Bo Nix Injury Shakes Up Broncos’ Fantasy Football Outlook Ahead of AFC Title Game

Just four NFL teams remain in the hunt for the Super Bowl, and one of the remaining squads will now be without their top quarterback. Let's discuss the Broncos and the injury to Bo Nix.

We'll discuss what it means in the real world and for those playing postseason fantasy football or doing DFS contests.

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Nix's Injury

Nix was injured late in the team's 33-30 overtime win over the Bills on Saturday. He broke a bone in his right ankle, and will miss the rest of the season.

He suffered the injury on a designed running play. He threw an incomplete pass on the next play, but a pass interference call moved the ball down the field.

Nix awkwardly did a kneel-down on the next play to set up the game-winning field goal try. 

It was just minutes after the game that it was announced that Nix was done for the season.

Coach Sean Payton said that Jarrett Stidham would start the team's next playoff game. 

Stidham's Outlook

The Broncos haven't had a high-flying offense this season, but Nix had still been a pretty good fantasy quarterback while leading the charge.

Despite the team's now 15-3 record, Nix has taken nearly every offensive snap for Denver. He's actually played the most offensive snaps (1,136) of any Broncos' player.

Stidham has taken just four offensive snaps. He took those snaps back in week 8 against the Broncos, a game that Denver won 44-24. Stidham handed the ball off three times on one possession and then had a kneel-down on the next possession to end the game.

Stidham only played in three games in 2024. He took 14 offensive snaps and did not attempt a pass.

The last time he threw a pass in a meaningful game was in 2023, which was his first year with Denver. That shows Nix's durability, and the terrible timing of his injury.

There's enough offensive talent to still move the ball and put up points, but he's clearly not on the same level as Nix, and is a downgrade for every other fantasy option in Denver.

Outlook for Next Week

Granted that Stidham does indeed start for Denver in the AFC Conference Championship against the Patriots, let's go over the fantasy outlooks for every Broncos' offensive player.

Stidham will have a tough matchup against New England. He will be very tough to trust confidently in that matchup, but if he's given the start, he is one of just four fantasy QBs to choose from, so some might decide to utilize him, or simply have to use him. I'd personally try to stay away from Stidham.

The Denver running backs have a very tough test against the Patriots. I'd expect RJ Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin to take on more with Stidham back there though.

Harvey is the lead back, and I think he could put up a solid fantasy score with the volume of touches he should get. It might not be pretty on the ground, but some work in the short passing game could help Harvey to a good fantasy total.

McLaughlin only got four touches in the team's most recent game, so he's a risky option for the coming week. I expect him to handle more, but in a tough matchup, he's still not a very good fantasy option.

Tyler Badie is another running back option. He didn't get any rushing attempts, but caught one of his two targets last round. Badie played four more snaps than McLaughlin (14-10), giving another reason to just try Harvey among the backs.

Unsurprisingly, the Broncos' wide receivers will have a tougher matchup as well. The Denver tight ends have an average fantasy test, so they have the best outlook of the offensive skill players.

In the Divisional Round against Buffalo, Courtland Sutton played the most offensive snaps (61) of the pass catchers. Sutton had 53 yards on four catches and nine targets.

Lil'Jordan Humphrey played 48 snaps, while fellow wideout Marvin Mims was at 47 snaps. Mims led the pass catchers with 93 yards and a score on eight receptions and targets. Humphrey was at 33 yards and a touchdown on two catches and five targets.

Adam Trautman was the tight end who led the way in snaps (40). He didn't catch either of his two targets.

Fellow tight ends Evan Engram and Nate Adkins played 34 and 30 snaps, respectively. Engram had a seven-yard catch across three targets, while Adkins had a one-yard catch on his lone target.

Wide receiver Troy Franklin only played 13 offensive snaps this past week. He left with a hamstring injury. Wideout Pat Bryant only logged three snaps before leaving with an injury (concussion). Franklin wasn't targeted, while Bryant caught three passes or 32 yards on as many targets.

We will assess things later in the week when we know more about Franklin and Bryant, but Sutton is still the top fantasy pass catcher for Denver in my eyes. Mims is another pretty good option, and Humphrey is a decent one if Franklin and Bryant are out.

Engram is the top fantasy tight end, but isn't a great option. Maybe he could surprise if those two wideouts are out, and with Stidham back there. Adkins and Trautman aren't very good fantasy options either.

The injury to Nix is definitely a blow to the Broncos' chances. Stidham will need to take care of the ball and be accurate to give Denver a chance against New England. 

The injury hurts most offensive outlooks for other fantasy options in Denver. Someone has to produce though - check back later in the week to see how the FantasySP experts view the Broncos' options.