Broncos Talk: There are six running backs — Tyler Badie, Jonah Coleman, J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin and Cody Schrader — on the Broncos’ offseason roster. Who will emerge as the leading rusher in 2026?

Chris Tomasson, Broncos reporter: J.K. Dobbins only needed to play in 10 games last season to be the Broncos’ leading rusher with 772 yards. With that in mind, count on him again being the team’s top rusher. The Broncos obviously want to get more game action this season out of the injury-plagued Dobbins, who has appeared in just 47 of a possible 101 regular-season games in his six-year career. At least last year’s foot injury didn’t seem to have anything to do with previous injuries, so that is in Denver’s favor. And Dobbins worked tirelessly during the offseason to get in great shape. If the Broncos can get 13 games out of Dobbins, who appeared in that number for the Chargers in 2024, I’m sure they would take it.

Kyle Fredrickson, Broncos reporter: I love the concept of a Dobbins revenge tour in 2026. But I don’t think it’s all that realistic. The Broncos used significant draft capital to improve their running backs in consecutive years with RJ Harvey (second round) and Jonah Coleman (fourth) representing the future. Their time is now. The big question is which player demands the football in a two-back system. I’ll admit that my final impression of Harvey was not great. He looked frozen during the second half of a snowy AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots. I still believe in his potential for real growth in Year 2 to establish himself as the top running back in Denver. But does Coleman also belong in this conversation?

Tomasson: The Broncos are counting on Dobbins getting more carries than any of their backs assuming he stays healthy. In the first 10 games last season, he had 153 attempts to Harvey’s 50, the second most. Expect the Broncos, though, to limit Dobbins’ carries early in the season to try to keep him healthy. The addition of Coleman helps the Broncos’ depth, but it’s hard to give carries to three backs. Assuming Harvey holds off Coleman for the backup role, the main benefit of Coleman as a rookie will be protection against another Dobbins injury. Last year, after Dobbins was lost for the season, Harvey became the starter but the Broncos didn’t have a reliable backup to him.

Fredrickson: How can Dobbins lead the Broncos in rushing if the team limits his carries due to re-injury concerns? If that happens, expect Harvey and Coleman to take full advantage of the increased workload. The Broncos aren’t going to play favorites based on what happened last season. The best player will earn the most carries. I think it’s reasonable that Coleman might emerge as their most explosive and reliable option at some point. His pass protection skills, as you pointed out, are what will give him more opportunities to shine in comparison to other rookie NFL running backs. I know this for certain: It’s going to be a fun competition to watch in training camp.