Even though the Denver Broncos had two established options in the backfield with J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, they drafted Jonah Coleman out of Washington in the fourth round of last year’s NFL Draft. That move started to pay off on Sunday, as the rookie took on a larger role and helped the Broncos get their first win of the season against the Jaguars. Will he remain involved enough to be a fantasy football option going forward, and should you try to snag him off the waiver wire before Week 3? Let’s dive in and take a look at the Broncos’ backfield situation and see if Colman deserves a spot on your squad.
Coleman is a strong option to consider along with the rest of my top Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3. If you need help at any position after the first two weeks of the season, there are some strong options available on most leagues’ waiver wires.
How We Got Here: Jonah Coleman’s Background
Coleman is a big power back with a rugged skill set. He had some injury issues in college. He started his college career in Arizona before playing his last two seasons in Washington, where he showed an ability to be involved in the passing game, with 54 catches in his two years with the Huskies. He could earn playing time either as a short-yardage or receiving-down specialist even when the rest of the running back room is healthy.
Coleman drew praise from coach Sean Payton for his pass protection in camp, and Payton highlighted his ability to play on third down. Coming into the season, Coleman was a popular late-round sleeper, especially for managers who had either Harvey or Dobbins. He had limited work in the preseason, but was expected to have a complementary role in Week 1.
When the Broncos’ season kicked off in Kansas City, though, Coleman only played three snaps and didn’t get any touches. In many leagues, Coleman landed on the waiver wire after that quiet debut, but he’s sure to be a hot name after his situation shifted dramatically.
Broncos Backfield Update
After Monday’s loss in Week 1, RJ Harvey was limited in practice by a hamstring injury and ultimately listed as questionable. He was able to get in some practice and isn’t expected to be dealing with a long-term issue, but the team opted to play it safe and hold Harvey out against the Jags in Week 2.
That opened up some playing time for Coleman alongside Dobbins and also added Tyler Badie into the mix. Dobbins had 10 carries for 36 yards, but he left the game early with a hamstring injury of his own. While Dobbins downplayed the injury and may be able to be back next week, he has been struggling with durability issues over the last several seasons. Harvey could also be back next week, but hamstring injuries are tricky to predict and can have a tendency to recur even after the players can get back on the field.
With both players a little banged up, Coleman should at least be able to claim a larger role in the rotation going forward, especially after his strong showing in his Week 2 action.
Jonah Coleman’s Potential Upside
Coleman took 10 carries for 39 yards and punched in his first NFL touchdown.
He made a very smart play to go down in bounds while running out the clock, and he continues to be very impressive across all areas of the game.
He has the potential to fit into so many roles in Denver’s offense depending on who else is available. Coleman can be the goal-line back, the receiving-down back, or the all-around producer. His path to playing time isn’t exactly wide open with Harvey and Dobbins still around to take some of the workload, but he has the potential to carve out a meaningful role and has many ways to succeed in an offense that should be fairly productive this season after shaking off its Week 1 struggles.
The Bottom Line–Add Coleman in All Formats
Since running back can be a tricky position to find depth in many leagues, it’s important to be aggressive when a player has shown clear potential. If Harvey and Dobbins are both back next week, Coleman will be difficult to start but having him on your bench will help you be ready for when one or both are out. He could work his way past those options as well if he continues to be as effective as he was in Week 2. He’s a priority add from the Week 3 waiver wire.
