Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. has struggled to establish consistent involvement during his first two NFL seasons, although he showed signs of improvement late in his sophomore year. Fantasy managers are left questioning whether his late-season performances signal a true breakout or if they were merely isolated flashes of talent. Understanding Mims’s fantasy outlook requires a close look at his usage and efficiency.
Evaluating Mims’s Rookie Year and Early Career Concerns
Following his rookie season, there was little reason to expect Marvin Mims Jr. to deliver significant fantasy returns. Typically, wide receivers selected in the first three rounds who do not surpass 525 receiving yards in their rookie year fail to generate reliable fantasy value. Mims caught 22 passes for 377 yards as a rookie, numbers that did not inspire confidence heading into his second season.
Despite a lack of early production, Broncos head coach Sean Payton commented on the need to involve Mims more in the offense. Still, this optimism didn’t translate into fantasy relevance in 2024, as Mims remained largely underutilized for much of the season.
Highlights and Limitations in Mims’s 2024 Campaign
While overall fantasy value eluded Mims, he had notable explosive moments. In Week 13, he scored 19.9 fantasy points on Thursday Night Football, followed by an impressive 30.2 points in an overtime win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. He also recorded 22.1 points in Week 18 against the Chiefs’ backup defense. However, these performances often coincided with standalone game weeks or contests outside the standard fantasy playoff schedule, limiting their practical value for fantasy team owners.
The prevailing belief that Mims secured the Broncos’ WR2 role after these late-season stands is questionable. These games may have created a vividness bias, making his strong outings appear more indicative of a breakout than they actually were. Before Week 13, his best fantasy output was just 13.3 points, with most games yielding under 7.2 points.
Snap Counts and Route Engagement Highlight Role Constraints
A key issue for Mims’s fantasy potential is his minimal playing time. Throughout the year, he did not play at least 50% of the offensive snaps in any game and ran 20 or more routes only once. Generally, his participation was limited to single-digit route counts per game, emphasizing his status as a situational weapon rather than a full-time receiver.
Although efficient when targeted—ranking seventh in the NFL with a 29.5% target per route rate and fourth with 2.86 yards per route run—Mims was involved on just 29.7% of quarterback Bo Nix’s dropbacks. This efficiency highlights his productivity when on the field but also suggests he was mainly used in specialized situations rather than as a consistent offensive option.
2025 Fantasy Outlook and Potential Value
Mims’s fantasy outlook for 2025 hinges on whether his snap counts and route participation can increase. Despite flashes of brilliance, he remains a fringe fantasy option due to limited opportunities. His current average draft position of WR56 shows a lack of confidence from fantasy managers that his role will expand significantly.
Ranked as WR59 by fantasy analysts, Mims is viewed as a low-risk speculative pick with upside if he can earn a larger share of targets early in the upcoming season. Failure to do so will likely result in him being dropped by fantasy owners, but if his involvement grows, he could emerge as a valuable WR3 option.
Implications for Fantasy Football Managers
Marvin Mims Jr.’s 2025 season might prove crucial in determining if he can transition from a gadget player to a reliable fantasy contributor. Those drafting or stashing him should monitor his snap counts and role in early games closely. While past evidence suggests skepticism, the efficiency he displayed offers a faint glimmer of hope for fantasy football managers willing to take a chance on a volatile but potentially rewarding receiver.