Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has "been fantastic," according to Broncos head coach Sean Payton. The 26-year-old is in his first year with the team and has gotten off to a fast start to the season, rushing for 402 yards and four touchdowns on 77 carries through five games. Dobbins does not offer much as a receiver (six total receptions), but he's been the clear lead rusher in a Broncos backfield that also features RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie. Health has always been a question mark for Dobbins, as he had played in just 22 games over his previous three seasons coming into 2025. However, if he stays healthy, it does not appear he's in any danger of losing his current role in Denver. Dobbins profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in Week 6 against the New York Jets.
Oct 8, 2025 11:15 AM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins had another solid outing in Week 5 while earning a win versus the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. With his largest workload of the season, he would lead the team in rushing yards and touches with 79 yards on 20 rush attempts. His lone touchdown was a two-yard rush to bring the game back within contention in the fourth quarter. Seeing RJ Harvey take a backseat with 12 yards on four rushes was encouraging for confidence in Dobbins' volume moving forward. Clearly, the Broncos' backfield is Dobbins' to lose. Continue trusting him as a high-upside RB2 until otherwise noted, and he is a must-start against a reeling Jets defense in Week 6.
Oct 6, 2025 6:25 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has been continuing to redeem his career in Denver after scoring a touchdown or rushing for 100 yards in each of his first four games this season. While the Eagles profile as a defense that is better at stopping the run than the pass, expect Dobbins to be called upon to continue impressing as the early-down back. Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey's role could continue to grow in this offense, but, notably, Dobbins has averaged a second career-best 5.67 yards per carry so far this season. Fantasy managers should continue to start Dobbins with confidence as a solid RB2 with weekly touchdown upside as he comes in as RotoBaller's RB22 for Week 5.
Oct 4, 2025 7:30 AM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins had an efficient night on the ground in his team's Week 4 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Dobbins recorded 16 carries for 101 yards, an average of 6.3 yards per rush attempt. The 26-year-old has now recorded 57 carries for 323 yards and three touchdowns through his first four games of 2025. Dobbins is the RB1 in Denver, but it's worth noting that Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey logged a career-high 14 carries in Week 4. The Broncos face a difficult matchup in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, Dobbins profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 as long as he continues to lead the Denver backfield in carries.
Sep 30, 2025 11:11 AM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has led the way for the team through the first three weeks of the 2025 campaign. Many assumed RJ Harvey would have a more prominent role in the offense, although that hasn't happened, with the rookie receiving only two attempts in the Week 3 loss to the Chargers. Harvey will presumably see more involvement at some point moving forward. However, it appears Dobbins remains the favorite to handle most of the snaps out of the backfield, at least for now. The 26-year-old has 222 yards off 41 carries this season. Even better, he's found the end zone in each of Denver's first three games. All things considered, Dobbins should be classified as a must-start in all fantasy formats on Monday night versus the Cincinnati Bengals, a club that surrendered two rushing touchdowns to Jordan Mason in Week 3.
Sep 26, 2025 10:31 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has been a "real good addition" for the team this year, head coach Sean Payton said. Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports writes that it's "clear" that Payton is a big fan of Dobbins, who has been the Broncos' clear RB1 through three weeks over rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey. Dobbins has seen double-digit carries in all three games of the year so far and has run for at least 63 yards each week. The 26-year-old has also scored on the ground in all three weeks. His best game so far came in the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, as he ran for 83 yards and a score on a season-low 11 rushing attempts. He had nine more rushing attempts than Harvey last weekend and has outcarried the UCF product 41 to 13. Harvey has one more catch than Dobbins through three weeks. Dobbins isn't going away anytime soon, and he'll be in play as an RB2 in Week 4 in a plus matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sep 25, 2025 6:43 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins delivered a solid performance in Week 3 despite his team's last-second 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Dobbins was effective on the ground, rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, including a 41-yard run that helped set up his score. He also recorded one catch for zero yards. After three games, Dobbins has been highly productive, averaging 5.4 yards per carry with over 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He seems to be secured as the lead back and is likely to continue seeing a significant workload as rookie R.J. Harvey struggles to find his rhythm. Dobbins can be viewed as a reliable RB2 option moving forward.
Sep 22, 2025 12:27 AM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins played well in the first two contests of the 2025 campaign. He's totaled 139 yards on the ground off 30 attempts. While his 4.6 yards per carry isn't the best, he at least made up for it by finding the end zone twice. With RJ Harvey in the mix, many felt Dobbins wouldn't be as involved. That could eventually be the case as the season progresses. However, as of now, Dobbins appears to have the edge, with the 26-year-old logging 66 offensive snaps compared to the rookie's 41. With the Broncos coming off a loss to the Colts in Week 2, the team will look to get it together versus the Chargers. Los Angeles is sitting at a perfect 2-0 record, having secured wins over the Chiefs and Raiders. The Chargers offense has been clicking. On the other hand, the defense may be the biggest reason why the club remains unbeaten. Still, despite the tough matchup on the horizon, Dobbins has played well enough to earn a spot in any fantasy lineup, although his ceiling may be lower than in previous weeks.
Sep 19, 2025 10:14 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins carries solid RB2 value facing the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. Dobbins was expected to split the backfield with rookie RJ Harvey early in the season. However, the veteran appears to be viewed as the clear leader for the time being, as he took 16 carries while Harvey took only six in the season opener. Dobbins was also very productive operating as the lead back, tallying 63 yards and a score during their victory over the Titans. As a pass catcher, Dobbins was able to bring in both of his targets for five yards. Last season, the 26-year-old enjoyed a career season playing for the Chargers, totaling 905 yards and nine scores across 13 contests. While Harvey will likely see his role grow over the season, for the time being, this appears to be Dobbins' backfield. As a result, he carries solid RB2 value facing the Colts.
Sep 13, 2025 9:06 AM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins is the starter on the team's first depth chart ahead of rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey heading into Sunday's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans. While many expect Harvey to eventually take over lead-back duties in 2025, head coach Sean Payton has a soft spot for veterans, and Dobbins will play a key role in Denver's backfield. Dobbins played in only nine games from 2021-23 with Baltimore due to injuries, but he had a career-best 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns with the Chargers last year. Facing a Titans team that was very vulnerable on the ground a year ago, Dobbins will have RB3/flex value in Week 1 for fantasy managers, although the presence of Harvey definitely will lower his ceiling. With Harvey struggling in pass protection in camp, Dobbins should be Denver's go-to back on third downs as well.
Sep 5, 2025 9:59 AM EST
The Denver Broncos' unofficial depth chart for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans has running back J.K. Dobbins listed as the starting RB ahead of rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR. Tyler Badie is the RB3, and Jaleel McLaughlin is the RB4. Dobbins was brought in as a free agent this offseason to help make up for the departure of Javonte Williams, and he's fully expected to play a big role in Denver's backfield in 2025. However, the Broncos drafted Harvey in the second round in April for a reason, and although he's starting as the RB2, fantasy managers are fully expecting Harvey to lead this backfield when all is said and done in 2025. Not only does Dobbins not have the home run ability that Harvy has, but he has a history of pretty serious leg injuries. At best, he should be considered an RB3/flex play in fantasy in Week 1 against the Titans.
Sep 2, 2025 7:31 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins could be in line to earn the starting running back job ahead of Week 1. Head coach Sean Payton said that the Broncos' starters would not play in their second preseason game. R.J. Harvey and Jaleel McLaughlin both played, while Dobbins suited up but did not see the field. Assuming Payton's declaration about his starters was accurate, Dobbins would be in line to start Week 1. Despite the Broncos drafting Harvey in the second round, we shouldn't be too shocked that the job is Dobbins' to lose. Denver specifically went out and signed him in early June, giving him a $5.25 million contract that was likely reflective of his expected role in the offense. The veteran running back exceeded expectations last year with the Los Angeles Chargers, totaling 1,058 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns through 13 games. He was the overall RB23 in half-PPR leagues despite missing four contests, and he ranked 17th in fantasy points on a per-game basis. With Denver's offense expected to be productive and consistently operate with a positive game script this year, Dobbins should continue to deliver results for fantasy managers. Harvey does pose a threat to steal touches, but the 26-year-old remains a strong fantasy option. He enters the year as a mid-range RB3/FLEX play.
Aug 16, 2025 11:27 PM EST
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton promised that the team will have a "markedly different" running game in 2025 after they disappointed on the ground last year. Payton points to the upgrades with veteran running back J.K. Dobbins and rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey, with the two expecting to see the majority of the backfield touches this season. "We brought in leadership, with J.K., and we drafted Harvey early, and so you're going to see a difference," Payton said. Harvey was heavily involved in the preseason opener last Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers and has more big-play potential in an improving offense under Payton and second-year quarterback Bo Nix. At RotoBaller, Harvey is ranked as the RB25, with Dobbins checking in at RB35. Dobbins has the edge in experience, but he's also been very injury-prone in his NFL career.
Aug 14, 2025 6:42 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins wasn't very involved in the team's preseason opener on the road on Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers in a 30-9 victory at Levi's Stadium. Dobbins didn't see a single carry but caught his only target for a gain of four yards. Meanwhile, rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey carried the ball seven times for 25 yards and caught one of his two targets for four yards. The 26-year-old figures to be heavily involved in Denver's backfield in his first year with the team in 2025, but it was notable that Harvey saw most of the early-down work with the first-team offense in the first quarter on Saturday evening. Given Dobbins' extensive injury history, don't be surprised if Harvey is Denver's 1A back sooner than later, with Dobbins serving in more of a third-down, pass-catching role. Dobbins is an RB3/flex target in fantasy, preferably in PPR formats.
Aug 10, 2025 10:47 AM EST
The Denver Broncos' first unofficial depth chart of the preseason lists J.K. Dobbins as the starting running back, Jaleel McLaughlin as second-string, Audric Estime as third-string, Tyler Badie as fourth-string and Blake Watson and rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey as fifth-string, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's eye-opening since Harvey has mixed in with Dobbins on the first-team offense during training camp. Head coach Sean Payton typically lists rookies near the bottom of the first depth chart, so fantasy managers probably shouldn't read too much into Harvey's depth-chart positioning just yet. All signs from practice suggest that Harvey will be the RB2 behind Dobbins this year, with McLaughlin and Estime being sprinkled in. Especially in PPR leagues, Harvey is worth targeting as an RB3/flex, and he'd be a weekly starter if Dobbins misses more time with injury.
Aug 6, 2025 3:10 PM EST
Denver Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright says that both running backs J.K. Dobbins and rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey have looked good at training camp. However, Allbright suggests that Dobbins is the "RB1 and stays that way until Harvey gets better at pass protection." The 26-year-old Dobbins has gotten off to a good start heading into his first year in Denver and has made a quick transition into head coach Sean Payton's offense after signing as a free agent in June. He and Harvey should continue to split first-team work, but it sounds as though Dobbins currently has a leg up on the rookie from Central Florida in terms of being the lead back early on in 2025. Dobbins has averaged a healthy 5.2 yards per carry in his four NFL seasons, but Harvey's role could grow as the season wears on, and Dobbins also played in just nine games due to injury from 2021-23 in Baltimore. He's an RB3/flex with upside in fantasy if he can stay healthy.
Aug 4, 2025 6:16 PM EST
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that running back J.K. Dobbins' transition to the offense has been "swift." It appears that the Broncos' decision to sign Dobbins in early June so that he could enter the offseason break with the playbook was a good move. Dobbins is going to share the backfield with rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey in his first year in Denver, but so far in training camp, the 26-year-old former Raven has seen most of the work with the first-team offense. Harvey could easily take over the early-down role for the Broncos sooner than later in 2025, but if Dobbins can stay healthy, he should be in play in PPR fantasy leagues as an RB3/flex option. Dobbins played in just nine games from 2021-23 due to injuries and also missed four games in 2024 with the Chargers due to an MCL sprain, so the lengthy injury history is certainly concerning.
Jul 28, 2025 5:06 PM EST
According to Broncos beat writer Cody Roark of Mike High Sports, recently acquired running back J.K. Dobbins "will likely be the starter" to open the 2025 campaign. Dobbins came back from a brutal run of injuries, including a torn Achilles, to rush for 905 yards and nine touchdowns for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. The Broncos signed him to a one-year deal following the 2025 NFL Draft. During the draft, the organization selected UCF running back RJ Harvey in the second round, and Roark said he will also have an extensive role. While this only adds more confusion to what could be a complicated backfield, early-offseason beat reports and camp information should be taken with a grain of salt. Both Broncos running backs have upside, but Harvey should be viewed as the high-ceiling pick. After all, Dobbins averaged just 3.8 yards per carry after Weeks 1 and 2 a season ago.
Jul 8, 2025 2:16 PM EST
ESPN's Jeff Legwold writes that the Denver Broncos figure to give new running back J.K. Dobbins a long look in the third-down role ahead of Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. Dobbins has dealt with multiple injuries since being drafted in 2020, mainly knee and Achilles injuries, but he had career-highs in rushing yards (905), catches (32) and receiving yards (153) last year with the Los Angeles Chargers and tied his career best with nine rushing touchdowns. And that was with him missing four games in 2024 with an MCL sprain. Javonte Williams led the Broncos in carries (139) and rushing yards (513) last year, but he's now in Dallas. Second-round rookie RB RJ Harvey is the favorite for lead-back duties in 2025, but Dobbins (if healthy) could be a nice RB3/flex option for fantasy managers in PPR leagues if he captures the full-time third-down role.
Jun 11, 2025 12:52 PM EST
Free-agent running back J.K. Dobbins signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal on Tuesday with the Denver Broncos, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Dobbins, who was a Comeback Player of the Year finalist in 2024, is still only 26 years old and had over 1,000 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games with the Los Angeles Chargers last year. He did not play at all in 2021 and was limited to nine total games in 2022 and 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens due to knee and Achilles injuries, which made it all the more impressive that he averaged 4.6 yards per carry on his career-high 195 rushing attempts in 2024 with the Bolts. Dobbins will now pair with rookie second-round RB RJ Harvey in the backfield for the Broncos in an offense that should be plenty productive under quarterback Bo Nix in his second season. At the very least, Dobbins could have RB3/flex appeal in Denver's backfield.
Jun 10, 2025 5:06 PM EST
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