Young, Iosivas still battling for Bengals’ WR3 gig

The entire Denver offense struggled to get anything going on a night they managed only 176 yards of total offense, clearly no match for Steve Spagnuolo’s Kansas City defense. Most troubling was the fact that this was the first time new offensive coordinator Davis Webb was calling plays after head coach Sean Payton announced this offseason that he would be relinquishing those duties on game days. It is unclear how long the Broncos will stick with that setup if the offense continues to struggle as it did against the Chiefs, particularly considering the team holds the honor of having the most difficult schedule during the first six weeks of the season. Waddle will look to return to his status as an upside-WR2 when the Broncos host the Jaguars in Week 2.

The good news for Sutton’s fantasy managers is that he tied for second on the team in targets. The bad news is everything else. Sutton was locked down by the aggressive Kansas City secondary, failing to generate separation as the offense struggled to move the football. It is difficult to count on Sutton as being any higher than third on the team’s pecking order for targets following the addition of Jaylen Waddle this offseason. The veteran incumbent turns 31 in October and appears likely to struggle when he’s not finding the end zone. Sutton is a low-upside WR4 ahead of a pass-funnel matchup against the Jaguars in Week 2.

The good news for fantasy managers is that Bryant played well ahead of both Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin, rewarding those who took a late-round dart through on the talented second-year receiver. That’s about where the good news ended on this night considering the Broncos managed only 176 yards of total offense. While better days are likely ahead for Bryant, there is likely to be mounting pressure from the outside for offensive coordinator Davis Webb to relinquish play calling duties back to head coach Sean Payton. Until, or unless, that happens, Bryant appears likely to remain an upside WR4. That begins in Week 2 when the Broncos face the Jaguars.

Engram’s trip to paint came from 19 yards out on the team’s second possession to knot the score at seven in the first quarter, which would be the last time the team would be within striking distance for the remainder of the game. Nix’s timing was continually thrown off while under mounting pressure from Steve Spanguolo’s Kansas City defense, resulting in numerous off-target throws. Engram managed to corral two such throws and turn otherwise poor passes into completions for his young quarterback. Regardless of the low yardage total, Engram managed to score for the second time wearing the Denver blue and orange after notching just one touchdown in his first year with the team in 2025. Engram remains a low-upside TE2 ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Jaguars.

Opportunities were at a premium on a night the Broncos managed only 176 yards of total offense, with Harvey clearly limited on the ground behind starter J.K. Dobbins. It could be a similar story in the coming weeks considering the Broncos turned over offensive play calling duties to first-time offensive coordinator Davis Webb amidst the most difficult first six games in the league. Harvey will be a difficult start against the pass-funnel Jaguars in Week 2, where he checks in as a middling RB3.

Dobbins started and handily saw the most carries but was limited by a poor offensive environment on a night the Broncos were out-gained by opposing running back Kenneth Walker alone, limiting Dobbins to only eight carries and zero targets. The next five games could be tough sledding for the veteran back, with games against the Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks on deck. Dobbins can safely be left on fantasy benches for a Week 2 showdown against the pass-funnel Jaguars.

Nix and the rest of the Denver offense struggled throughout against Steve Spagnuolo’s Kansas City defense, gaining fewer yards as a team (176) than opposing running back Kenneth Walker (191). Things seemed to be clicking early after the Broncos were able to knot the game at seven in the first quarter, but quickly fell apart under unrelenting pressure. The poor offensive showing is sure to draw criticism in the media considering it was the first game called by first-time offensive coordinator Davis Webb after head coach Sean Payton relinquished play calling duties this offseason. Whether that setup continues remains to be seen and we wouldn’t be shocked if Webb failed to make it through the first six weeks still calling plays. The Broncos hold the league’s most difficult schedule through the first six weeks, with games against Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers, and Seahawks on the immediate horizon. Nix could regain form against the pass-funnel Jaguars in Week 2, where he will be a back-end QB1.

As has been the case in recent history, the Chiefs struggled to attack the deep areas of the field, something exacerbated by the fact that Patrick Mahomes was playing in his first game since tearing his ACL. In fact, Thornton’s lone target was the only pass directed further than 30 yards downfield, shocking nobody when it fell incomplete on an overthrown ball down the sideline. Thornton can safely be returned to, or left on, the waiver wire ahead of a Week 2 matchup against the Colts.

The entire Kansas City pass offense appeared stuck in the mud, with little ability to attack deep against one of the league’s best defenses. Worthy struggled to gain separation on targets beyond five yards of the line of scrimmage, something the Chiefs have struggled with the previous two seasons. Further hampering their downfield pass game was an inconsistent and adjusting Patrick Mahomes in his first game since tearing his ACL. The return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy saw the Chiefs lean on new running back Kenneth Walker, who out-gained the entire Denver offense on his own, leaving little in the way of additional motivation to air the ball out. Worthy enters a Week 2 matchup with the Colts as a low-upside WR5, likely best left on fantasy benches, for the time being.

Rice saw only two targets as the Chiefs clearly had a ground-heavy game plan to ease quarterback Patrick Mahomes back into action in his first game since tearing his ACL in 2025. Furthermore, Rice was largely unable to generate separation against a stingy Denver secondary, oftentimes locked down in man coverage. Even his touchdown was uninspiring aside from a great effort to bounce off the first tackler. Rice appears to be a shaky fantasy bet for managers that invested an early-round pick into his services, particularly in the coming weeks against poor competition. Rice will be a speculative WR3 against the Colts in Week 2.