J.k. Dobbins

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	YPC
Career		47	3,024	25	5.2
2025		10	772	4	5.0
2024		13	905	9	4.6
2023		1

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Broncos locked up a quality backfield piece at market value, landing J.K. Dobbins on a sensible two-year, $16M deal that earns a solid B CVI. At $8M per year, Denver is paying appropriate compensation for a solid starter who brings legitimate NFL production when healthy, avoiding the trap of either bargain-hunting with unproven options or overpaying for name recognition. The fully guaranteed first year ($8M) provides Dobbins with immediate security while giving the Broncos flexibility to evaluate his durability over 24 months without long-term risk. This contract structure acknowledges the inherent volatility of the running back position — if Dobbins stays healthy and productive, Denver gets excellent value, but if injury concerns resurface, they can move on after two seasons without significant dead money. For a Broncos offense looking to establish a more balanced attack around Bo Nix, bringing in a proven contributor like Dobbins at a reasonable price point represents smart roster building that doesn't break the bank while addressing a clear need.

Performance Analysis

J.K. Dobbins enters his sixth NFL season as one of the more resilient stories in the league — a former second-round pick out of Ohio State whose career has been defined as much by what he's overcome as what he's accomplished between the tackles. After battling a catastrophic ACL injury that cost him most of his prime years in Baltimore and a subsequent transition to Denver, Dobbins arrives in 2025 as a legitimate featured back with something to prove on a Broncos offense looking to establish a physical identity. Earning a B- grade this season, he sits comfortably in the upper-middle tier of NFL running backs — not yet reclaiming the B+ form he showed in 2024, but a meaningful step above the concerning C- campaign of 2023 that raised questions about his long-term viability. On the ground, the numbers tell an encouraging story: Dobbins is averaging 5.05 yards per carry against an NFL average of 4.10, placing him firmly in above-average territory and within striking distance of the elite threshold of 5.40. His 77.2 rushing yards per game is even more impressive in context, surpassing the league average of 55.0 and knocking on the door of the elite benchmark of 85.0 — production that draws reasonable comparisons to what Alvin Kamara and Tony Pollard have delivered as high-efficiency, volume-capable backs in their respective primes. The one area where Dobbins hasn't yet separated himself is in the touchdown column, converting at 0.40 rushing TDs per game against an NFL average of 0.35 — functional, but a far cry from the elite rate of 0.65 that separates true red-zone weapons from complementary pieces. If Denver wants to get maximum value from his skillset, getting Dobbins more designed touches inside the five-yard line should be a priority. The trajectory here is quietly optimistic — a player who rebounded from a career low in 2023 to a strong 2024 and is now threading the needle between consistency and explosion in 2025. If he can push his yards-per-carry into elite range while increasing his goal-line role, a return to B+ form is absolutely within reach. Watch for his second-half workload this season; if Denver leans on him down the stretch, Dobbins could reassert himself as one of the more underrated backs in the AFC.

Current Sentiment

J.K. Dobbins enters the 2026 season in an uncertain role with the Denver Broncos, having secured a two-year contract extension but facing legitimate competition for carries after the team used draft capital on running back depth. His 2025 campaign was cut short by a freak injury, and while the organization has publicly cleared him medically, the optics of Denver actively scouting RBs to 'complement' him suggest his standing as a true lead back is no longer guaranteed. The 'post-Dobbins' planning language that surfaced in draft coverage is a notable red flag, indicating the front office is not fully committed to him as a long-term cornerstone of the backfield. On the positive side, the Broncos' offensive skill position depth — highlighted by the Jaylen Waddle addition — could create favorable running lanes and reduce the burden on Dobbins if he reclaims a featured role. Overall, media and fan perception heading into 2026 reflects cautious optimism tempered by injury concerns and organizational ambiguity, positioning Dobbins as a high-upside depth piece rather than a consensus RB1.