2020 NFL Draft: Ohio St RB J.K. Dobbins top five team fits
By Ian Higgins
J.K. Dobbins. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 10. HB. Ohio State. 57
2020 Projected Starter: Duke Johnson
Key Free Agents: Lamar Miller, Carlos Hyde
Similarly to the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston currently sports a deadly receiving core with a lack of a true running game to complement. Deshaun Watson has carried the weight of this team on his shoulders for too long, and adding a genuine rushing threat like Dobbins in the second round would be more than welcome to the rushing talent.
2019 running backs Lamar Miller and Carlos Hyde are both impending free agents, and only one or neither of these players will be returning if Dobbins joins this backfield. Current top back Duke Johnson was acquired from the Browns and has brought a respectable receiving threat at running back to this offense. Dobbins would be able to create new rushing production out of the shotgun for this offense and lift some of the weight of the offense off of Watson’s shoulders.
Houston currently ranks 22nd in adjusted line yards according to Football Outsiders. Rookie tackle Tytus Howard and trade addition Laremy Tunsil have filled areas of need for the near future, but the interior offensive line isn’t in the position to be a dominant force to lead a zone-run offense.
One major barrier blocking Dobbins’ arrival in Houston would be their current draft selections. With their only second-round selection at No. 54, Dobbins would need to slide to the latter half of the second round to become Watson’s running mate.