J.K. Dobbins predicted to head to NFC South as Broncos pursue other options at running back originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For the second year in a row, veteran running back J.K. Dobbins is set to enter free agency under similar circumstances.
Last year, he was coming off a solid season with the Los Angeles Chargers in which he rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. But toward the end of the season, he missed four games with a knee injury and the Chargers' rushing attack suffered.
The Chargers kept him on the back burner when the new league year started, but decided to give a big contract to Najee Harris before using their first-round pick on Omarion Hampton.
As predicted by Nick Kosmider of The Athletic, the Broncos will take the same approach this year, keeping Dobbins as a fallback option but looking around at other players first.
J.K. Dobbins predicted to play for a new team in 2026
Dobbins waited for some time before a deal came, signing with the Broncos. He will likely find himself in the same situation this year, waiting for a team to take a chance on his lengthy injury history.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report figures that team to end up being the Atlanta Falcons.
"J.K. Dobbins has yet to play through a full NFL season because of injuries. After his 2020 rookie campaign, he's missed at least four games every year.
Last year with the Denver Broncos, Dobbins suffered a foot injury that derailed his season. He registered 153 carries for a team-leading 772 yards and four touchdowns in only 10 games before going down.
Dobbins could fill the No. 2 spot in the Atlanta Falcons' backfield if they lose Tyler Allgeier and/or are looking for a ball-carrier to complement Bijan Robinson.
Robinson has finished in the top three leaguewide in touches in back-to-back seasons. The Falcons will need someone to spell him if Allgeier signs elsewhere in free agency. As an undrafted rookie, Nathan Carter is still unproven with only nine carries for 60 yards.
Dobbins should endure less wear and tear playing behind Robinson, which could increase his chances of playing through a full campaign", wrote Moton.
That is a very sensible assessment. Dobbins was effective in Denver, but he's going to be best suited as a team's No. 2 running back going forward. The Broncos need to properly develop RJ Harvey, which makes re-signing Dobbins a gamble. The team needs to know it can lean primarily on one of those guys if need be, and Harvey just isn't that kind of back. Dobbins has already shown he can't handle that kind of load.
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This means the Broncos' best move is to look at the plethora of running backs available this offseason, namely Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne and Tyler Allgeier. If all of those options fall through by way of signing elsewhere, then the Broncos will have to turn to plan B or plan C and strongly consider bringing Dobbins back in 2026.
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