiency have consistently kept him on the WR1 fringe despite frequent nagging injuries and inconsistent volume in Miami alongside Tyreek Hill. But if Bo Nix and the Broncos offense continue ascending, 2026 could finally be the season Waddle delivers a true top-tier fantasy breakout.

Courtland Sutton's 2025 finish once again outpaced his underlying usage, as strong touchdown production helped propel him into the top-12 overall WRs despite modest efficiency (20th in PPG). Before the Week 12 bye week, Sutton was outside the top-30 WRs in PPG. Denver's passing attack now looks significantly EVEN more crowded after the addition of Jaylen Waddle, and the Broncos enter 2026 with virtually no vacated volume available. Sutton still profiles as an important red-zone target for Bo Nix, but his declining efficiency metrics and growing competition raise concerns about his fantasy ceiling. At age 31, Sutton feels more like a volume-dependent WR3 than a true alpha receiver moving forward.

Pat Bryant quietly carved out a larger role as his rookie season progressed, giving Denver reason to believe he can contribute more in Year 2. The former third-round pick earned increased playing time late in the season and showed flashes of reliability before an injury cut short his playoff run. The addition of Jaylen Waddle limits Bryant's path to major target volume, but he still projects as the favorite for the Broncos' No. 3 WR role entering 2026. In deeper formats, Bryant profiles as more of a depth stash tied to offensive growth rather than standalone volume.