The fantasy football community has spoken, and it’s not good news for J.K. Dobbins believers. The veteran running back might have inked a deal with Denver, but fantasy managers are treating him like radioactive waste. Here’s why the hype train has officially derailed.
The Great J.K. Dobbins Exodus
Let’s cut straight to the bone. Dobbins has been shipped off PFSN Trade Analyzer user deals in a staggering 72.7% of trades this month. That’s not a red flag. That’s a crimson banner waving in a hurricane. When three out of four fantasy managers are actively trying to unload a player, you better believe there’s smoke.
The writing was on the wall the moment Dobbins signed with Sean Payton’s Broncos. Sure, he’s coming off a decent 2024 campaign where he posted 14.8 PPR points per game and managed 905 rushing yards in 13 games. But here’s the kicker: fantasy managers aren’t buying what he’s selling in 2025.
The Injury Albatross That Won’t Quit
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Dobbins’ body is held together with duct tape and prayers. Through five NFL seasons, the guy has managed just 37 games played and 488 touches handled. That’s not what you want from a former second-round pick who should be entering his prime.
The injury rap sheet reads like a medical textbook. A torn ACL, LCL, and hamstring in 2021 that cost him an entire season. A knee injury in 2022 that limited him to eight games. Then came the Achilles tear in Week 1 of 2023 that ended his season before it started. And just when you thought he’d turned the corner, he suffered another knee sprain in Week 12 of 2024 against Baltimore.
Running backs who can’t stay healthy are fantasy poison. You can’t build a championship team around a guy who spends more time in the trainer’s room than on the field.
Now Dobbins heads to a Sean Payton offense that makes running backs disappear faster than a magician’s assistant. Last season, not a single Broncos player reached 140 carries or 515 rushing yards.
Payton loves his multiple-back approach, and with rookie RJ Harvey drafted in the second round, the Broncos have made their intentions crystal clear. Harvey isn’t just depth. He’s the future. The kid posted 3,498 combined yards on 497 total touches in his final two college seasons and has already been labeled the “name to know” in Denver’s backfield by ESPN analysts.
RJ Harvey highlights https://t.co/XHKGKkPam8
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) April 26, 2025Â
The Fool’s Gold Performance
Here’s where Dobbins apologists love to point: those first two weeks of 2024 where he looked like the second coming of Barry Sanders. Week 1 against Las Vegas? 22.9 fantasy points. Week 2 against Carolina? 20.1 points. But here’s the inconvenient truth they don’t want to acknowledge.
After that second straight breakout game, Dobbins turned into a pumpkin. He averaged 0.76 PPR points per touch, gained yardage on just 76.8% of his carries, and posted a 26.2% PFSN Elusive score. For reference, that’s essentially Rhamondre Stevenson territory (0.76/83.6%/27.1%).
You know what that means? Dobbins wasn’t special last season. Has average at best, propped up by two early-season performances that masked months of mediocrity. Fantasy managers who rode him through the middle of the season know exactly what I’m talking about.
Meanwhile, Harvey is sitting in Denver looking like a man among boys. The rookie has already turned heads during minicamp and possesses the dual-threat skill set that Payton covets. Harvey’s confidence is off the charts, telling reporters he wants to be better than Saints legends like Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara.
When a coach drafts a running back in the second round, that’s not adding depth. That’s finding your starter. Harvey represents everything Dobbins isn’t: young, healthy, and hungry. The writing is on the wall, and fantasy managers are reading it loud and clear.
The Upside Case (If You’re Desperate)
Look, I’m not completely heartless. There’s a narrow path where Dobbins provides value in 2025. If Harvey struggles with the transition to the NFL or suffers an injury, Dobbins could carve out a meaningful role. His 5.2 career yards per carry shows he still has juice when healthy.
Payton’s offenses have historically supported multiple fantasy-relevant backs, and there’s a chance Dobbins could serve as the goal-line vulture. The Broncos’ offensive line is solid, and if you’re looking for a late-round flier with upside, there are worse options.
Fantasy managers are fleeing Dobbins for good reason. The injury history, the committee situation, and the declining performance all point to a player whose best days are behind him. His fantasy points per game average might look respectable, but context is everything.
When 72.7% of fantasy managers are actively trying to move a player, they’re not overreacting, they’re seeing the future. Dobbins is no longer the dynamic back who flashed promise as a rookie. He’s a 26-year-old running back with an extensive injury history heading into an uncertain role.
The smart money is elsewhere. Don’t be the one left holding the bag when the music stops.
