The Denver Broncos continue their playoff push without their lead running back. JK Dobbins has been on injured reserve since Week 11 following foot surgery for a Lisfranc injury. Will fantasy football managers see the veteran running back return this season?
JK Dobbins Injury Update
Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc foot injury in Week 10 on an illegal hip drop tackle against the Raiders. He underwent surgery shortly thereafter, and the Broncos placed him on injured reserve, mandating a minimum four-game absence.
The initial diagnosis felt like a season-ending verdict for a team in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Lisfranc injuries typically require extended recovery periods, with severe cases sidelining players for months.
However, head coach Sean Payton provided a glimmer of hope recently. “Yes. It wouldn’t be soon, but that (JK Dobbins returning later this season) has a chance to happen,” Payton stated. This marked a shift from the early reports that painted Dobbins’ injury as definitively ending his season.
However, it’s important that refers to the entire NFL season, which would include a Broncos playoff run if Denver advances deep into the postseason. There is no chance Dobbins returns during the regular season, which means his season is over for fantasy purposes.
Reports suggest Dobbins is targeting a potential return if the Broncos reach the Super Bowl, which would amount to roughly three months of recovery.
The organization has adopted a week-to-week mindset, prioritizing long-term health over rushing Dobbins back for a regular-season appearance. Given Denver’s strong playoff positioning, they can afford to be patient with their veteran running back’s recovery.
Dobbins is a pending free agent, and this injury will impact his offseason market value. At 26 years old, injuries have been a consistent issue throughout his career. Before going down, Dobbins was enjoying a strong debut campaign with the Broncos, averaging 5.0 yards per carry with four touchdowns.
Dobbins’ Fantasy Outlook
RJ Harvey has been the lead back since Dobbins went down but continues to share time with Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie, and even fullback Adam Prentice. The backfield committee approach has limited Harvey’s ceiling despite his opportunity.
Harvey handled 13 carries for 35 yards and two touchdowns in Week 13 against Washington, adding three receptions for 27 yards. He was nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week following that performance. However, his efficiency has been concerning, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry in his two games as the lead back.
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The rookie has missed some holes and made wrong cuts recently, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry outside the tackles this season. The Broncos have clearly missed Dobbins’ vision and explosiveness. However, Harvey has improved his pass blocking, keeping him on the field in more situations, and he’s thriving as a goal-line back.
Harvey is a touchdown-or-bust RB2 for fantasy purposes. The volume should remain steady as Denver’s primary early-down back, but the timeshare with McLaughlin limits his snap share.
For Dobbins himself, fantasy managers can safely drop him in redraft leagues. There’s no realistic path to him contributing during the fantasy playoffs.
Dynasty league managers should hold Dobbins and monitor his recovery through the offseason. If he can return to full health, he remains a talented back who showed RB1 upside before the injury. However, his injury history and pending free agency create significant uncertainty about his 2026 outlook.