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Power Ranking the Running Back Rooms in the AFC West
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. NFL training camps are in full swing, and as teams ease back into on-field drills and practices in the dead of the summer, football fans have a reason to rejoice.
The preseason officially begins when the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers face off in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC. The rest of the first week of the preseason kicks off the following week on Aug. 13.
As the start of the NFL regular season inches closer (Sept. 9), we are continuing to look at key offseason storylines for each of the league’s 32 teams. We’ve already looked at the top position battles to watch, rookies with the best chance of winning a starting job, and the players in the most danger of being cut, plus we’ve ranked the top head coaches, quarterbacks, and wide receiver rooms by division.
Now, we’re power ranking the running back rooms in each division. Next up is the AFC West.
Had J.K. Dobbins not gotten hurt last year, he likely would’ve had his first 1,000-yard season. He had 772 yards and four touchdowns at the time, and his five yards per carry average was his best since his injury shortened rookie season.
But when he went down, rookie R.J. Harvey stepped in and played just as well, rushing for 540 yards and seven touchdowns in addition to his 47 catches, 356 yards, and five scores.
Dobbins and Harvey are the best 1-2 punch in the division, making Denver’s offense even more dangerous.
After a rough start to his rookie year, Ashton Jeanty really came on strong toward the end of the season. He finished with 975 yards and five touchdowns, and a 1,000-yard season in 2026 is the expectation. He’s too dynamic of a runner not to be a perennial 1,000-yard threat.
When the Raiders grabbed Mike Washington Jr., who rushed for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025 at Arkansas, in the fourth round, many called it a steal. He could be an excellent 1B to Jeanty and help reduce the wear and tear on him.
Roman Hemby could be a surprise RB3. He totaled 1,120 yards and seven touchdowns last year at Indiana, and some are projecting him to unseat Dylan Laube for the third-string job.
Injuries limited Omarion Hampton to just nine games last year, but he flashed his potential when he was on the field. He totaled 545 yards and five touchdowns, and if he can avoid getting injured next year, a 1,000-yard seasons shouldn’t be out of the question.
Kimani Vidal stepped up in a big way when Hampton went down. He racked up 643 yards in 13 games, and he should have similar production next year as Hampton’s backup. Keaton Mitchell has speed to burn, which makes him a threat anytime he touches the ball. He should give Vidal a run for his money.
Walker is fresh off a 1,000-yard, Super Bowl MVP season, and the Chiefs are banking on him making life easier for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He should get 50-plus touches and make the Chiefs offense even more dangerous.
Brashard Smith (151 yards last year) and Emmett Johnson (1,451 yards, 12 touchdowns at Nebraska in 2025) should have a pretty intense competition for the RB2 job. Smith had the upper hand right now, but many are bullish on Johnson being a draft steal in the fifth round, and he could turn quite a few heads during camp.
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