We’re approaching the 2025 season. Every year, a few players seize on the right opportunity and surprise fantasy players. The value comes from trying to predict who it will be this time of year and stashing them. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at some 2025 sleeper candidates at each of the key fantasy positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end. Hopefully, these are players you can acquire at a value that will propel you to fantasy glory.
The 2024 Denver Broncos proved a surprise. The team rallied behind rookie Bo Nix, a sterling defense, and a young offensive core to win ten games and make the playoffs. While the team has a solid WR1 in Courtland Sutton, it was clear last season Nix needs help. The team brought in some options this off-season but didn’t make any big moves in free agency or the draft to boost the wide receiver group.
That should encourage those rostering Marvin Mims, Jr., one of the three young receivers who contributed last season. The question is whether Mims is poised to make a big leap in year three. Let’s dive in and weigh the evidence.
The Case for Marvin Mims
Mims was taken in the Second Round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It was Sean Payton’s first big pick, and it was a splash. The Broncos moved up to snag Mims, and many expected big things. But that didn’t materialize in his rookie year. In fact, Mims saw just 33 targets all year. Still, some flashes led to excitement.
In his second year, when the Broncos moved Jerry Jeudy, it seemed clear there was a chance for growth. While Mims started slowly, he caught fire late in the season, turning in some heroic performances during the Broncos’ late-season see-saw battle with the Bengals. He finished with 52 targets—part of a group of young receivers with 50-plus targets—and caught 39 passes. He finished with 503 yards and six touchdowns, both marks second behind Sutton. With the Broncos bypassing big names in the free agent market and the NFL draft, Mims appears poised to take a step forward in year three. The hope is he can build on his WR57 finish of a year ago.
The Case Against Marvin Mims
But will there be an increase in target chances? The 2024 Denver Broncos threw the ball 570 times, which was up from 513 times in 2023. Will the Broncos increase the pass attempts? The team appears to be focused on improving its running game, which makes increased volume somewhat questionable. While the team did vacate 146 targets from Javonte Williams, Josh Reynolds, Lil Jordan Humphrey, and Greg Dulcich, there is a question of competition.
This off-season, the Broncos added a top pass-catching tight end in Evan Engram. The team only targeted tight ends 57 times in 2024, with two of those players still on the roster. Engram has typically commanded more than 100 targets when healthy in Jacksonville, which could significantly eat into the vacated targets. The team also added running back RJ Harvey, who could beef up the running game and take targets, along with fellow running back J.K. Dobbins. The Broncos also added rookie receiver Pat Bryant to the mix.
Mims was part of a group of young receivers vying for more targets last season. Rookie DeVaughn Vele saw 55 targets, and fellow rookie Troy Franklin saw 53 targets. Will Mims see more than them, taking a healthy share of vacated targets? Given the roster, there are plenty of questions about volume and distribution beyond Sutton.
The Bottom Line
I like Mims’ talent, and I liked what I saw in 2024. The last month and a half of the season, Mims looked like the weapon many expected when he was drafted. The addition of Engram, Harvey, and Dobbins will change the offense, but I like Mims’ chances of being the Broncos’ WR2. Mims is currently going as WR59, but I think he can outplay that position. With a solid boost in volume, I think he can crack WR4 and be a weekly lineup consideration. I like him as a stash heading into 2025.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
