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Which teams are potential landing spots for running back J.K. Dobbins for fantasy football? Joey breaks down all the top landing spots for J.K. Dobbins.
Running back J.K. Dobbins has battled through multiple injuries so far in his career. After a strong rookie campaign with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, Dobbins tore his ACL during the 2021 preseason and winded up missing that entire campaign. Then, in 2023, he tore his Achilles in Week 1. As a result, he signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency last offseason.
Although he missed four games due to a knee injury last year, Dobbins looked solid in that Chargers backfield. He rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns across 13 games. Now, he'll head to free agency looking for a new contract.
So, what are the best landing spots for Dobbins? Let's dive in and look at five teams he could sign with in free agency.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Following Najee Harris' departure, the Pittsburgh Steelers should be in the market for a running back this offseason. Harris signed a one-year deal with the Chargers, and Jaylen Warren is a restricted free agent. Even though there's a good chance that Warren re-signs with the team, Dobbins could be a top target for Pittsburgh in free agency.
JK Dobbins is ABSOLUTELY back (unless he has to run over 25+ yards then he gasses out but hey I’m sure that improves throughout the year as his conditioning improves)
Crazy to say it, but LAC’s locked in RB1 moving forward.
pic.twitter.com/v29ZP8R5od— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) September 8, 2024
The 26-year-old running back is one of the more talented running backs remaining on the free agent market, given both Harris and Aaron Jones signed elsewhere. As a result, Dobbins could find himself in a Pittsburgh uniform this offseason. If that turns out to be the case, he would likely be a lower-end RB2 in fantasy to start the year.
The Steelers do not have the best offensive line, and Harris only averaged 3.9 yards per carry in his four seasons with the Steelers. On top of that, Dobbins and Warren will likely split opportunities in this backfield, assuming the latter also signs with the team. That makes this landing spot questionable for the former Ohio State star.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders will add a running back at some point this offseason. The perfect addition to this Raiders team could be Dobbins, who will immediately fill that RB1 role in this offense. He would easily beat out Zamir White and Sincere McCormick for the starting job and should be in a great spot to build on his 4.6 yards per carry from a season ago.
This landing spot would also help his 2025 fantasy value. Although the Raiders could use more help along the offensive line, Dobbins could have this backfield mostly to himself next season. Therefore, he could be a reliable RB2 option for fantasy managers in 2025.
Now, there's a chance that Las Vegas targets running back prospect Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That would definitely hurt Dobbins' fantasy value if he lands here. However, if the Raiders pass on Jeanty in the draft and sign the former Chargers running back in free agency, he could post very similar fantasy numbers to 2024.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns don't have much money to work with this offseason after signing defensive end Myles Garrett to a record-breaking deal. Still, they could make room for Dobbins in free agency, considering this is a need for the team entering the 2025-2026 NFL season. Nick Chubb is a free agent, and the Browns would likely want to upgrade their running back room altogether.
Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. are the top two running backs in this Cleveland offense right now. Ford ran for 565 yards and three touchdowns last season, while Strong ran for 108 yards on 26 carries. By signing Dobbins in free agency, the Browns are assuring they get their RB1 for next year.
If Dobbins does land with the Browns, he would be a solid RB2 option. He should see most of the running back opportunities in this offense behind a solid run-blocking offensive line. Cleveland ranked 14h in run-block win rate (72%) last season. Therefore, this would be a fine landing spot for the 26-year-old.
Denver Broncos
The best landing spot for Dobbins this offseason is the Denver Broncos. Javonte Williams is now gone after signing a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, and the team could use a top running back in this offense. Denver only rushed for 1,908 yards on the ground last season. So, expect them to add a running back in free agency.
J.K. DOBBINS 46 YARDS!
📺: #LVvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/TAO6tSqpQ1— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
Dobbins feels like the perfect target for them. He rushed for over 900 yards in 2024, and his running style fits with what the Broncos are trying to do offensively. Although he joins a backfield of Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, and Tyler Badie, this would be the veteran's backfield next season.
As a result, we could see him finish as a top-18 fantasy running back in 2025. He'll need to stay healthy in order to have a career-best fantasy year, but this situation is certainly appealing for Dobbins. The Broncos ranked first in run-block win rate (75%) last season. This landing spot could also help him reach his first 1,000-yard season.
Update - On Tuesday, June 10, the Denver Broncos signed Dobbins to a one-year contract worth $5.25 million. Dobbins should be expected to compete for the starting role alongside rookie RJ Harvey.
Chicago Bears
Given how many teams need a starting running back in free agency, this landing spot with the Chicago Bears is more of a long shot. Dobbins would probably rather go to a place where he is the clear-cut RB1. However, we shouldn't completely rule out the former Chargers running back from signing with the Bears.
With new head coach Ben Johnson, Chicago will likely add another running back this offseason. Johnson is used to having two solid running backs in his offense, and Dobbins could fill that David Montgomery role, a tougher runner between the tackles. So, this is a potential landing spot for him in free agency.
If he does land with the Bears, though, it might be tough to rely on him in fantasy each week. Dobbins and D'Andre Swift would probably split the running back touches almost evenly in this backfield. That makes this landing spot not the best for the 26-year-old running back in fantasy.
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