On June 10, the Denver Broncos signed free agent running back J.K. Dobbins, who played the 2024 season with division rival Los Angeles Chargers. The deal is for one year, $5.25 million.
The running back room had become a pressing concern for head coach Sean Payton’s offense, with many expecting the team to draft one in the first round — a move they ultimately passed on. Now with Dobbins in the building, the question is: Who will be Denver’s starting running back?
Who Will Lead the Denver Broncos’ Revamped Backfield in 2025?
The Broncos’ run game in 2024 didn’t stand out, finishing just 16th in rushing yards per game with 112.2. It became clear the team needed reinforcements heading into 2025, especially now that Bo Nix appears to be the franchise quarterback and the offense has real breakout potential in its second year under Payton.
Broncos signing RB J.K. Dobbins to a 1-year, $5.25M deal. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/IGDyYgPkuJ
— NFL (@NFL) June 10, 2025
Instead of addressing the position early in the draft, Denver waited until Day 2 to select RJ Harvey, and followed that move by signing veteran Dobbins. Together, the two are expected to form a committee that adds versatility and can share the workload in the backfield.
But one of them will likely take the lead role early in the season, and it’ll be up to Payton to decide between Dobbins’ experience or Harvey’s rookie upside. Let’s break down who should win the job heading into Week 1.
Breaking Down the Broncos’ Running Back Room
RJ Harvey
At this point in the offseason, Harvey is listed as the starting running back on the Broncos’ depth chart and is expected to lead the backfield heading into the start of the season. As a second-round pick, the team is clearly betting on his talent to emerge as the primary option, while Dobbins provides a complementary, explosive presence who can share the load.
Harvey enjoyed a stellar 2024 campaign, leading the Big 12 in both yards per attempt (6.8) and rushing touchdowns (22). He joins a team in need of a spark in the offensive backfield after a drab year in 2024.
Only six NFL teams averaged fewer rushing yards per attempt than Denver did in 2024 (4.1), while the team’s 12 rushing touchdowns were tied for the ninth-fewest. If you take away quarterback Nix’s contributions, Denver’s running backs combined for just eight rushing scores, which would have been tied for the second-fewest in the NFL.
J.K. Dobbins
In 2024, Dobbins had the best season of his professional career so far. Surpassing 1,000 scrimmage yards for the first time, his biggest issue remained staying healthy. He played in 13 games, missing four, but when on the field, he delivered explosive plays and recorded 9 rushing touchdowns.
What may hinder his chances of starting in Week 1 is the limited experience he had in recent years. Before 2024, Dobbins had started just 10 games over his first four NFL seasons. As a result, the Broncos may prefer to use him as part of the rotation, strategically managing his workload.
Jaleel McLaughlin
An undrafted free agent in 2023, McLaughlin was afforded a chance to impress by Payton and repaid the opportunity. While never threatening to take over as a three-down back, McLaughlin was easily the team’s most impressive runner last season.
That’s not saying much, though, and his 496 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in 2024 suggest the player can only hope for a rotational role again next season.
Audric Estime
It’s safe to say that the Broncos were hoping for more from 2024 rookie Estime in his first year. The big-bodied back divided opinions after an uninspiring NFL Combine performance, but the team threw him into the rotation early on.
Estime doesn’t offer the pass-catching spark that McLaughlin does, so he will likely be hoping for a goal-line role in 2025. If he can take a leap in Year 2, though, he currently stands to have an opportunity on the field in some capacity.