Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman has received a healthy dose of hype since training camp began. Many believe the rookie could significantly outplay his fourth-round draft status.
However, not everyone is buying into the buzz. BleacherReport’s Gary Davenport thinks excitement over the rookie back has gotten somewhat overblown.
“Unless Dobbins (or RJ Harvey) gets hurt, Coleman isn’t going to see more than a handful of touches per game,” Davenport wrote. “And for all the hoopla, we’re talking about a guy with seven carries for 33 yards against backups. Take a breath, y’all.”
Meanwhile, he also thinks RJ Harvey, whom the team selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, has become significantly underrated.
“No one is tripping over themselves to draft Denver running back RJ Harvey in fantasy this year,” Davenport wrote. “But Harvey also caught 47 passes, flirted with 900 total yards and found the end zone a dozen times. JK Dobbins can’t stay healthy. Jonah Coleman is a Dy 3 rookie pick. If “Zero RB” fantasy builds are your speed, Harvey has to be on your target list in PPR formats.”
RJ Harvey Will Limit Jonah Coleman’s Pass-Catching Upside
The Broncos have a messy backfield when it comes to fantasy football. It’s a three-headed committee, and that’ll make for more than a few frustrated fantasy owners. However, from a football perspective, their top three backs complement each other well.
Harvey is the best pass-catching back of the three. His receiving chops were on full display last season, when he snagged 47 grabs for 356 yards and 5 TDs, and yesterday, when he hauled in an impressive over-the-shoulder catch for Denver’s only TD of the game. Their second-round investment in him will also surely keep him heavily involved in the offense via that role, regardless of how well Coleman plays.
Meanwhile, J.K. Dobbins is the most proven and well-rounded of the trio. Their decision to bring him back on a two-year, $16 million deal shows what they think of him. He’s a safe bet to lead the backfield in touches.
Coleman has shown early promise, and head coach Sean Payton has praised the rookie back. He also showed strong receiving chops at the University of Washington. With that said, everyone’s upside is limited when a backfield features three quality options.
Coleman Is Still One Injury Away From A Massive Uptick In Opportunities
Two things are certain with Dobbins. One, he will make a few big plays every game whenever healthy. He possesses a great blend of vision, contact balance, and solid burst. Unfortunately, he’s also a safe bet to miss a few games per season. He’s played in only 47 of 101 possible games since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Despite playing behind one of the league’s premier offensive lines, Harvey averaged over four yards per carry only twice in the nine games that Dobbins missed last season (including their two playoff matchups). He had a prime opportunity to leave his mark, and he failed to make the most of it. Harvey averaged only 3.7 yards per attempt last season, and his performance was presumably a major reason why they prioritized adding Coleman this offseason.
If Dobbins were to go down again, it feels safe to assume Coleman would get the brunt of the work out of the backfield. Likewise, if Harvey were to go down, he would also take on a much bigger pass-catching role.
It’s also worth noting that the Broncos would save $8 million by cutting ties with Dobbins next offseason. It would benefit them to know whether Coleman can thrive with a heavier workload, so they would know how much of an investment they’d need to make in the room if they decide to move on from the veteran.
Analyst Puts A Screeching Halt To Broncos’ Jonah Coleman Hype Train