Denver's middle remains the weak point through two games, with Strnad and Singleton vulnerable to hybrid looks as Colts targets sliced through the space. A potential fix hinges on Dre Greenlaw's health, though his status is uncertain and Denver has few easy answers on short notice. Payton has leaned into a run-first approach, setting up a Week 3 test against the Chargers that will probe whether disguises and depth can stabilize the interior.

For fantasy managers, the takeaway is risk around the Broncos’ linebacking corps against backfield and tight-end weapons. If Greenlaw can play, the defense gains an important anchor; if not, look for continued rotation, more zone looks, and a heavier workload for Strnad and Singleton to limit mismatches in the middle.

Broncos’ Week 2 setback vs. Indianapolis spotlighted a run-first spark and a defense needing reinforcements. Denver opened with a hard-nosed, between-the-t tackles run game that freed Bo Nix to connect with Marvin Mims Jr. and set up a pivotal early TD. The offense flashed real upside when Nix and Oregon duo Franklin clicked, but costly penalties and late-game miscues kept this one from turning. Fantasy managers should monitor Nix’s improvisation and Greenlaw’s return for Denver’s LB unit.

Defensively, Dre Greenlaw’s presence is framed as the missing piece to handle tight ends and backs, while the Colts leaned on clock-management that culminated in a late 60-yard winner. Daniel Jones’ late-shot moment and Will Lutz’s miss compounds the volatility of Denver’s fantasy outlook. The night underscored Payton’s aggressiveness, and the potential ceiling lift if Denver can clean up mistakes and ride the Nix–Mims/Franklin connection going forward.

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.

Talanoa Hufanga set the tone in his Broncos debut, piling up a game-high 11 tackles and forcing a fumble as Denver throttled Tennessee. His range, blitz instincts, and leadership sparked a defensive surge that coaches say is contagious. The performance hints at a top-tier floor for IDP fantasy managers and a rising ceiling for Denver’s unit as the season unfolds.

Fantasy takeaway: Hufanga’s playmaking should lift defensive scoring for Denver and raise his own IDP upside, especially if he stays unleashed as a versatile chess piece in this scheme.