What Can Bo Nix do for an Encore After his Breakout Rookie Season?

In 2024, two rookie quarterbacks burst onto the scene in fantasy football. Both Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix etched their names into the top 10 fantasy quarterback list last year with dominant seasons for their respective teams. But while Jayden Daniels is a no-doubt-about-it top-five quarterback in terms of ADP heading into 2025, fantasy managers aren’t making that big of a bet on Nix in his sophomore campaign.

Click here for more 2025 Player Profiles!

After finishing as the QB8 in fantasy points per game last year, Nix is being drafted as the eighth quarterback off the board according to 4for4’s Multi-Site ADP tool. After Week 4 of the 2024 season, Nix did not score fewer than 14 fantasy points in any game the rest of the year. That consistency, as well as some potential team upgrades, has put him squarely in the top 10 quarterbacks drafted this year.

The question becomes, however, can Bo Nix make a leap in his second season into the top tier of quarterbacks? Nix has many things working in his favor this season, and there is a chance we see Nix selected over other elite quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes next season.

Rushing Upside Gives Bo Nix a Solid Floor

The consensus top four quarterbacks (Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts) are at the top of any ranking for 2025 because they are a part of elite offenses, have top-tier pass-catchers, but also bring a floor with their rushing potential that other quarterbacks do not have. Nix might graduate into that group this season.

Among all quarterbacks, Nix was fifth in carries (92), fifth in red zone carries (19), eighth in rushing yards (430), and 10th in rushing touchdowns (four). Nix was able to accomplish all of that even when the Broncos took away that part of his game during the middle of the season.

In Weeks 8-13, Nix rushed only 20 times for 101 yards. However, when the Broncos began fighting for the last Wild Card spot in 2024, that philosophy changed. In Weeks 14-17, Nix rushed 6.3 times per game for over 31 yards per contest. In their playoff game, Nix also carried the ball four times for 43 yards.

His 25.3 rushing yards per game in 2024 gave him a floor of 2.5 fantasy points per game. All of his passing success was then built on top of that rushing foundation. And when Nix was asked to pass the ball, he was masterful, especially in the red zone.

Bo Nix Was a Master at Red Zone Efficiency

Overall, Bo Nix had a solid passing season in 2024, finishing 12th in passing yards (3,775), sixth in pass attempts (567), and sixth in touchdown passes (29). He completed 66.3% of his passes, and that went up with a clean pocket, where he completed 69% of his throws.

And while all of those are impressive numbers for any quarterback, much less a rookie, Nix saved his best work for the red zone. According to 4for4's Red Zone Stats, Nix had a 63.6% completion percentage in the red area, eighth among all quarterbacks with at least 45 attempts. He also attempted 77 throws in that area, again the eighth-most at the position.

Every Bo Nix Pass, Run and Catch while trailing in the Red Zone this season.



16/28

127 yards

10 TD's (8 pass, 1 rush, 1 rec)

1 INT



Exactly what you want in a QB. 🎥🔥 pic.twitter.com/J1crNAm0ml

— Ben (Surtain DPOY) (@HarveyFor6) July 14, 2025

His 374 yards in the red zone were seventh, and his 23 touchdowns tied for fifth (and it should not be overlooked that he had just one red zone interception all season). Partially because of the lackluster running game for the 2024 Broncos, and partially because of Nix’s accuracy, the team let him cook in the red zone all season, and it certainly paid off.

In 2025, the Broncos have upgraded the tight end position, secured better running backs, and locked in their alpha wide receiver, which should make Nix’s life even easier when the Broncos are near the goal line in 2025

The Broncos Upgraded Their Offensive Weapons This Offseason

A quick glance at the wide receiver room for the Broncos shows some extreme consistency from 2024 to 2025. Still around are Courtland Sutton (and his new $92 million deal), Marvin Mims Jr., Devaughn Vele, and Tory Franklin. The only addition is rookie Pat Bryant, who is now sitting in a backup role.

The biggest additions have come at tight end and running back. Last year, the Broncos threw only 72 targets to tight ends (30th in the league), and their top two target earners were Lucas Krull and Adam Trautman. This offseason, the Broncos signed Evan Engram to a two-year, $23 million contract for his age-30 and 31 seasons.

Engram has four seasons with at least 98 targets and 63 receptions on his resume and becomes the team’s best tight end since Julius Thomas. Engram was third among all tight ends in target share in 2024 and gives Nix another big-body weapon in the red zone.

The running game was also atrocious in 2024. The room was led by Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Audric Estime. Not surprisingly, the Broncos finished the season just 20th in yards per rush attempt. Javonte Williams is now gone, and Estime and McLaughlin are battling to even stay on the roster.

In their place, the Broncos brought in J.K. Dobbins as a free agent and drafted RJ Harvey in the second round in the April draft. Dobbins is a seasoned veteran who gains chunk yards, and Harvey is an explosive pass-catching back who was in the 98th percentile in his Combine 40-time and scored 25 total touchdowns in 2024 (plus 257 receiving yards).

These new weapons now mean Denver can compete with anyone in the AFC West and also can put their offense against the best teams in the league.

The Bottom Line

• Bo Nix shocked the fantasy football world with a top-eight finish in 2024, but he still is not getting the same treatment in drafts as fellow rookie standout Jayden Daniels.

• Nix does have a high floor thanks to his rushing ability, and he was top ten among quarterbacks in almost all rushing metrics in 2024. There is a chance the Broncos unleash that part of his game even more in 2025.

• While Nix was excellent all over the field, he was particularly effective in the red zone last season. Nix was top 10 in many red zone passing metrics, partially because of the volume of plays in the red zone due to an underwhelming running game.

• The Broncos upgraded weapons for Nix at tight end and running back, while also locking in Courtland Sutton for four years to be Nix’s top receiver.