The Denver Broncos signed running back J.K. Dobbins to a one-year, $2.065 million contract this spring. So far, it looks like money well spent.

Dobbins ranks 10th in the NFL (and fifth in the AFC) with 222 rushing yards through three games. His three rushing touchdowns are tied for second-most among running backs, and his 5.4 yards per carry average ranks fifth among qualified running backs (with at least 30 carries).

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“I love the leadership, the focus,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said last week when asked about Dobbins. “I said this, I think, earlier. Sometimes when you sign a free agent, you kind of know what you’re getting with the runner, but all the other things that came were a bonus. He is explosive. He’s decisive. He’s downhill. He’s powerful. He has good balance. So he’s been a real good addition for us.”

Dobbins is meticulous in his preparation, and quarterback Bo Nix noted that the running back’s mentality can spread throughout the team.

“I think his experience that he has, he’s been a good back in the league for several years, and then he came in with some juice,” Nix said. “He’s relentless. We want to get the looks right. We want to make sure that in practice, it may not go how we want it. If it’s a run play, usually it’s him. If it’s a pass play, usually it’s me. We’re calling guys back, you want to do it again, make sure we get it right so that we get it right in the game. He’s just done that with a good attitude, and he’s been very passionate about getting things right, and I think that’s really important. It’s going to spread throughout the team.”

As a team, Denver ranks eighth in the NFL, averaging 129 rushing yards per game, and there’s no doubt that they are running the ball better now than they did last season. Much of the credit for that goes to Dobbins, who looks like an underrated free agent addition for the Broncos through three weeks.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Fantasy Football: J.K. Dobbins has impressed with the Broncos