It is kind of wild how much the Mile High backfield has morphed in just twelve months. If you’re looking at the denver running back depth chart right now in early 2026, it looks almost nothing like the room Sean Payton inherited. We’ve seen the "bell-cow" era effectively die in Denver, replaced by a committee approach that is part explosive potential and part "fingers crossed he stays healthy."
Honestly, the narrative around this group is constantly shifting. One week everyone is crowning the rookie as the next big thing, and the next, they're scouring the upcoming free-agent list for a veteran savior.
The Current State of the Denver Running Back Depth Chart
Right now, the depth chart is a bit of a moving target because of the postseason push. RJ Harvey has basically taken over as the "de facto" lead guy, but calling him a true RB1 might be a stretch. He’s the starter because he has to be, not necessarily because he’s outgrown a committee role.
The room is currently led by Harvey, followed by Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie.
But wait, there’s the J.K. Dobbins factor.
Dobbins was the guy. He signed that one-year, $5.25 million deal in 2025 and looked like a total steal before the foot injury in November. He’s currently on Injured Reserve, though there is some buzz—literal "working on the side field" buzz—that he could return if the Broncos make a deep enough run toward the Super Bowl.
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Breaking Down the Primary Rotation
RJ Harvey (The Rookie Spark): Harvey was a second-round pick out of UCF for a reason. He’s got that "home run" speed. He finished the 2025 regular season with 12 total touchdowns, which is massive. However, he hasn’t exactly been a yardage machine. He hasn't cracked 75 yards on the ground in a single game yet. He’s a weapon, but is he a "3rd and 1" grinder? Probably not.
Jaleel McLaughlin (The Explosive Change-of-Pace): McLaughlin is still that lightning-in-a-bottle player. He’s extremely efficient but his usage is... weird. He only had 37 carries for 187 yards in the 2025 regular season. Fans always scream for more McLaughlin, but Sean Payton seems to view him strictly as a 10-15 snap-per-game player.
Tyler Badie (The Reliable Depth): Badie has carved out a nice little niche for himself. When Dobbins went down, Badie's role grew, particularly in passing situations. He’s actually seen more snaps than McLaughlin in some recent games because of his pass-blocking and versatility.
Why J.K. Dobbins Still Matters
You can't talk about the denver running back depth chart without acknowledging the ghost of J.K. Dobbins. Before he went down, he was on pace for over 1,000 yards. He gave the offense a veteran stability that Harvey just hasn't replicated yet.
The injury history is the elephant in the room. ACL, Achilles, and now the foot surgery in 2025.
Payton loves Dobbins. He’s the type of "heavy" back that complements Harvey’s "light" speed. If Dobbins is actually able to return for the AFC Championship or a potential Super Bowl, it changes the entire geometry of the offense. Without him, the Broncos are a bit one-dimensional, averaging about 118.7 yards on the ground—which is middling, to put it nicely.
The Sean Payton Philosophy: Looking for the Next Kamara-Ingram
If you listen to Payton talk, he’s basically obsessed with recreating the Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram dynamic he had in New Orleans.
He doesn't want one guy to carry the ball 25 times. He wants two guys who can both do everything.
This is why the 2026 offseason is already looming large over the current roster. Even with a 14-3 record and a No. 1 seed, there's a feeling that this backfield is "incomplete."
Potential 2026 Shakeups
- The Travis Etienne Rumors: There’s a lot of smoke about the Broncos chasing Travis Etienne in free agency. He’s 26, explosive, and would basically be the "Ingram" to Harvey’s "Kamara" (or vice versa).
- Kenneth Walker III: Another name popping up in Denver circles. If Seattle lets him walk, he’s exactly the type of efficient, 4.3-yards-per-carry guy that Payton covets.
- The Javonte Williams Departure: It’s easy to forget Javonte was ever here, but he’s currently over in Dallas having a career year. His exit left a physical void in Denver that Audric Estime was supposed to fill, but Estime hasn't quite moved the needle yet.
What to Watch for in the Playoffs
As the Broncos head into their matchup with the Bills, keep an eye on the snap counts.
Usually, Harvey gets the first crack, but if he struggles to find a rhythm early, Payton has shown he’ll pull the plug and go with a hot hand. Badie is the guy he trusts in the two-minute drill. McLaughlin is the guy he uses to stretch the defense horizontally.
It’s a chess match.
The biggest limitation for this group right now is the "grind." When the weather gets cold and the games get tight, you need a back who can fall forward for four yards when everyone in the stadium knows a run is coming. Right now, the Broncos are still searching for that guy on their active roster.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Fantasy Managers
If you're following the denver running back depth chart for betting or just general "know-it-all" rights at the bar, here is the reality:
- Don't bet on a Harvey "Bell-Cow" game: He is touchdown-dependent. He’ll get you a score, but the 100-yard rushing games are rare for him in this system.
- Watch the Dobbins updates: If he’s activated from IR, even for a limited role, he takes the goal-line work immediately.
- McLaughlin is a "buy low" for 2026: If Denver doesn't sign a big-name free agent, McLaughlin's role almost has to increase given his efficiency (4.4 yards per carry over his career).
- Expect a 2026 Free Agent splash: With Russell Wilson’s contract finally off the books, the Broncos have the cap space to finally go get a Tier-1 running back.
The current depth chart is functional enough to win games, especially with Bo Nix playing the way he is. But to become a "perennial" powerhouse, the ground game needs more than just flashes of brilliance from a rookie. It needs a sustained, physical identity that hasn't quite materialized since the Sean Payton era began.