Justin Joly

Evan Engram is Denver's primary receiving TE on a contract running through 2026, leaving Joly in a rotational/developmental role for his entire rookie season with limited fantasy production expected.

Despite being a 3rd/4th round talent per Dane Brugler, Joly went 152nd overall (5th round), which carries inherent bust risk and may limit roster priority and guaranteed snaps in a crowded TE room.

Joly is a converted wide receiver who only fully transitioned to TE at UConn in 2022; NFL blocking refinement and route complexity at the position historically delay fantasy relevance by 2-3 years.

Coaches have publicly asked Joly to report at a 'lighter weight' in 2026, a minor conditioning flag layered onto the standard multi-year TE development curve. Rookie TEs almost never produce immediately.

Evan Engram is 32 years old on a contract expiring after 2026, and the Broncos drafted Joly explicitly as his heir apparent — a direct succession path to the starting TE role in 2027 is already baked into the roster construction.

Denver frequently deploys 12-personnel packages, which is the exact environment where Joly's move-TE skillset (seam stretching, YAC, zone-beating underneath routes) thrives at the next level.

At just 21 years old (born July 9, 2004) with First-Team All-ACC honors and PFF 77.7 in 2025, Joly has elite YAC ability (2nd among all FBS TEs in missed tackles forced since 2022) and a high developmental ceiling.

If Engram misses time in 2026, Joly would inherit an immediate featured role in a pass-friendly offense under Bo Nix, potentially accelerating his dynasty timeline by a full year.

Lands with an ascending Bo Nix and a strong supporting cast (Waddle, Sutton, Harvey), meaning if a role opens it comes attached to a functional, scoring offense rather than a dead-end situation.

Young TE (21) — still in value appreciation phase