Who Should I Start? James Conner or Jonah Coleman

Sunday, June 7, 6:01 AM

Early on in the pre-draft process, Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman was in conversation to become the second running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. In falling to Denver in the fourth round, he ultimately became the fourth back off the board, and while the draft capital may be difficult to get overly excited about, the landing spot could prove to be an ideal fit for his well-rounded skill set. Coleman is a proven pass-catcher in a Sean Payton offense that is at its best when involving its backs as receivers. The Broncos spent a 2025 second-round pick on RJ Harvey, but his efficiency metrics were underwhelming across the board as a rookie, while Coleman forced missed tackles at the highest rate of all backs in the incoming rookie class. Veteran J.K. Dobbins could hold onto lead-back duties to enter the year, as he did until a Lisfranc tear ended his 2025 season, but no stranger to injuries, he has now missed 53 of a potential 85 games over the past five seasons. While a slow start to his rookie season would not be unexpected, Coleman could eventually take over as the most fantasy-relevant running back in Denver, and at RotoBaller's rookie RB3, he is one of the higher upside picks in the second round of dynasty rookie drafts.