Throughout the playoffs, Sam Wallace, Mark Drumheller, and Jonathan Fuller will be highlighting the biggest NFL free agents heading into the 2025 offseason. We'll be breaking down the best and worst landing spots as well as projecting where key players will eventually sign.

Today's subject? 2024 Los Angeles Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins.

For all the latest NFL free agency news and fantasy analysis, subscribe to the Fantasy Life Newsletter to have it delivered directly to your inbox, for free, every day!”

Best Landing Spots For J.K. Dobbins in 2025 NFL Free Agency

Jonathan Fuller: This one isn't complicated: It makes all the sense in the world for Dobbins to re-sign with the Chargers this offseason. His 2024 season was one of the best stories in the NFL as he topped 1,000 scrimmage yards and played in 13 regular season games to help the Chargers earn a playoff spot.

The only concerning trend from this year was the fact that his efficiency noticeably declined over the course of the year. His two highest YPC games were the first two games of the season, and his three highest rushing yard performances all came within the first six weeks. 

For Dobbins' own benefit, I think Los Angeles needs to address the depth behind him, as neither Gus Edwards nor Kimani Vidal seem to be the answer. Adding a rookie on Day 2 of the NFL Draft or signing a solid veteran like Rico Dowdle in free agency should give them a solid 1-2 punch that allows Dobbins to remain healthy and effective for more of the season. 

Mark Drumheller: It didn’t take long for the Chargers to take on the identity of their first-year head coach. Jim Harbaugh may not have produced the results in the postseason, but the direction of the Chargers offense was clear from the start. 

Statistically, the Chargers struggled for the most of the season on the ground. L.A. finished in the bottom five in rushing success rate (36.9%) and managed only a meager 2.8 yards per rush in their 32-12 loss to Houston in the Wild Card Round. Despite the inefficiency, the Chargers still dialed up the run at a top-10 rate (44.91%).  

That type of commitment is exactly why Dobbins needs to don the powder blues in 2025. After rushing for 905 yards and nine touchdowns (in only 13 regular season games), Dobbins earned praise from his head coach for his on-field performance and leadership. It’s safe to say he is already a cultural fit with the team. 

I’m betting the success comes quickly as Harbaugh morphs the Chargers into a power running team, much like he molded Michigan. That leaves plenty of opportunity and a very high ceiling for Dobbins right where he is.

Sam Wallace: Prior to this season, one of the most common, consistent narratives revolved around how much the Chargers were going to #EstablishIt in 2024.

They didn't disappoint.

The hiring of both Jim Harbaugh (HC) and Greg Roman (OC), coupled with the release of both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, told us everything we needed to know. Toss in the drafting of OT Joe Alt with the fifth overall pick last spring and this team was destined to pound the rock.

In his first season with LA, Dobbins appeared in 13 games and posted the following numbers:

  • 195 rushing attempts
  • 905 rushing yards (4.6 YPC)
  • 9 TDs
  • 32 receptions
  • 153 receiving yards

In all, he finished as the RB15 in PPG. Moving forward, his best landing spot is staying exactly where he is, and it sounds like the Chargers are more than willing to make that happen.

Worst Landing Spots For J.K. Dobbins in 2025 NFL Free Agency

Jonathan Fuller: This answer also feels relatively obvious, in my opinion. If the Raiders pay up to bring in Dobbins as their clear lead back, I will be very nervous about his 2025 fantasy outlook. Just how nervous depends on what they do with their coaching staff and QB room, but it is hard for me to envision a scenario where I would be excited to draft him.

Not only were the Raiders the worst rushing offense in the NFL this season, they were significantly worse than every other team. Las Vegas averaged just 79.8 rushing yards per game, a full 12 yards per game worse than the 31st-ranked team. 

For context, that 12 yard per game gap is the same as the gap between the 31st-ranked team and 24th-ranked rushing offenses. 

Of course, Dobbins would be a significant upgrade on the Raiders current RB room, but I don't think he is good enough to overcome the poor offensive line play that is likely to continue into next season. If Las Vegas invests significantly in that group and lands a reliable QB, I am willing to reconsider this position. But based on what we know now, I would be disappointed to see Dobbins land in silver and black. 

Mark Drumheller: I find it absolutely hilarious how difficult it is to narrow this answer down to one team. That, in itself, reinforces the importance of Dobbins staying in Los Angeles. The Raiders are the obvious choice because of their lack of organizational direction. And, oh yeah, they don’t have a quarterback to keep defenses honest. 

Being enticed to join “The Patriot Way 2.0” could be one of those situations that looks great on paper until you end up splitting carries behind a totally revamped offensive line without any continuity. New head coach Mike Vrabel is sure to shake up that unit after finishing dead last in run-block win rate in 2024. Immediate success might not be in the cards for the New England running game. 

Denver could try to pry him away to gain ground on a divisional opponent. It has all the feels of a similar situation, but the Broncos always seem to gravitate toward a committee approach. 

The list goes on. It’s clear to me his fantasy stock will take an immediate hit if he leaves L.A. If I had to narrow the worst landing spot to one specific team, I have no choice but to pick the Raiders simply because he is staying in the same division. Having to watch your former team have success without you just hits different. 

Sam Wallace: I don't mean to continuously target the Raiders, but they are a team with both a ton of cap space while also having significant needs across a variety of positions. As they look to fill out their coaching staff and determine what the QB position is going to look like, they shouldn't prioritize signing a 26-year-old RB who, prior to this year, had played just nine games from 2021-2023.

Honestly, there aren't many obvious teams out there who have both the cap space and the need to spend up for a quality RB in his prime. Anywhere other than sticking with the Chargers will only hurt Dobbins' fantasy stock moving forward.

Where Will J.K. Dobbins Play in 2025?

Jonathan Fuller: We're all on the same page here. The Chargers make too much sense. They gave Dobbins his shot in 2024, and he rewarded them. At just 26 years old, it would be good business for both sides to give him a reasonable two-year contract. 

This allows Los Angeles to invest premium resources elsewhere while guaranteeing a minimum level of competence in their RB room. As I mentioned earlier, I think this move would be best paired with taking a third-round RB in what looks to be a strong RB class this year. 

Mark Drumheller: The Los Angeles Chargers are the perfect fit. Money shouldn’t be an issue, as the Chargers have the sixth-most cap space. Plus, he will look good. The Bolts have the best unis in the league. Who wouldn’t want to rock those powder blues on Sunday? 

Sam Wallace: I gotta agree with Mark — not only do the Chargers have the cap space to continue building out this roster, those powder blue uniforms are unquestionably among the best in the league. Let's not overthink this one. L.A. is the place to be for Dobbins.

For all the latest NFL free agency news and fantasy analysis, subscribe to the Fantasy Life Newsletter to have it delivered directly to your inbox, for free, every day!”