Broncos 2026 Fantasy Football Outlook: Evaluating the Running Backs

The Denver Broncos’ backfield enters the 2026 fantasy football season with a blend of proven production, intriguing upside, and lingering uncertainty. Denver leaned heavily on a committee approach throughout much of the 2025 campaign, but injuries and situational usage shifts created opportunities for multiple running backs to carve out fantasy relevance. As a result, the Broncos now feature a backfield where roles matter just as much as talent.

J.K. Dobbins remains the favorite to lead the group when healthy, but RJ Harvey established himself as a reliable receiving option last season. Jonah Coleman also joins the mix after a highly productive collegiate career and could quickly become a factor if injuries strike again. Fantasy managers will need to carefully evaluate workload, health, and scoring format when targeting Denver’s backfield in drafts this summer.

J.K. Dobbins

When healthy, J.K. Dobbins projects as the Broncos’ RB1 entering the 2026 season. He showed strong early-season production in 2025, scoring a rushing touchdown in four of his first five games while also posting two 100-yard rushing performances. Denver consistently leaned on him as its primary early-down runner before injuries once again interrupted his season.

The biggest concern surrounding Dobbins remains durability. His 2025 season ended in Week 10 after suffering a Lisfranc injury, adding another significant injury to an already lengthy medical history. While his talent as a runner is unquestioned, fantasy managers have legitimate concerns about whether he can handle a full workload across an entire season.

Dobbins also offers limited upside in the passing game, which caps his fantasy ceiling in PPR formats. He caught just 11 passes for 37 yards during the 2025 season and was rarely featured as a receiving weapon out of the backfield. The combination of injury concerns and limited pass-catching production makes him difficult to trust as an RB2. Still, he profiles as a solid FLEX option due to his projected role as the Broncos’ lead runner.

According to FantasyPros, Dobbins currently carries an ADP of No. 99 overall. That feels appropriate given both his upside and durability concerns entering the 2026 season. Fantasy managers are essentially betting on strong touchdown production while accepting the risk that injuries could once again limit his availability.

RJ Harvey

RJ Harvey’s 2025 season was defined by inconsistency as a runner but steady value as a pass-catcher. While splitting carries with Dobbins early in the year, Harvey struggled to establish weekly fantasy reliability and logged six games where he rushed for fewer than 10 yards. His rushing production fluctuated significantly depending on game script and workload distribution.

Once Dobbins suffered his season-ending injury, however, Harvey’s role expanded considerably. Denver trusted him with a heavier workload down the stretch, and his overall versatility became more apparent as both a runner and receiver. Even when the rushing production was uneven, Harvey consistently maintained fantasy relevance because of his receiving ability.

That receiving ability is what gives Harvey the safest fantasy floor in the Broncos’ backfield. He hauled in 47 receptions for 356 yards and five receiving touchdowns during the 2025 campaign. Harvey also proved to be one of Denver’s most dangerous red-zone weapons, scoring nine total touchdowns in the red zone during the 2025 season. He projects as a valuable FLEX option in PPR leagues and becomes even more appealing in formats that require managers to start two FLEX players each week.

Harvey currently owns an ADP of No. 86 overall on FantasyPros, which may be slightly too aggressive given the Broncos’ committee approach at running back. While his receiving production raises his value considerably in full PPR leagues, his inconsistent rushing output lowers his weekly ceiling when Dobbins is healthy. That price point feels particularly risky in Half PPR formats, where his receiving upside carries slightly less value.

Jonah Coleman

Jonah Coleman enters the NFL after putting together one of the more productive collegiate résumés among rookie running backs in the 2026 draft class. He surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his final three collegiate seasons and totaled 1,112 yards from scrimmage with 17 touchdowns for the Washington Huskies in 2025. His physical running style and consistent production made him an intriguing addition to Denver’s backfield.

Although Coleman may open the season as the third running back on the Broncos’ depth chart, he carries significant upside if Dobbins misses time again. Unlike Harvey, Coleman profiles more as a physical between-the-tackles runner. That skill set could allow him to absorb much of the role Dobbins currently occupies if injuries force Denver to reshuffle its backfield rotation.

Coleman could also emerge as a factor in short-yardage and red-zone situations, which would potentially limit Harvey’s touchdown upside in certain weeks. In redraft leagues, Coleman is best viewed as a stash candidate with contingency-based FLEX appeal. In dynasty formats, however, his long-term value is especially intriguing, as he has legitimate potential to develop into the Broncos’ RB1 by the 2027 season.

Coleman’s current ADP sits at No. 152 overall on FantasyPros, which feels appropriate for a rookie running back entering the season as Denver’s No. 3 option. If all three Broncos running backs remain healthy, Coleman will likely be a touchdown-dependent fantasy option on a week-to-week basis. However, that draft range could quickly become a strong value if Dobbins misses extended time and Coleman inherits a larger share of Denver’s early-down workload.

Jaleel McLaughlin

Jaleel McLaughlin played a limited role in the Broncos’ offense throughout the 2025 season, finishing with just 187 rushing yards and one touchdown on 37 carries. He never logged more than seven rushing attempts in a game and surpassed 40 rushing yards only twice, serving primarily as a change-of-pace option behind Dobbins and Harvey.

That role is unlikely to expand entering the 2026 season. With Coleman joining the fold this offseason, McLaughlin projects to be the fourth-string running back on Denver’s depth chart. Unless the Broncos’ backfield is hit by injuries, McLaughlin appears destined for a reserve role with limited weekly opportunities.

As a result, McLaughlin carries little fantasy appeal in redraft leagues. Even if he remains active on game days, his workload is unlikely to be consistent enough to justify a roster spot outside of the deepest formats. His long-term fantasy outlook is equally limited given Coleman's arrival and Denver’s crowded backfield.

McLaughlin is currently going undrafted in most fantasy formats, and that’s appropriate entering the 2026 season. Barring significant injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, he is unlikely to see enough volume to become fantasy relevant.