Denver’s offense has leaned on J.K. Dobbins early, with 222 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs through three games, making him the clear backfield leader. Payton has praised his explosiveness and leadership while balancing a growing rotation that includes RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie, and mulling Jaleel McLaughlin’s involvement. The challenge remains avoiding overuse and keeping an adaptable ground game for a team still searching for an identity, especially against Cincinnati.

Denver’s rushing attack appears to be at a crossroads. J.K. Dobbins has been the Broncos’ most productive back through three games, yet outside-zone and wide-zone concepts are hamstringing the offense. Rookie RJ Harvey has not yet seized the opportunity, while Payton’s current usage risks stranding Dobbins in plays that don’t fit his north-south strengths. If Denver can rebalance the workload, Dobbins could sustain a 1,000-yard pace this season, a milestone last reached in 2019 by Phillip Lindsay.

The fix synthetic: keep Dobbins between the A-gap and C-gap and deploy Harvey for speed in outside-zone looks, while using Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin to handle those outside concepts until Harvey develops. The result could be a more efficient attack that protects Dobbins and unlocks the full backfield potential.

Week 2 pits the Denver Broncos against the Indianapolis Colts with a tight inactives slate and a quirky emergency QB wrinkle. Sam Ehlinger is listed as inactive but dressed as Denver’s third emergency quarterback, a setup that complicates roster decisions as Tyler Badie earns the nod as the preferred third running back over Jaleel McLaughlin. Adkins and Greenlaw are sidelined by injury, while Dre Greenlaw remains limited and Que Robinson and Sai’vion Jones are healthy scratches as depth and special-teams emphasis shape the game plan. On the Colts side, Ward and Jaylon Jones are out, Liatu Latu downgraded, and Riley Leonard handles emergency duties with Will Mallory, Luke Tenuta and Will Mallory providing pass-catching and blocking options. The result is a tactical chess match where depth, special teams, and a few surprise usage calls could swing fantasy leagues.

Injury notes, depth charts, and the emergency QB rule add intrigue for fantasy managers: Badie’s role could see a bump if the Broncos lean on ground-and-pound and third-down packages, while Colts adjustments at cornerback might open passing lanes for Denver’s receivers. Keep an eye on how practice squad eligibility and roster moves could shift these inactives before Week 3.

Denver's Week 1 inactive list against Tennessee includes seven players: Dre Greenlaw, Nate Adkins, Jaleel McLaughlin, Que Robinson, Sai'vion Jones, Sam Ehlinger, and Frank Crum. McLaughlin being a healthy scratch opens a path for Tyler Badie as the third back behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, a scenario fantasy managers should monitor as touches could shift if the game script favors Denver's ground game.

Ehlinger will dress as an emergency third quarterback per NFL rules, a reminder that Week 1 could feature a late-inning QB contingency. Meanwhile, the Broncos' depth at outside linebacker and DL signals a rotating early-season approach, with Robinson and Jones competing for roster-time shots.

Fantasy takeaway: prioritize backfield depth and opportunistic plays, especially if Badie receives elevated usage and Denver leans on short-yardage packages while Ehlinger stays mostly ceremonial in the quarterback rotation.