J.K. Dobbins is suddenly a name to watch for the Giants as the Nov. 10 trade deadline gets closer, and the fit is easy to see.
New York head coach John Harbaugh has already been piecing together familiar faces from his long run with the Baltimore Ravens, and Dobbins would be another obvious reunion. The Giants also need help in the backfield after Tyrone Tracy Jr. was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring issue. With that kind of opening, it makes sense to at least wonder whether the Broncos’ veteran runner could be next.
The case starts with Denver’s usage of Dobbins in its 30-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He looked like an afterthought behind fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman, who had a bigger role down the stretch. Dobbins played just two of 27 second-half snaps, finished with two carries in the final two quarters to Coleman’s seven, and did not run a route in that stretch.
That usage matters because Coleman was coming back from a high-ankle sprain and had missed the previous four games, yet Denver still had no hesitation leaning on him while chewing clock. RJ Harvey remained the primary receiving back, and Dobbins’ place in the offense looks increasingly shaky.
The history is there, too. Dobbins spent his first four NFL seasons with Harbaugh’s Ravens after Baltimore took him in the second round of the 2020 draft.
He also played for Jim Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. The connections run deep, which is why a move to New York feels believable even if it isn’t flashy.
That said, this isn’t a simple plug-and-play idea. Dobbins is under contract through 2027, with a potential out after this season, and he turns 28 in December. He was on pace for more than 1,300 rushing yards in 10 games in 2025 before a season-ending Lisfranc injury, but his current form raises real questions.
By almost every measure, Dobbins has been one of the least efficient runners in the league in 2026. His yards per carry sits at 3.37, his explosive run rate is 6.5 percent, his success rate is 39.1 percent, and his yards over expectation is minus-72.3. Those numbers explain why Denver may be ready to move in a different direction.
His durability is part of the bigger concern. Dobbins has dealt with leg issues dating back to college, and the wear and tear appears to be mounting. That’s why any team thinking about him has to be careful, even if the Giants’ need and the Harbaugh connection make the idea stand out.
New York fans may be dreaming bigger with Jonathan Taylor amid the Colts’ fire sale, but Dobbins would be the more realistic target. And if the Broncos are truly open to moving on, the Giants should at least make the call.
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