Valentino argues that the star, coming off a career-reviving campaign with the Rams’ crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, could bring much-needed explosiveness and depth to Sean McVay’s offense. Despite already having emerging star Kyren Williams on the roster, pairing him with him would create a dynamic duo capable of wearing down defenses and delivering big plays — something the Rams lacked last season when Williams was paired with rookie Blake Corum.
The Los Angeles Rams may have an opportunity to significantly bolster their backfield by signing one of the top remaining free agents on the market. According to Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team, the Rams should strongly consider targeting former Chargers running back to strengthen their offense for the upcoming NFL season.
“Coming off an excellent season for the rival Chargers, the 26-year-old brings better efficiency and explosiveness than anyone else on the market,” Valentino wrote. “The Rams already have Kyren Williams, but pairing him with JK Dobbins would create a better complementary duo than what they had with Williams and Blake Corum in 2024.”
Valentino further emphasized that Dobbins’ advanced statistics show his ability to generate explosive plays. He ranked 13th in the NFL in rushes of 10 or more yards — an impressive feat considering he had fewer carries than anyone else in the top 18 of that category. In total, Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and 9 touchdowns across 13 games last season, adding over 1,000 scrimmage yards and earning runner-up honors for the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year Award.
However, one of the major concerns surrounding Dobbins is his injury history. Since entering the league, he has yet to play a full season due to multiple significant injuries, including an ACL tear and an Achilles injury. Still, Valentino believes the Rams could manage his health carefully by using a rotational backfield system.
“His injury history, which includes an Achilles and ACL tear, is significant. However, the Rams can mitigate his exposure by keeping his total workload around 200 carries alongside a talented Williams and Corum,” Valentino explained.
In 2024, Kyren Williams played in 16 games, and Corum appeared in every game of his rookie campaign, giving the Rams a reliable foundation. Adding a healthy Dobbins into that mix could give the team one of the most well-rounded and productive backfields in the league.
Despite being a free agent, Dobbins has publicly expressed a desire to remain with the Chargers. During a recent appearance on The Up and Adams Show, he spoke highly of the franchise, stating his appreciation for the team’s support during his injury recovery.
“Those guys believed in me and when they really saw that I was healthy, they embraced me,” Dobbins told host Kay Adams. “Hopefully, maybe, I can be a Charger for the rest of the time playing. But it is definitely a nice feeling, though. We’ll see. We’re gonna see if I’m a Charger.”
Dobbins added that he is leaving contract negotiations up to his agent and hasn’t been in direct contact with Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz. While Dobbins remains hopeful that a deal with the Chargers will materialize, nothing has been finalized.
Should the Chargers fail to re-sign him, the Rams are in a prime position to swoop in. For a team looking to return to postseason contention, acquiring Dobbins could be a low-risk, high-reward move — especially if he can stay healthy and complement an already promising young backfield.
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