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        Broncos Crowd Backfield With J.K. Dobbins

        By Jared Smola | Updated on Tue, Jun 10 2025 8:22 PM UTC
        J.K. Dobbins Headshot

        The Broncos are signing RB J.K. Dobbins. It's a one-year, $5.25 million deal, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. We'll see about the contract details. But, at face value, it's the same exact deal that RB Najee Harris got from the Chargers.

        Update: Dobbins is getting $2.065 million guaranteed, according to Pro Football Talk. He has $680,000 in per-game roster bonuses and another $2.5 million available in incentives. Dobbins' deal is much closer to the one Nick Chubb got from Houston than Najee Harris' from the Chargers.

        2025 Fantasy Football Impact

        Dobbins returned from his 2023 Achilles tear to run for 905 yards and nine TDs across 13 games for the Chargers last year. He tacked on a 32-153-0 receiving line to finish 29th among RBs in PPR points per game.

        Dobbins averaged 4.6 yards per carry and was respectable in most underlying metrics. Among 47 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked:

        • 16th in rush yards over expected per attempt
        • 23rd in yards after contact per attempt
        • 39th in Pro Football Focus rushing grade

        Dobbins is still only 26 and could be better in 2025 now that he's nearly two years removed from the Achilles injury.

        He joins the Broncos backfield alongside ballyhooed second-round rookie R.J. Harvey, plus Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin. Harvey remains the favorite to lead the group in total touches, but Dobbins shouldn't have much trouble disposing of Estime and McLaughlin.

        We'll see exactly how the backfield takes shape this summer, but Dobbins has a chance to carve out a big enough early-down role to have RB3 value.

        Other Winners & Losers

        This certainly isn't good news for Harvey. Dobbins is an upgrade over McLaughlin and especially Estime as an early-down back, so Harvey's path to touches got tougher.

        That said, Harvey is coming off two big seasons at Central Florida and got strong draft capital from Denver. There's a good chance he still proves to be the team's best runner. And Dobbins isn't much of a threat on passing downs, with just 5.6 career yards per catch.

        Plus, HC Sean Payton has historically had one of the league's most RB-friendly offenses. There will be plenty of fantasy points to go around in this backfield.

        We'll see exactly how far Harvey's ADP falls, but he might turn into a value.

        Jared Smola Author Image
        Jared Smola, Lead Analyst
        Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks sixth among 158 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.
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