Each season, everyone knows what superstar players are capable of bringing to the table.
But it's the under-the-radar guys on a roster that can swing a season in a big way.
ESPN's Ben Solak went through all 32 teams and identified their biggest X-factor for the 2024 season. The only catch was that the person could not be a coach or a quarterback.
Solak's choice for the Chargers was running back J.K. Dobbins, who was one of many free-agent acquisitions during the offseason.
Solak believes Dobbins' big-play ability can bring extra juice to a Chargers run game that is looking to become one of the game's elite units.
Solak wrote:
Since Jim Harbaugh took the Chargers job, everyone has talked about how run-heavy the team will be. Hire Greg Roman to be the offensive coordinator? To run the ball! Draft Joe Alt instead of a wide receiver with the No. 5 overall pick? To run the ball!
If anyone in this backfield is going to take that high-volume, diverse rushing attack that Roman authors so wonderfully and turn it into big gains and explosive plays, it's Dobbins.
The 25-year-old running back has played 24 games over four previous seasons years in Baltimore. He rushed for 1,347 yards and 12 touchdowns while battling injuries over the last pair of seasons.
Still, Dobbins has averaged 5.8 yards per carry since 2020, the highest mark by any running back in the NFL (minimum of 200 rushing attempts) in that timespan. He also stood out during camp for the explosiveness Solak alluded to.
If the veteran running back can stay healthy, Solak believes it can be a gamechanger for the Chargers offense.
Solak wrote:
Dobbins has played in nine games over the past three seasons. His ACL tear took him out of the entire 2021 season and carried over into missed time in 2022; his Achilles tear last season came in the opening game. It is reasonable to doubt his availability, as well as his explosiveness after so many injuries. But if he can come back from those tough odds and handle even a decent volume of carries in this offense, he'll make that Roman/Harbaugh rushing game a lot more viable.
To read Solak's full list, click here.
