Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins, No. 14 in PFSN’s RB Impact Score, was lost for the rest of the regular season in Week 10. Denver has yet to replace him in the running back room. As of this writing, the Broncos have three running backs on the 53-man roster. That said, the Broncos should look to the AFC South for the Dobbins roster replacement.
Cost-Effective Rookie Contract
The Broncos should claim RB Dameon Pierce off waivers. ESPN‘s DJ Bien-Aime reported the news that he was waived on Twitter. “The Texans have announced they have waived running back Dameon Pierce,” Bien-Aime wrote.
Pierce is in the last year of a cost-effective rookie contract. Going into the season, his cap number was roughly $1.3 million. And we’re more than halfway through the season now, meaning a lower cap number now.
Playing in a Contract Year
Pierce is playing in a contract year. He was drafted No. 107 overall in the fourth round in the 2022 NFL Draft. So, he was picked close to a starter round — the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. That said, Pierce totaled 1,100-plus scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 250 touches as a rookie in 13 games.
Opportunity Meets Preparation
Speaking of the contract year, Pierce needs touches to showcase himself this season before free agency. And the Broncos just lost Dobbins in Week 10. Claiming Pierce while on bye gives him extra time to learn the playbook. It’s a nice situation for Pierce to potentially enter. The Broncos are No. 3 in pass block win rate and No. 9 in run block win rate.
In addition, the Broncos’ offense is No. 13 in total yards per game, including being No. 11 in rushing yards per game. Dobbins, meanwhile, is still No. 8 in rushing yards, and he was No. 7 in rushing yards per game before his injury. The Broncos’ offense is No. 15 in PFSN’s Offense Impact Score as well.
For the remainder of the season, Pierce can be the 1B to RJ Harvey. That would be 5-10 touches a week before hitting free agency in 2026. That’s much better than the opportunity in Houston; Pierce was only active for four games.
