Evan Engram signs with Denver: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact
The Denver Broncos seemingly hit the NFL Draft lottery last year with quarterback Bo Nix, who threw for 3,775 yards with 29 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions as rookie, leading the Broncos to a surprising 10-7 record and a trip to the postseason. With a timeline that has seemingly sped up significantly, Denver is clearly looking to win sooner than expected and take advantage of Nix being on team-friendly rookie contract. With a true franchise quarterback in the fold, Denver was aggressive in free agency to improve their offense and signed veteran tight end Evan Engram to a two-year deal worth $23 million today, a contract that includes $16.5 million guaranteed. This aggressive move by the Broncos has some far-reaching dynasty ramification, so let’s take a look at the players involved.
Evan Engram, TE DEN
The eight-year veteran has spent time with both the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars and has posted 496 career catches for 4,922 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns in 108 career games, including his monster 114/963/4 season in 2023. Last year was a mess as Engram battled through injuries to post just 47 catches for 365 yards and one lone touchdown for the Jags. However, we’ve seen him post some dominant performances when healthy, including four different games in 2023 that featured at least ten receptions – ludicrous for a tight end. While he’s never been a truly elite red zone option, touchdowns are tough to predict and he’s simply looked the part of a true TE1 whenever he’s been on the field.
In Denver, Engram could give Head Coach Sean Payton the “joker” he’s been looking for at tight end since he arrived. After Greg Dulcich flamed out and Adam Trautman didn’t fare much better, the Broncos decided to bring in a more proven option and Engram is just that. Now 30, it’s fair to wonder just what he may have left. However, we’ve seen him go on some serious tears and the position he’ll play in this offense has real fantasy appeal to it. While he isn’t going to exactly look like a modern day Jimmy Graham, we’ve seen Coach Payton utilize tight ends more than most. As such, Engram looks like a solid veteran trade target in dynasty leagues and it would be surprising if he wasn’t a top-ten option next season.
If Engram stays healthy, it’s not unreasonable to think he could post somewhere around 75 catches, 800-900 yards and a good handful of touchdowns – all solid TE1 numbers. While he may not be an elite option, you could certainly do worse. After a bit of a lost season, Engram’s ADP should start to rise again now that he’s landed in a good spot.
Bo Nix, QB DEN
As we noted, Nix had just an amazing rookie season. While overshadowed a bit by Jayden Daniels, it’s clear Nix is a franchise option for the Broncos. Adding someone like Engram can do nothing but help his cause moving forward. The Broncos went into the off-season needing to address the middle of the field and shore up their running game. With the addition of Engram, they’ve addressed one of their needs. While many dynasty managers will focus on the new rookie quarterbacks or now “veterans” like Caleb Williams or Daniels to build their franchises around, Nix is far from a bad option and while his ceiling is likely a low-end QB1 moving forward, you could do a lot worse for your dynasty franchise.
Adam Trautman, TE DEN
Well, that was fun. A longtime dynasty sleeper, Trautman had his chances for Coach Payton in New Orleans, then again in Denver. Unfortunately for him, his 13/188/2 line is far too familiar as he’s posted just 95 catches for 1,033 with nine touchdowns over his five years and 77 games played. He’ll get some work here and there but anyone who had him on their rosters as a potential sleeper for next season can go ahead and throw in the towel as this signing makes that nothing but a pipe dream.
Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims, WRs DEN
This duo really started to turn the corner next season and while there are only so many balls to go around, Sutton and Mims should be just fine in terms of their targets moving forward. Sutton’s 81/1,081/8 line from last year was one of his best and while he’s now 29 years old, he put up multiple WR1 games and looks like a player who is going to make some late career noise. As for Mims, he posted a 39/503/6 season but had multi-touchdown performances in both of the Broncos last two regular season games, showing a real ability to shine. The addition of Engram shouldn’t do much to damage the dynasty values of either of these two players. If anything, it could keep defenses a little more honest.
Trevor Lawrence, QB JAX
The Jaguars are a team that simply needs their franchise savior to perform as such. Losing both Engram and Christian Kirk isn’t going to do much to help that cause and Lawrence needs to have a good year. This seems like a situation that could implode and you have to feel for TLaw – he’s been put in a terrible position with a revolving door at Head Coach, a lack of continuity, and a supporting cast that seems to be re-shaped and rebuilt each and every off-season. The Jaguars are quickly looking like a franchise that is going to create a blueprint on how to make a “can’t miss” prospect fail. Lawrence’s ADP is evening out, but he’s far from the “set it and forget it” option we thought we once had in dynasty leagues and is more of a QB2 with upside than a weekly starter right now.
Brenton Strange, TE JAX
Strange took advantage of Engram’s injury to post a solid 40 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns last year, clearly giving Jacksonville enough confidence in his ability to have Engram walk. If they fail to address the position further, Strange is going to be in line for a significant ADP bump. While he doesn’t project as a true TE1 quite yet, he really did look the part and could be a really solid target in the later rounds of drafts or as a trade acquisition for dynasty managers who don’t have an elite option at the position. In other words, he’s the real winner with Engram on his way out.
Brian Thomas Jr. WR JAX
I guess he was OK. As a rookie, he recorded 87 catches for 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns, looking like an absolute stud at the position. It’s not like his ADP could really rise, but Thomas is going to be absolutely peppered with targets moving forward and while his 133 from last year seem extreme, he could honestly eclipse that next season. In short, he’s a stud and this move could help him even further should the Jags not do more help this offense.
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
- Evan Engram signs with Denver: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact - March 12, 2025
- Daniel Jones signs with Indianapolis: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact - March 11, 2025
- Najee Harris signs with the Chargers: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact - March 10, 2025
