After allowing running back Najee Harris to leave and join the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in need of a running back. While they signed Kenneth Gainwell for depth, they still lack a true workhorse in the backfield. Could they turn to free agency for help?
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Steelers could be an ideal fit for Chargers free-agent running back J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins, who struggled with a knee injury that sidelined him for part of the 2024 season, still showed his high-level play when healthy.
“Since 2020, the list of backs with 300 carries who have averaged more yards per rush than Dobbins’ 5.2 consists of De’Von Achane and Jahmyr Gibbs. After returning from the Achilles injury last season, Dobbins averaged 4.6 yards per carry while racking up a career-high 195 carries,” Barnwell wrote. “He didn’t fumble for the third consecutive season and generated 115 rush yards over expectation, which ranked 13th among all backs.”
Dobbins started the 2024 season strong with over 200 rushing yards in the first two games. However, his performance afterward closely mirrored that of Harris, with a significant drop in production. Still, his workhorse ability could make him appealing to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
“Dobbins’ best two games of the season were the initial two, during which he racked up 266 yards. From that point forward, he failed to top 100 yards in a single game, averaged 3.8 yards per carry, and generated minus-25 RYOE. Most of that was an absence of big plays: He had three runs of 40-plus yards over those first two games and none over the ensuing 16 weeks.”
Dobbins remains a free agent, with significant injury concerns lingering over his career. He’s dealt with multiple serious injuries, including a multi-ligament knee injury and a torn Achilles, which have impacted his explosiveness. However, Dobbins demonstrated last year that he still has quality play left in him.
