Who Should I Start? Najee Harris or J.K. Dobbins

Monday, April 28, 11:53 PM

While nothing is set in stone right now, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that the team plans to deploy a booming 1-2 punch with rookie running back Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris in 2025. True to the Harbaugh mentality, the Bolts plan to line up and run the ball with Hampton and Harris, who are both big and powerful backs. Harbaugh raved about Hampton's ability to break tackles -- According to Pro Football Focus, 2,505 of his career rushing yards at North Carolina came after contact. At No. 22 overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft last Thursday, Hampton was a "unanimous" decision for the Chargers. Hampton averaged 5.9 yards per carry in each of his last two seasons with the Tar Heels and was a true workhorse. While his fantasy upside will be limited while sharing the backfield with Harris in 2025, Hampton's long-term fantasy upside in Harbaugh's system has to excite those in dynasty formats.

Wednesday, June 11, 12:52 PM

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.