Three Week 1 waiver targets headline this fantasy angle: Elic Ayomanor (TEN), Isaac TeSlaa (DET), Pat Bryant (DEN). Ayomanor landed a season-opener start for the Titans, boosting immediate rookie upside as part of a projected top-3 with Tyler Lockett and Calvin Ridley, and he’s rostered in about a quarter of leagues. TeSlaa flashed in preseason with Detroit’s offensive environment and would become a more meaningful asset if injuries clear depth ahead of him. Bryant, the Broncos’ 2025 third-round pick, sits fourth on Denver’s WR depth but has the outside contested-catch profile that could push him into a bigger role if the offense divides more evenly or an injury creates opportunity.

Keep these rookies on rosters in 14+ team leagues and watch for early-season usage shifts. Upside is real but not guaranteed; Ayomanor and TeSlaa represent plausible breakout routes in a favorable offense, while Bryant’s path leans on injury luck and scheme boost. Waiver adds for Week 1 should prioritize upside with immediate contingency plans.

Jaylin Noel could carve out Week 1 snaps in Houston if Nico Collins remains limited, making him a sneaky deeper-league flex that hinges on talent and early playing time. Isaac TeSlaa carries upside in Detroit thanks to his size and potential red‑zone look, though a crowded WR room lowers his floor. Pat Bryant faces a tougher Week 1 path in Denver with Sutton, Mims and Franklin ahead, so expect him to sit in standard formats but watch for a slot role developing as the season unfolds. A start/sit tool helps sort Noel, TeSlaa and Bryant in Week 1 lineups.

Pat Bryant faces a crowded Denver WR room, making immediate redraft value unlikely but keeping dynasty upside alive if Sutton or Mims move on. Tory Horton lands in Seattle as a sleeper with elite route-running and strong preseason metrics, giving him a path to a late-season breakout if injuries strike. Jaylin Lane projects as a gadget prospect in Washington with limited 2025 value, though flashed open-field ability keeps a sliver of upside.

Denver's 53-man snapshot signals a rare, high-variance in-roster continuity, with 39 players already on the 2024 roster and 41 having previously worn the Broncos’ uniform. Paton and Payton rebuilt quickly, fashioning a group that blends a solid returning core with a promising rookie cohort—seven rookies, six drafted, one UDFA, and a notably active draft class. The initial 53 includes veterans who still contribute immediately, plus “new” faces who were with the team last year but not on the first 53. Punter Jeremy Crawshaw earned Payton’s defense as the starter, while contingent roles loom for Jahdae Barron, RJ Harvey, Pat Bryant, Sai’vion Jones, Que Robinson, and Tyler Badie, among others. The article also flags Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Evan Engram as essential starters who were desperately needed, while also noting the fluid nature of NFL rosters as waivers and in-season moves will continually reshape Denver’s depth chart.

Rookie expectations are high: seven newcomers, six draft picks, and one UDFA are anticipated to assume starting or impactful roles, with corners Barron and Harvey, Bryant at wideout, Jones on the D-line, and Robinson on the edge among the likely early-week contributors. The piece underscores the Broncos’ balance of continuity and cap-driven churn, stressing that even with a strong start, the roster will evolve as the season unfolds via injuries, signings, and waiver activity.

Denver’s Devaughn Vele trade to New Orleans creates a clear opening for a young receiver to break into the Broncos’ 53-man roster, with Courtney Jackson eyeing a returner role even if week-to-week roster math remains tight. Camp standouts Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant have surged, sharpening competition at wide receiver as Denver balances five-receiver game-day plans and special-teams value could decide the cut. Jackson’s punt-return exploits this summer give him a real shot to land on the active roster, or at least be protected from the waiver wire on the practice squad. The shifting depth chart also nudges fantasy managers to watch Broncos’ return units and the evolving pass-catching group behind the top targets.

Courtney Jackson’s emergence as a multi-role weapon alongside Franklin and Bryant could tilt Denver’s decisions toward offense or special teams, depending on how many receivers they dress. The Saints’ acquisition of Vele sets a low-key but meaningful turn in a crowded camp, underscoring how quickly a single move can reshape opportunities for undrafted young players. For fantasy players, this is a reminder that Broncos' depth and special-teams roles can carry meaningful weekly upside, especially if return duties land in the hands of a youngster with opportunity to grow.