Throughout his NFL career, Denver Broncos quarterback Jarett Stidham has played at a representative level from a clean pocket, while struggling mightily under pressure, with his completion rate dropping roughly 30% in such situations. Against a mostly healthy Patriots defense that has allowed 74 total yards to running backs through their first two playoff games, Denver may be forced into enough third-and-long looks to keep their offense out of rhythm. New England has employed an aggressive, blitz-heavy approach to great success against Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud. With Denver's running game struggling as a whole since losing J.K. Dobbins in Week 10, Stidham may find himself battling against the chains for much of Sunday. He is RotoBaller's QB4 for Conference Championship Weekend.
Jan 24, 2026 3:52 PM EST
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that quarterback Jarrett Stidham's football IQ and his composure/calmness are "elite," according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Payton continues to build up Stidham's confidence as the 29-year-old backup prepares for his first NFL start since 2023 in the AFC Championship this Sunday against the New England Patriots. Stidham will be the No. 4 fantasy QB going into this weekend's action after starter Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills. Stidham has a strong arm, is accurate, and knows Payton's system well, so he might not be much of a downgrade over Nix if he performs up to his capabilities against New England. It won't be easy, though, against a Patriots defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs over the last five weeks.
Jan 22, 2026 12:57 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham has not started an NFL game since the 2023 regular season. However, the 29-year-old is in line to start for Denver in the AFC Championship Game after Broncos QB1 Bo Nix (ankle) suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Divisional Round. Across 20 career NFL games (four starts), Stidham has completed 59.4% of his pass attempts for 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He's been with the Broncos since 2023, but he has made just two starts for Denver. In addition to the pressure of the moment, Stidham will face a difficult matchup against the New England Patriots. New England allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards (3,512) among NFL defenses in the regular season and forced five turnovers in their Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. Stidham's newfound playing time opportunity should have him on fantasy radars, but he may struggle in the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots.
Jan 20, 2026 6:10 PM EST
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton praised quarterback Jarrett Stidham on Sunday. Stidham is "very accurate, and has a lot to his ball," said Payton. Stidham will start in the AFC Championship game vs. either the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans after Bo Nix (ankle) was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs due to a broken bone in his ankle. Stidham has been under Payton's offensive system for three years and has shown great strength and mental aptitude. The 29-year-old is a serviceable option for the Broncos with Nix out, but hasn't started a game since Week 18 of the 2023 season. Stidham would be a risky option in playoff leagues and a GPP play in DFS for Championship week, as he will face a brutal matchup against the Patriots or Texans, whichever team advances.
Jan 18, 2026 3:44 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham is expected to start next Sunday's AFC Championship game, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. He takes over for Bo Nix (ankle), who is done for the playoffs after suffering a broken bone on the second-to-final play of Saturday's Divisional Round victory. Stidham hasn't attempted a regular-season pass since 2023, but now, he'll lead the Broncos as they attempt to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. Denver's odds to win the Super Bowl have plummeted to +950 since head coach Sean Payton announced Nix was done for the playoffs. Stidham is a clear downgrade at quarterback, but the Broncos wouldn't have kept him around for three seasons if they didn't think he was a serviceable backup. He'll now be tasked with taking on either the Texans or Patriots on national television. The Texans have one of the league's best defenses, while the Patriots are the current favorite to win the AFC title. If there's any good news here, it's that Denver is the AFC's No. 1 seed and therefore will have home-field advantage next weekend.
Jan 17, 2026 10:17 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham got the start in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the visiting Arizona Cardinals and looked amazing, going 16-for-23 passing for 240 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-7 victory. Starter Bo Nix got this game off, so Stidham saw most of the action under center before giving way to Sam Ehlinger late. Rookie receiver Pat Bryant was one of Stidham's favorite targets, as he hooked up with him four times for 70 yards. Second-year pass-catcher Troy Franklin was his other favorite target, and both of his TDs went to the Oregon product. The 29-year-old Stidham signed a two-year, $12 million contract with Denver back in March to return as Nix's backup in 2025 and beyond. Based on the way Stidham looked on Saturday, Denver's offense could still be decent this year if Nix misses time with injury.
Aug 17, 2025 11:27 AM EST
Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham was sharp in the team's 30-9 victory over the hosting San Francisco 49ers on Saturday in the preseason opener, going 14-for-15 passing for 136 yards and two touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 36 yards on the ground on his three carries. Stidham took over for Bo Nix after the first-team offense did little with their three series, and he promptly led the Broncos to three scoring drives. Although it was a good showing for the 29-year-old signal-caller, it was against the Niners' backup defense, so it should be taken with a grain of salt. Stidham signed a two-year, $12 million deal in March to stay in Denver as the backup to Nix, who is entrenched as the team's starter after leading the team to the playoffs in his rookie season in 2024. Stidham did not attempt a single pass last year.
Aug 10, 2025 10:36 AM EST
The NFL's Ian Rapoport reports that the Denver Broncos are bringing back quarterback Jarrett Stidham on a two-year $12 million contract with $7 million guaranteed. The 28-year-old spent the last two seasons with the team, appearing in seven games. However, he did not attempt a pass in 2024 and served solely as a backup to rookie sensation Bo Nix. Stidham figures to occupy that role again in 2025 -- barring Nix's health -- and reportedly would have garnered significant interest as a potential backup on the open market. However, the Broncos sought to lock up their second-string option with extensive knowledge of the team's current system. The Auburn product can be safely avoided for fantasy purposes sans a bench stash in deep superflex dynasty formats.
Mar 9, 2025 9:09 PM EST
The Denver Broncos are expected to carry backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham on their initial 53-man roster, according to comments from head coach Sean Payton following Sunday's preseason finale. In discussing the quarterback room of Wilson, Stidham, and rookie Bo Nix, Payton said, "I see the three of them making it." Nix has already been declared the Broncos' starter, and it sounds like both Wilson and Stidham will keep their jobs, too. It's unclear which signal-caller will be given the backup designation and which quarterback will serve as the emergency third-stringer on gameday, though it's worth noting that Stidham appeared to have the edge on Wilson prior to Sunday's preseason contest. Regardless of the exact depth chart, Nix is the only Broncos quarterback worth considering for a roster spot in fantasy football.
Aug 25, 2024 9:55 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham went 7-for-11 for 65 yards, no touchdowns and an interception that was batted into the air at the line of scrimmage, while adding a nine-yard touchdown run in Sunday night's 27-2 preseason win at home over the Green Bay Packers. After underwhelming in his start in the preseason opener last week against the Colts, Stidham was outplayed by rookie first-rounder Bo Nix yet again. Nix started this one and went 8-for-9 for 80 yards and a touchdown. Stidham began the offseason as the slight favorite to win the QB competition over Nix, solely based on his experience in head coach Sean Payton's offense from 2023. However, through training camp so far and two preseason contests, things have changed. Nix is now considered the favorite to win the starting gig under center heading into Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, barring something crazy happening these next few weeks.
Aug 18, 2024 11:26 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham played in only two offensive series in Sunday's preseason opener at Lucas Oil Stadium against the hosting Indianapolis Colts and went 4-for-7 for 37 yards and one interception. The interception wasn't his fault, as running back Samaje Perine bobbled a catchable pass that led to the turnover. It was a limited sample size for Stidham, who opened the preseason listed as No. 1 on the QB depth chart ahead of rookie first-rounder Bo Nix, but Nix thoroughly impressed following Stidham on Sunday and may have taken one step closer to winning the QB competition in Denver. Stidham has more experience in head coach Sean Payton's offense from 2023, but Nix was the 12th overall pick in this year's NFL draft and looked much more impressive in the preseason opener. The 28-year-old Stidham will need to do more next week against the Green Bay Packers at home if he wants to hold off Nix.
Aug 11, 2024 4:26 PM EST
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced on Friday that quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start the team's preseason opener on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium against the hosting Indianapolis Colts. Rookie first-rounder Bo Nix will start the second preseason game next week in Denver versus the Green Bay Packers. Nix will also appear after Stidham leaves the game on Sunday, with Zach Wilson following Nix. Stidham opened training camp atop the team's unofficial depth chart and has had the edge to win the starting job to open the 2024 regular season, mainly because of his experience in Payton's offense from a year ago. Stidham and Nix have split first-team reps at camp, and if Nix outperforms Stidham in the preseason, there remains a chance that the rookie could start in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Whoever wins the job in Denver will be a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues, at best.
Aug 9, 2024 6:15 PM EST
The Denver Broncos are listing quarterback Jarrett Stidham as their starter on their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. Rookie first-rounder Bo Nix is listed as third string behind Zach Wilson. For context, the Broncos listed all of their rookies last on the depth chart at their respective positions, so fantasy managers that took the plunge on Nix in dynasty/keeper drafts shouldn't be too concerned. The real competition this summer for the Week 1 starting job under center appears to be between Stidham and Nix, with Stidham being the favorite, mostly because of his experience in the system. Head coach Sean Payton isn't in a rush to name the team's Week 1 starter. Either way, this is a situation for fantasy managers to avoid in 2024, even in two-QB superflex formats. All three QBs are expected to play in the team's preseason opener this Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts on the road.
Aug 6, 2024 1:15 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham has an obvious advantage in the quarterback competition with rookie first-rounder Bo Nix and former first-rounder Zach Wilson as he enters his second year in head coach Sean Payton's offense. "He's doing well," Payton said of Stidham. "Clearly, within the framework within what we're doing, he is much further along than in Year 1 in the transition. I'd say he's looked really sharp during this offseason program. [He is] real decisive. I think the leadership he is able to provide there, and there's good competition." Stidham may be ahead now, but Nix could quickly and easily close the gap if he looks good in training camp this summer. And it's not like Stidham has much experience in the NFL to begin with. Fantasy managers in single-year formats would be wise to avoid Denver's QB situation.
Jun 14, 2024 5:18 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham is embracing the team's three-man QB competition this offseason between himself, former first-round Zach Wilson and this year's first-rounder Bo Nix. "I'm not going to just sit down and let someone else walk on in here -- I'm going to work my butt off to get the job. I'm super excited about it," Stidham said. The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $10 million deal prior to last season and could now be considered a mentor who could be an upset winner of the starting job this summer. Stidham, Wilson and Nix will get an equal split of the work during the offseason program, but we probably won't have a better sense of who is in the lead in the competition until training camp. Stidham has the advantage of knowing the offense from a season ago, but even if he's the starter in Week 1, he'll be on a short leash and will be a low-upside, low-end QB2 in fantasy.
May 28, 2024 8:11 PM EST
As he competes with both rookie first-round quarterback Bo Nix and former first-rounder Zach Wilson in offseason workouts, Denver Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham said he's much more comfortable running the offense in his second year with the team. Stidham was with head coach Sean Payton a year ago and will have an advantage over both Nix and Wilson in that area. His four career starts in the NFL have come in the last two seasons with the Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders. "I'm not out there thinking as much, I'm just out there playing free and playing more confident, which is great. It's been good," Stidham said. It remains to be seen who will emerge as the team's Week 1 starter after training camp and the preseason, but if it's Stidham, he'll probably be no more than a low-end QB2 in fantasy. Even if Stidham wins the job to begin the year, it would be a surprise if Nix doesn't make starts at some point in 2024.
May 24, 2024 1:31 PM EST
For now, quarterback Jarrett Stidham is the Denver Broncos' potential starter in 2024, but head coach Sean Payton declined to say Stidham was in the top position for the job. "He's definitely competing to be the starter," Payton said. "I don't think we have a term 'driver's seat' really. But he is going to compete for that position. I know he's anxious and excited to do that, and I'm sure there will be other candidates that will be competing with him." Stidham and Ben DiNucci are the only QBs on the current roster after the team released Russell Wilson this offseason, but the Broncos are a candidate to trade up in the first round of next month's draft for a potential franchise signal-caller. Stidham has flashed some potential late the last two years with the Raiders and Broncos, but not enough for him to be outright named the starter this offseason.
Mar 25, 2024 9:16 PM EST
The Denver Broncos are going to evaluate all of the top quarterback prospects in this year's draft class, but if they do not trade up (they currently hold the 12th overall pick) within the first round of April's draft to take a QB, Jarrett Stidham would get the first shot to be their starter under center for the 2024 season. There are some in the Broncos building that are intrigued by what Stidham has to offer at the position, but it's clear that he isn't considered the long-term answer at QB. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport wouldn't be surprised if Denver signed another veteran in free agency to compete with Stidham this summer. Because of the salary cap predicament the Broncos are in in 2024, they don't really have the funds necessary to go after Kirk Cousins, for instance. Stidham threw for 496 yards, two TDs and a pick in the final two games of the 2023 season and would come with little fantasy upside if he's their starter in 2024.
Mar 5, 2024 5:45 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham went 20-for-34 for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the 27-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the regular season finale on Sunday. He ran three times for two yards and was sacked five times for a loss of 34 yards. His lone touchdown was a 24-yard strike to Jerry Jeudy. With the Broncos benching Russell Wilson for the final two games for financial reasons, Stidham acquitted himself well, going 40-for-66 for 496 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while winning one game. The Broncos are expected to move on from Wilson in March, but Stidham will most likely begin training camp in the summer as a backup to whoever the Broncos choose to bring in to replace Wilson. At the very least, Stidham has proven in the last two games of the regular season the last two years with the Broncos and Raiders that he's a serviceable backup.
Jan 7, 2024 11:33 PM EST
Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham will be cheap in DFS contests in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders, but there's not a whole lot else to get excited about, even with top receiver Courtland Sutton returning from a concussion that kept him sidelined in the Week 17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. In his first start of the year last week, Stidham went 20-for-32 for 224 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. The 27-year-old got the win and didn't turn the ball over, but nothing else really stood out, and his lone touchdown pass came with receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey basically doing all the work. He'll have a slightly higher ceiling with Sutton playing this weekend, but Stidham will be a low-end QB2 option without much upside against a Raiders defense that has been stingy against opposing QBs in the last five weeks.
Jan 6, 2024 1:15 PM EST
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