The LA Chargers hit a home run when they signed J.K. Dobbins as a flier in the offseason. Dobbins carried an injury-prone reputation at the time and it was unclear if he could return to his old form, or even stay on the field if he did.
Outside of a brief four-week absence this season, Dobbins has been nothing short of incredible for the Chargers. Dobbins has been the proverbial engine of the Chargers' offense. Los Angeles has been better offensively with Dobbins, who has undoubtedly earned a better contract in the offseason.
The Chargers didn't have to sign Dobbins, though, and likely only did because of his Baltimore connection with GM Joe Hortiz. Hortiz could have signed various flier running backs in the offseason, one of which being veteran Ezekiel Elliott.
Los Angeles never had direct contact with Elliott but with the team needing one more cheap running back he was undoubtedly an option the team could have pursued. Thankfully the Chargers didn't, as Zeke has looked like a completely different player in 2024, leading to his eventual release from the Cowboys on New Year's Eve.
Cowboys releasing Ezekiel Elliott makes Chargers look even better for signing J.K. Dobbins
The Chargers hit a home run with their cheap running back who had previous ties to the front office. Dallas did not have the same fate with Elliott and struck out.
Elliott finishes his second Cowboys tenure with 74 carries for 226 yards and three touchdowns. After getting a team-leading 10 carries in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns, Elliott only carried the ball 20 times in the Cowboys' last seven games. Elliott played 25% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps before his release.
The former All-Pro running back reportedly requested his release from Dallas for the chance to sign with a contender before the start of the NFL Playoffs. With these numbers, it is hard to imagine many teams will be lining up for his services.
Dobbins and Elliott were two of several cheap running backs who were signed in the offseason and represent two polarized ends of the spectrum. Sometimes the move works out in droves, as it did with Dobbins, and other times it ends with a whimper, like it did with Elliott.
The Chargers being on the right side of history is just another reminder of how savvy this new front-office regime is. While Dobbins thrives, the likes of Elliott, D'Onta Foreman, and Rashaad Penny all have floundered despite signing at a similar price tag.