barackdhouse
Footballguy
oh sorry I was thinking and typing in redraft and best ball, but yes of course in dynasty he is mid-late 1st. my rookie drafts all happened last month so I don't even think about where they're going in those drafts anymore.
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
RB J.K. Dobbins, DEN (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
barackdhouse
Footballguy
redraft and best ball. I should have specified.
warpig33
Footballguy
Wait...I thought Harvey is the pass catching back? I'm so confused. Thanks Payton!
efactor
Footballguy
That was awesome. Won my local league rolling them both out one of those years.
Big Nate
Footballguy
I believe Kamara was RB3 and Ingram RB6.
I won my league last 2 years with Gibbs and Monty. It can work! Just need the offense to be good enough to support 2 backs and they utilize them correctly.
Faust
MVP
Catching passes on third down is a helpful skill for running backs to have to win that third down role for the team; however, it is always secondary to the requirement to be serviceable at a minimum with the pass protection skill set.
Case in point is the textbook example when Lawrence Phillips missed the block that resulted in the career ending concussion injury for Steve Young. I don’t remember what down that was, but the point remains that pass protection skills will give a running back a much better chance of getting that opportunity first.
TheWinz
Footballguy
Fun fact - for the last 9 seasons, a RB duo have finished as a RB1/RB2
warpig33
Footballguy
Do we know which one is supposed to be the better pass protector? I understand you want someone out there that can help protect the QB on passing downs, just curious if any of the RBs on their roster currently are adept at it (as well as catching passes)? Was Dobbins a good pass protector? Estime? McLaughlin? Harvey? This just seems like it is going to be a constant headache all year. "Well, McLaughlin had the better week in practice at pass pro so we're gonna go with him this week." Or "Well, Harvey had the better week of practice in pass pro so he's starting this week."...etc. Just ugh.
Probably Dobbins.
Harvey graded as the literal worst pass protection RB in the class for some people. McClaughlin improved his techinique from year to year two, per Payton, but his size is an issue.
This was a big concern I had on Harvey because I only value RB's in a Payton offense that catch a lot of passes because it's always going to be a RBBC with him. I had heard Payton discuss this a few weeks ago and how he has a plan to work around it while that part of his game develops and it assuaged some of my concerns, though I still was of the opinion it might take Harvey out on some of the more obvious passing downs. Believe that considerably more likely now that they have brought in Dobbins.
Terpman22
Footballguy
You just gotta own both guys and do your best to Handcuff them. Once one goes down, even for a few games, you'll be getting RB1 production, and with both their ADPs to be suppressed, you'd think getting both of these guys would be affordable.
If I HAD to choose though, I'm taking Harvey on talent, Dobbins on value.
If that makes any sense at all
If I HAD to choose though, I'm taking Harvey on talent, Dobbins on value.
If that makes any sense at all
greenmountaingoat
Footballguy
I haven’t been playing ff for long enough because every time I read or hear about Sean Payton, kingmaker of ff players I feel like I’m missing something. I’m supposed to be excited for something that happened 10 years ago and like not in recent history and somehow this helium is affecting the market. Maybe I’m delusional but I think I’m safer fading the Payton helium effect.
taylormeetstheismann
Footballguy
These are good arguments. I’m sold.
socrates
Footballguy
Ranking the 2025 Denver Backfield, I would probably have it like this:
- Harvey (this obviously takes a bit of the shine off of his fantasy value; how much do you ding him in Dynasty?)
- Dobbins (as far as potential landing spots go, this isn't the worst, but I can think of a number of destinations I would have preferred)
- McLaughlin (McLaughlin still holds some PPR intrigue, but it is getting terribly crowded)
- Estime (is Estime a Dynasty cut now?)
efactor
Footballguy
Well, 2021 was only 4 seasons ago and Kamara had his highest carry season. Payton was consistent with Kamara's usage for those 5 seasons. In his two seasons with Denver, his RBs have been pretty bad, which is why he drafted Harvey and signed Dobbins. As Big Nate pointed out in an earlier post, Payton also has a history of multiple backs having high end fantasy seasons in the same year with Kamara and Ingram.
Last year Denver had the highest RB rushing yards before contact and the worst yards after contact.
Plus a top 3 OL. Good reasons to be optimistic
I don't think it dings him as much in dynasty as it does in redraft. I don't see Dobbins as a long-ish type solution and is likely just a one year nuisance to Harvey.
I also wonder if it is more the players than the coach. Meaning Kamara and Ingram were pretty great compliments and elite at some things. Did they make Payton or did Payton make them?
The first question that came to my mind is whether the success was tied more to Drew Brees as well. I’d love to know how much production he has had from the RB position without Brees. Brees was great at taking what the defense gave him. He was also happy to dump it off when that was open.
TheWinz
Footballguy
Payton gets too much credit for having multiple high end fantasy RB's in the same season. It's really only happened twice in his HC career.
2006 - In his first year as HC, the Saints drafted Reggie Bush, and he teamed up with 28 yr old Deuce McAllister. They combined for 517 touches (243/274) and finished RB9 and RB16. It helped having Drew Brees leading the league in passing yards, and the Saints with the 2nd most offensive plays, along with Bush leading the team in receptions.
2017 - In his 12th year as HC, the Saints drafted Alvin Kamara, and he teamed up with 28 yr old Mark Ingram. They combined for 489 touches (201/288) and finished RB3 and RB6. It helped having Drew Brees throwing so much to the duo, as they were behind only Michael Thomas in receptions.
But, this year is kinda similar to those 2 years. He has the vet and the rookie, and a clear #1 WR. Will Dobbins and Harvey team up to be Payton's 3rd dynamic duo?
2006 - In his first year as HC, the Saints drafted Reggie Bush, and he teamed up with 28 yr old Deuce McAllister. They combined for 517 touches (243/274) and finished RB9 and RB16. It helped having Drew Brees leading the league in passing yards, and the Saints with the 2nd most offensive plays, along with Bush leading the team in receptions.
2017 - In his 12th year as HC, the Saints drafted Alvin Kamara, and he teamed up with 28 yr old Mark Ingram. They combined for 489 touches (201/288) and finished RB3 and RB6. It helped having Drew Brees throwing so much to the duo, as they were behind only Michael Thomas in receptions.
But, this year is kinda similar to those 2 years. He has the vet and the rookie, and a clear #1 WR. Will Dobbins and Harvey team up to be Payton's 3rd dynamic duo?
Tau837
Footballguy
I don't know how the Broncos operate, but could they have 4 RBs on their final 53 man roster who don't play many special teams snaps? Last season, Estime played 66, and McLaughlin played 3. I don't see Dobbins playing special teams with his injury history, and I assume they will preserve Harvey for offense.
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
It was great to see JK complete a season even if he did wind up on IR for a period.
At the same time, this time last year...most thought he'd be in an even split with the corpse of Gus Edwards and after an impressive Game 1 & 2, he averaged 3.8 YPC the rest of the way.
Dobbins is there for his floor and his veteran acumen. But I suspect Dobbins is bargain Rachaad White.
At the same time, this time last year...most thought he'd be in an even split with the corpse of Gus Edwards and after an impressive Game 1 & 2, he averaged 3.8 YPC the rest of the way.
Dobbins is there for his floor and his veteran acumen. But I suspect Dobbins is bargain Rachaad White.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
His pass blocking being good matters too.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
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.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Dobbins should thrive behind the Broncos oline. Ability to stay healthy is the obvious question mark, his talent shouldn’t be an issue. The rookie has more to prove than Dobbins to earn snaps imo.
jm192
Footballguy
I heard this on a podcast yesterday. And I think it's definitely concerning on the Harvey end of things.
Harvey is the new shiny toy. And sometimes talent just wins out and gets on the field.
But we've seen times where rookies take time to earn the starting role. Harvey is someone I'm nervous about paying for in re-draft. And Dobbins feels like a value pick today. However, you have to figure this report is going to start driving up Dobbins cost.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
As prospects, I think Dobbins was head and shoulders above Harvey as a talent coming out. Where he is at compared to when he came out after injuries is the only question. He looked good last year when he played and the Charger line is less stout than DEN )in particular the IOL. FFers typically prefer new to older, but imo a healthy Dobbins is in a good position to earn the majority of snaps.
Pickle Rody
IBL Representative
I'll be targeting Dobbins in redrafts......just not sure where yet. Keeping my eye on this situation for sure.
FarFromHome
Footballguy
This is the time of year where beat writers divide up carries for players? I thought all they did was update us on players new and improved diets. Ha ha
Big Nate
Footballguy
Every year the shiny new rookie gets hyped beyond where they should be. Then the vet goes in and does vet things and keeps the job. I don't own either in my dynasty leagues but if I had to pick one to start and get me points this year it is 100% Dobbins. Dobbins has done it before and he will be trusted with the starting role out of the gates. These coaches aren't risking it by starting a rookie unless the can prove they are miles ahead of the vet.
Overtime I do expect Harvey's role to increase and best case scenario it ends up a split like Ingram/Kamara. If Nix and this offense play well both could be fantasy relevant but I expect Dobbins to be the lead guy for the season if he can stay healthy. Dobbins could look fantastic out of the gates - he had some great games last year.
Note - I say this every year - just because the rookie doesn't get burn out of the gates doesn't mean they aren't good. Kyren Williams got zero play his first season. Even a guy like Tank Bigsby was written off and now he's a committee player pushing for more reps.
Overtime I do expect Harvey's role to increase and best case scenario it ends up a split like Ingram/Kamara. If Nix and this offense play well both could be fantasy relevant but I expect Dobbins to be the lead guy for the season if he can stay healthy. Dobbins could look fantastic out of the gates - he had some great games last year.
Note - I say this every year - just because the rookie doesn't get burn out of the gates doesn't mean they aren't good. Kyren Williams got zero play his first season. Even a guy like Tank Bigsby was written off and now he's a committee player pushing for more reps.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
I liked this post up until you started talking about the JAG Tank Bigsby.
Big Nate
Footballguy
Hah so good.
Similar threads
