Broncos' J.K. Dobbins Predicted to Bust in 2025

The Denver Broncos were one of the surprise teams of the 2024 NFL season, finishing with a 10-7 record and reaching the postseason for the first time since the 2015 season. The defense vaulted itself into elite territory, while the offense looked sharp with rookie quarterback Bo Nix under center.

The goal for the Broncos is to remain competitive in 2025 and attempt to take the next step as consistent playoff contenders. That’s no easy task in the NFL, but the Broncos invested well in free agency and in the draft to believe that the infrastructure for Nix is strong enough to take the next step. The front office targeted improvements in the running game to make that happen, drafting RJ Harvey in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft before adding veteran J.K. Dobbins to the mix back in June.

The running game will likely improve thanks to the improvements, but one analyst believes that might not be the case. Per Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, he expects J.K. Dobbins to be the Broncos' biggest bust in 2025.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton challenges a call in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High.

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

“While Dobbins did rush for 905 yards last season and signed a modest one-year, $2.7 million deal with Denver this spring, he's a strong candidate to fall short of expectations.” Knox writes.

Dobbins' season with the Los Angeles Chargers was a mixed bag. It was the most games in a season he’d played since his rookie year, and he did lead the Chargers in rushing, but he eclipsed 100 yards just twice, in the first two games of the season, and missed four games due to injury.

“Dobbins has an extensive injury history and missed another four games in 2024. He's also unlikely to hold an every-down role with Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estimé and rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey also in the RB room.” Knox added, before finishing with, “Given Sean Payton's tendency to use a backfield committee, it wouldn't be a shock to see Dobbins buried on the depth chart or even with another team by midseason.”

Ultimately, Knox expects injuries, which have caused Dobbins to miss a lot of time in his NFL career, to be his undoing once more. If he can stay healthy, he could provide an excellent one-two punch with Harvey, but staying healthy has proved to be an impossible task.