Evan Engram Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Injuries the Biggest Story … Again

Engram lost the final four games of last season to a labrum tear in his left shoulder that required surgery.

Before that, Engram sustained a hamstring injury in pregame warmups for Week 2, missed that game, and then sat out the ensuing three as well.

Engram, of course, has become known for his injury issues. He has played in just 108 of a possible 132 career regular-season games. But he also preceded last season by playing in all 17 games in both 2022 and 2023. And he missed just two total games over the previous two seasons.

So be careful not to overrate the injury factor here going forward.

Production & Fantasy Finishes

When on the field last year, Engram’s production sagged. He ranked just 14th among TEs in PPR points per game, posting the second-fewest yards per game of his career despite the third most receptions per game.

Even that number dipped significantly vs. 2023, though. Engram went from a career-high 6.7 receptions per game that year – seventh-most in the league – to 5.2 (24th).

The biggest culprit was a mere 1 TD, matching his career low. But Engram has never fared especially well in that area. He has scored on just 5.0% of his career receptions.

Engram hasn’t topped 4 TDs in a season since his 2017 rookie campaign.

Usage & Role

Engram’s usage remained strong when he was healthy in 2024. He ranked 23rd league-wide in target share (adjusted for games missed) – third among TEs, behind only Trey McBride and Brock Bowers (slightly).

His 23.5% target share actually marked a slight boost vs. 2023 (22.3%), while both rates finished well ahead of his 2022 (16.3%).

Efficiency Metrics

Jacksonville was not friendly to Engram’s efficiency, however. He set a career low with just 7.8 yards per catch last season. That “beat” the low he set the season before (8.4).

The biggest problem was not target depth. Engram’s 5.8-yard aDOT in 2024 – according to Pro Football Focus – was up vs. his 2023 and midpack for Engram’s career.

His yards after catch per reception, however, fell a yard shorter than Engram’s previous low and 2.0 shy of his career rate.

Offensive Context

The QB situation didn’t help. Engram shared just five healthy games with Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence beat backup Mac Jones …

• 9.9 to 7.7 in aDOT
• 7.0 to 4.5 in Pro Football Reference’s completed air yards per completion
• 3.9% to 3.1% in TD rate

Of course, Lawrence also wasn’t having a terrific season when he was healthy. And the offense on whole struggled enough to get the staff turned over after the season.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

The Broncos gave Engram $23 million on a two-year deal in free agency, with $16.5 million of that guaranteed at signing. That gives Engram the 10th-highest annual contract average among TEs.

HC Sean Payton has talked about Engram fitting the “joker” role in his offense, which he views as helpful for the QB.

“It just opens up the middle of the field a little more,” Payton said in April. “That's something that we lacked -- the explosive element that we've lacked in the middle of the field. As we've talked about, he's a mismatch-type player, so that only helps the quarterback."

Payton says he specifically likes Engram’s “body control” and run-after-catch ability and views the new Bronco as a strong option on third downs and in the red zone.

That description and Engram’s career as a fairly low aDOT player make him look like a particularly good fit for Bo Nix. The second-year QB has ranked low in passing aDOT the past three years – dating to his two seasons at Oregon.

Competition

The Broncos’ WR depth chart also favors Engram.

Denver had just one player exceed 70 targets last season: Cortland Sutton. Javonte Williams finished second, while three other Broncos logged 52-55 targets.

The team added just third-rounder Pat Bryant to that position. Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, and Troy Franklin likely round out the top five again.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Payton told Kay Adams back in February that “joker” types in his system need to be “elite receivers that play TE or RB.”

He added: “And then you get the matchups. And we had quite a few of them here because you’re getting two-high defense, and you have to work inside.”

Two high refers to a pair of safeties playing deep coverage, which leaves room in the shorter range – where Engram tends to operate.

Production & Efficiency Trends

Nix threw a shorter aDOT than Lawrence last year but tied him in Pro Football Focus passing grade and posted a better adjusted completion rate than Lawrence has produced in any of his four seasons.

Nix also beat both Jacksonville QBs in yards after catch per completion, according to PFR – despite the Broncos sporting limited pass-catching talent and no answer for Payton’s coveted joker spot.