Marvin

Mims

Mims reportedly pulled up lame while running a deep route. He and TE Nate Adkins, who had also apparently suffered an injury around the same time, took off for the locker room with the training staff. It sounds like a soft tissue injury for Mims. He is currently jockeying for position on the wide receiver depth chart, so hopefully he can return before long.

He compares it to Bryant’s 48 percent of the snaps last year while missing a few games with a concussion, suggesting he expects Bryant to become the main third receiver for this passing game behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. Kosmider quotes Sean Payton as saying “We don’t have a classic third (receiver),” which makes us think each of Bryant, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims could be used situationally. No matter who wins the lead role of the three, it’s hard to imagine much fantasy value for the Broncos WR3 role given the split.

Evans compares Mims to Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed, who recently signed a three-year deal averaging more than $17 million per year. Shaheed is a more accomplished wide receiver, but both players are decorated special teams returners. Per Evans, one agent who works with several NFL wide receivers believes Mims could earn $11 to $13 million annually as things currently stand. Should he contribute more offensively, those numbers could go up. Earlier this week, Mims publicly acknowledged that this may be his last year in Denver. Evans writes that Broncos coach Sean Payton wants to give Mims more offensive opportunities, but the offensive staff “has not always trusted Mims to run a full route tree.” If Payton really wanted to further incorporate Mims into the offense, we can’t understand why that hasn’t already happened, though. Mims should only be viewed as a late-round dart throw in best ball right now.

“Sometimes I am a little irritated with my situation,” Mims added. “But at the end of the day, I’m blessed to be where I am.” The Jaylen Waddle trade has effectively blocked Mims from much chance of offensive snaps as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. At the same time, he’s such an explosive punt returner that the Broncos probably still see him as a roster lock. It’s not fully over for those of you hanging on in dynasty leagues, but it certainly doesn’t look promising in the short-term for Mims to put up any offensive volume.

He does concede that teams in need of wide receiver help could call between now and the NFL Draft. Between Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, and Marvin Mims, Mims is by far the least-accomplished player and would presumably (our interpretation) be the most available. The Broncos were hampered by injuries to their wideouts down the stretch, and that was what enabled Mims to get major run in the playoffs. It wouldn’t be surprising if a wideout-needy team like the Jets were in touch with the Broncos.

Mims made a guest appearance on Altitude TV, a regional sports network, and was asked for his thoughts on the Broncos’ recent trade for Waddle. Mims celebrated Waddle’s explosive play-making ability, but admitted that he was “really surprised” to learn of the deal. Although Waddle is far more accomplished, the two players share similar, shifty playing styles and excel after the catch. Mims closed the segment by saying that he has taken pride in being able to “play running back, be a returner, be a receiver” and is happy to affect the game however possible. Mims, 24, has flashed intriguing traits throughout his three-year career, though he has not yet broken out as a reliable starter. With Waddle in town, Mims will likely remain stuck in a versatile, albeit fantasy-unfriendly, backup role.

Mims hauled in a 52-yard pass from Jarrett Stidham in the first quarter that helped set up a six-yard touchdown catch by Courtland Sutton two plays later. Despite the big play, it was another forgettable season for Mims overall, who continues to see light work in his third season in the league under Sean Payton. Despite showing flashes when the opportunity arises, Mims’ 276 routes run on the season, per PFF, were the fourth-most of any Broncos receiver this season, as were his 51 targets. Troy Franklin took hold of the No. 2 receiver spot in Denver early, and Patrick Bryant blocked Mims from the field late. A reliable option both on offense and special teams, Mims seems unlikely to offer much fantasy upside to his managers in 2026 after managing just 37-322-1 this season.

Mims had topped 30 yards receiving only twice during the regular season, but he showed up big when the Broncos needed him most. Both Pat Bryant (concussion) and Troy Franklin (hamstring) left this game early, and Mims stepped up to fill their shoes. His biggest catch was a go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. After the Bills had to bring in fourth-string cornerback Dane Jackson, Mims burned him on a corner route and hauled in a tough over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone. It’s unclear if either of Franklin or Bryant will be cleared to play next week, so Mims may be relied on heavily again, but with Bo Nix out for the remainder of the season, it’s hard to get excited about this Broncos passing attack.

Mims put up 10 yards last week as well, though it took him three catches to do it instead of two. The once-intriguing speedster requires explosive gains and/or touchdowns to be anything more than a boom-bust WR5. He delivered neither this week and finishes accordingly in the fantasy box score. The Broncos are on bye next week.

Mims ran the second-most routes on the Broncos with Pat Bryant sidelined this week. He didn’t do much with the extra opportunities, logging an 11 percent target share and another unusable fantasy score. Mims hasn’t hit 30 receiving yards in a game since Week 7. He is not on the fantasy radar heading into Week 18.