RJ Harvey
Running Back
RJ Harvey News
RJ Harvey to See a "Big Role" as Broncos' Pass-Catching Back
After scoring 12 touchdowns as a rookie, Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey has been arguably the least discussed back on the Broncos' roster for most of the summer, but beat reporter Zac Stevens does not believe that should be the case, as he foresees a big role for the 2025 second-round pick. In a recent appearance with Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Stevens broke down the entire Broncos running back room and said that Harvey "has really established himself as the third-down running back and the pass-catching running back," comparing his role to that of Alvin Kamara in Sean Payton's Saints offenses. While rookie Jonah Coleman has emerged as a more likely true handcuff to starter J.K. Dobbins, Harvey is expected to see a significant role in the passing game after catching 47 passes as a rookie. As RotoBaller's RB36, Harvey is a player to target in full-PPR leagues, and he has the spike-week potential to return tremendous value from the middle rounds of drafts.
Sep 4, 2026 9:27 AM EST
RJ Harvey has Value in PPR Leagues in Passing Role
Denver Broncos second-year running back RJ Harvey could be a key part of the team's passing game in 2026, according to Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. After the Broncos took Harvey in the second round last year out of Central Florida, the 25-year-old took on a huge role after J.K. Dobbins' season-ending foot injury and finished with 540 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 146 carries in 17 regular-season games, adding 47 receptions on 58 targets for 356 yards and another five TDs. His receiving skills were evident when he took a pass from quarterback Bo Nix for 21 yards and a touchdown last week. "That's where you felt the initial impact," head coach Sean Payton said of Harvey's receiving ability, "and you saw marks of that in college, and you also saw him as a runner. He's having a good camp in both areas [rushing and receiving], but it's certainly a strength of his." Denver's three-back rotation this year of Dobbins, Harvey, and rookie Jonah Coleman will limit Harvey's overall fantasy upside, but he still qualifies as a sleeper flex option in point-per-reception leagues in a Broncos offense that could be much more explosive in 2026.
Sep 3, 2026 9:50 AM EST
Coach Says RJ Harvey is Becoming a "Complete Back"
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey is evolving into a "complete back," offensive coordinator Davis Webb told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Harvey impressed as a rookie last season, scoring 12 touchdowns and ranking as the RB20 in PPR leagues despite finishing with fewer than 1,000 rushing yards. He demonstrated impressive versatility last year, and Webb's comments would seem to indicate that Harvey has taken another step forward this preseason. It's a bit of a crowded backfield between Harvey, JK Dobbins, and Jonah Coleman, but Harvey seemingly has the highest upside of that group. If he plays a full 17-game slate this year, he should have no problem eclipsing 1,000 yards while pushing for another 12+ touchdowns. He ranks as the RB35 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings, which is four spots behind Dobbins and 17 spots ahead of Coleman.
Aug 25, 2026 7:32 PM EST
RJ Harvey's Receiving Role Gives His Redraft Stock a Bump
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey did not need much work Friday night to help his redraft case. Harvey played only the opening drive against Green Bay, taking one carry for five yards and catching both of his targets for 25 yards. The bigger play was a 21-yard touchdown from Bo Nix on a wheel route. That is the part of Harvey's game that keeps getting harder to ignore. He caught 47 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, and Denver is still finding ways to use him through the air with the first-team offense. The backfield itself is crowded. J.K. Dobbins is back on a two-year deal, while fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman has already made a good impression on Sean Payton. Harvey may not get enough carries to separate from that group every week. The receiving work gives him another path. RotoBaller currently ranks Harvey as the RB34, and Friday's brief appearance was another point in his favor. He looks increasingly usable as an RB3/flex in PPR leagues even if Denver never gives him a true lead-back workload.
Aug 22, 2026 9:42 AM EST
RJ Harvey Catches a Touchdown in Limited Work with Starters
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey had a short but successful outing in Friday night's preseason matchup with the Packers. With his work limited to the first drive of the game, the second-year back gained five yards on his only carry, but added 25 yards on two receptions, including a 21-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Bo Nix to cap off a six-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Harvey caught five touchdown passes as a rookie, and the backfield receiving role looks to still be his amid what has the potential to develop into a formidable three-man committee with veteran J.K. Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman. With all three backs likely to earn work in first-year playcaller Davis Webb's offense, individual fantasy ceilings will likely be capped, though Harvey's pass catching should help to establish a consistent floor, and he could provide safe value as RotoBaller's RB34.
Aug 22, 2026 5:51 AM EST
RJ Harvey Looking to Become More Explosive in Year 2
Denver Broncos second-year running back RJ Harvey said that he's looking to become more explosive and produce more big plays in his sophomore season in the NFL, according to Susanna Weir of the team's official website. "I feel like that's my game," Harvey said. "That was my game in college. I made a lot of big plays. And this year, I want to get back to that and make a lot more big plays for my team." Twenty-three percent of Harvey's rushes in college went for at least 10 yards, and he had several big plays as a rookie with Denver in 2025 on his way to 540 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while adding 47 receptions for 356 yards and another five TDs as a pass-catcher. Harvey had a bigger impact in the passing game as a rookie, and that's where he's expected to be utilized the most in Year 2 alongside J.K. Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman. Head coach Sean Payton said Harvey "has some good stuff on tape already" this year and is encouraged by his "natural hands." Coleman's presence as a physical back between the tackles will limit Harvey's overall fantasy upside if Dobbins misses more time with an injury in 2026, making him more of an ideal RB3/flex target in point-per-reception fantasy leagues.
Aug 10, 2026 7:01 PM EST
RJ Harvey in Position for Third-Down Work
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey will "certainly" be in position to serve as the team's third-down back, according to head coach Sean Payton. Zac Stevens relayed the comment as Denver sorts through a backfield that also includes J.K. Dobbins and fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman. Harvey already proved useful in the passing game as a rookie, catching 47 of 58 targets for 356 yards and five touchdowns over 17 games. He also rushed 146 times for 540 yards and seven scores. Payton's wording is encouraging, but it stops short of naming Harvey the winner of the role. Coleman entered the league with receiving experience of his own, while Dobbins remains Denver's most established runner after producing 772 yards in 10 games last season. Harvey's clearest route to steady touches may come on passing downs, making this a positive development for his PPR outlook even though the overall backfield split remains unsettled.
Aug 1, 2026 11:35 AM EST
RJ Harvey Watching More Film as he Heads Into Year 2
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey said he made it a point of emphasis to study more film of other successful RBs as he enters his second year in the league in 2026, according to Andrew Mason of Denver Sports. Harvey has studied footage of Christian McCaffrey, Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, and Jahmyr Gibbs, in particular. "Just watching more film, watching other guys around the league, watching their film ... just trying to see things on film that they do, trying to help better my game," Harvey said. "In Year Two in the system, I feel way more comfortable and it's only going to get better from where I left off." Through his first 10 games, Harvey had five or fewer carries seven times with J.K. Dobbins dominating touches. Harvey took on a bigger role after Dobbins' season-ending foot injury, but he was mostly inconsistent, averaging 3.4 yards per rushing attempt in the final seven games of the regular season and 3.0 yards per tote in two playoff games. The 25-year-old former second-rounder could have more of a pass-catching role in head coach Sean Payton's offense in 2026, but the addition of rookie Jonah Coleman and the re-signing of Dobbins means Denver will likely go with a committee approach at RB. Harvey's fantasy stock has fallen after his first NFL season, but he could still be a useful RB3/flex option in PPR leagues at a lowered cost.
Jul 20, 2026 8:17 AM EST
RJ Harvey Still Has Upside, But Workload Is Messy
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey (shoulder) still has enough upside to draft, but managers should not treat him like a clean Year 2 breakout. Harvey scored 12 total touchdowns as a rookie, catching 47 passes for 356 yards while adding 540 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. Denver has praised his route-running and playmaking with the ball in his hands, and that receiving role still matters in Sean Payton's offense. The problem is the backfield did not get simpler. J.K. Dobbins is back on a two-year deal after looking like Denver's best early-down runner when healthy, and the Broncos used a fourth-round pick on Jonah Coleman, a physical runner with third-down ability. Harvey is also coming off offseason shoulder surgery, so training camp matters. RotoBaller has him ranked RB35 across formats, which fits the risk. He is an upside bench pick in redraft and a dynasty hold, not someone to value like a locked-in lead back.
Jul 9, 2026 11:24 AM EST
RJ Harvey has Surgery to Repair Torn Labrum in his Shoulder
Denver Broncos second-year running back RJ Harvey (shoulder) quietly suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder during the team's season-ending loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game in January and had surgery to fix it in the offseason, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told The Denver Post's Luca Evans. Harvey didn't do much work during organized team activities, but has been practicing. The 25-year-old second-round pick last year out of the University of Central Florida stepped into a big role in the second half of the 2025 season after J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury, and the rookie finished with 540 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 146 carries, adding 47 receptions for 356 yards and five more TDs in 17 regular-season games (seven starts) to finish as the RB1 in half-PPR scoring. It sounds like he has enough time to get back to 100% health for the start of the 2026 regular season, but the offseason addition of rookie Jonah Coleman and the re-signing of Dobbins definitely have hurt Harvey's upside as he enters his sophomore campaign. It's hard to imagine Harvey being more than an inconsistent RB3/flex for fantasy managers this year unless one of Dobbins or Coleman misses time with an injury in 2026. RotoBaller has Harvey ranked as the No. 35 fantasy back for the upcoming season.
Jun 15, 2026 6:22 PM EST
Should Dynasty Managers Be Looking to Sell High on RJ Harvey?
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey finished his rookie season with 896 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns on 13 touches across 17 games (seven starts). Harvey was more productive as a receiver than a rusher, as he recorded 47 catches for 356 yards and five scores, but averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. He also struggled to carve out a consistent role in the Denver offense until Broncos back J.K. Dobbins went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 10. Dobbins should be back to full health for the start of the upcoming season, and Denver also selected running back Jonah Coleman in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Harvey profiles as the primary third and passing-down back for the Broncos, but he may be hard-pressed to see much rushing work as long as Dobbins and Coleman stay healthy. Dynasty managers may want to explore selling high on Harvey ahead of a potential workload decline in 2026.
Jun 13, 2026 12:38 PM EST
RJ Harvey Still the Leader in a Crowded Backfield?
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey remains the projected No. 1 option atop the depth chart, but it would be surprising to see him carve out an every-down role after the team re-signed J.K. Dobbins and drafted Jonah Coleman. It took a while for Harvey to occupy a significant role as a rookie last season, and he only started averaging 16+ touches per game once Dobbins went down with an injury. Now that Dobbins is healthy and back on the roster, he should chip into Harvey's workload. Meanwhile, we expect Coleman to steal some touches, too. It might not happen right away since he's a rookie with Day 3 draft capital, but there have been plenty of analysts who view Coleman as an eventual three-down back and potential late-round steal. The problem with adding Coleman to the mix is that it doesn't just impact Harvey's redraft value, but it hurts him in dynasty leagues, too. He has fallen to RB25 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings, and it's difficult to envision him climbing much higher than that as the Broncos appear committed to a shared backfield.
May 6, 2026 7:47 AM EST
RJ Harvey's Ceiling Likely Still Capped in Year Two
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey ended his rookie season as fantasy's RB21 in Half-PPR formats, assuming lead back responsibilities following a Week 10 foot injury to J.K. Dobbins and finishing as the RB6 over the final five weeks of the fantasy season. Unfortunately, much of that success came on the back of a generally unsustainable touchdown surge, with exactly half of his impressive 12 total touchdowns coming in that five-week span. When it comes to repeatable patterns, his efficiency metrics were far less inspiring. Running behind one of the best offensive lines in football, his yards over expectation per attempt ranked 48th in the league according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, almost two full yards and 44 spots behind Dobbins. The Broncos re-signed Dobbins on what is essentially a one-year deal with a second-year option, which could be viewed as a small victory for Harvey managers in a strong running back free-agent class. However, with 10 weeks of existing data, in which Dobbins out-touched Harvey 164 to 75, expectations of a year-two breakout should remain tempered. Harvey does offer additional value as the primary pass-catching back in a Sean Payton offense, though with the Broncos spending big to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the competition for targets will be stiffer in 2026, following a 2025 season in which Denver's 58.8% passing rate already represented a six-season high in Payton's historically run-heavy offense.
Apr 14, 2026 5:37 AM EST
RJ Harvey Ready for a Year 2 Jump?
Most fantasy managers were not thrilled about Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey's fantasy value going into 2026 when the Broncos re-signed J.K. Dobbins. But Harvey will continue to factor into Denver's offense, and the coaching staff thinks he's "ready for a Year 2 jump," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Harvey wasn't exactly efficient on a per-carry basis in his rookie campaign, averaging 3.7 yards per carry on 146 rushing attempts in 17 regular-season games. He ranked 29th out of 32 RBs with at least 75 attempts with a 3.4 yard-per-carry average after Dobbins went down with a season-ending foot injury. Despite his limitations, Harvey had 540 rushing yards, 47 catches, 356 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns (seven rushing). While Dobbins' return limits the 25-year-old's fantasy upside, Harvey still has a pretty bright future in terms of his dynasty/keeper outlook. Dobbins has been incredibly injury-prone in his career, too, so it might not be long before Harvey is again Denver's RB1.
Mar 24, 2026 10:47 AM EST
RJ Harvey Stuck in a Timeshare in Year 2?
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey finished his 2025 rookie campaign as the lead back in the Mile High City, following a Week 10 foot injury that ended J.K. Dobbins' first season with the team. Expected to pursue the position aggressively when the legal tampering window opened on Monday, the Broncos agreed to a new two-year deal with Dobbins, worth up to $20 million with $8 million guaranteed. After handing out one of the larger running back deals of the day, it would appear that Harvey will find himself in a similar position to the one in which he opened his rookie season as the clear 1B in a timeshare with Dobbins. Harvey was able to salvage his fantasy season, with a traditionally unsustainable 12 touchdowns, but he lacked notable explosiveness, and his 128-touch pace through the year's first ten weeks was well below what fantasy managers had hoped for following his lofty second-round NFL Draft capital and rumblings of his usage in Sean Payton's Joker role.
Mar 10, 2026 5:50 AM EST
RJ Harvey Set for Full-Time RB1 Role in Denver in 2026?
Across 17 games as a rookie in 2025, Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey recorded 896 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns on 193 touches. The 25-year-old opened the season in a relatively limited RB2 role behind veteran Broncos back J.K. Dobbins. However, Dobbins suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 10, opening the door for Harvey to take on more backfield work. From Week 11 onwards, Harvey recorded 507 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns. Heading into 2026, Harvey looks well-positioned to take over as Denver's full-time lead back as Dobbins is set to hit free agency this spring. The Broncos could easily re-sign Dobbins or bring in a different veteran back to ease Harvey's workload. Still, the trajectory of Harvey's rookie season indicates he's a player on the rise, and his fantasy stock in dynasty formats should be trending upward after 2025.
Feb 14, 2026 6:12 AM EST
RJ Harvey Facing Difficult Matchup with Backup Quarterback in AFC Championship Game
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey provided underwhelming production in his team's AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, recording 66 scrimmage yards on 11 touches. On the bright side, Harvey helped fantasy managers in PPR scoring formats by doing most of his damage as a receiver, hauling in five catches for 46 yards on six targets. However, Harvey will now be working with Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. The Patriots' defense has been dominant so far this postseason, allowing just 19 total points and forcing five turnovers through two games. Harvey should at least maintain RB1 status in Denver, as veteran back J.K. Dobbins (foot) will remain sidelined by a foot injury. Harvey could also see plenty of work as a short-area target for Stidham, particularly if Denver falls behind early in the game. Still, Harvey is facing an uphill battle with a backup quarterback against a tough defense and may struggle in the AFC Championship Game.
Jan 24, 2026 10:21 AM EST
RJ Harvey's Stock is Falling With Backup QB Leading the Offense
Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey had a disappointing showing on the ground in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, carrying the ball six times for only 20 yards. Harvey helped his fantasy managers in PPR leagues by catching five of a season-high six targets for 46 yards through the air, though. Against a weaker Buffalo run defense, it was a disappointing performance for Harvey, who saw his lowest carry total since Week 10. Things won't get any easier for the second-rounder going into a tough AFC Championship matchup against the visiting New England Patriots. Although Denver may put more of an emphasis on trying to get their ground game going now that starting quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) is out the rest of the way, it doesn't mean that Harvey will have success against a Patriots defense that allowed the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to RBs this year, including only eight rushing TDs.
Jan 20, 2026 8:25 PM EST
RJ Harvey Faces Plus Matchup in Playoff Debut
Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey makes his playoff debut on Saturday against a Bills defense that ranked 26th in the NFL against fantasy running backs in the regular season. Down the stretch, in particular, Buffalo's defense was viewed as a run funnel, with teams finding more success on the ground than through the air, and in last week's Wild Card win over the Jaguars, Buffalo allowed 154 yards on only 23 carries. Since taking over for J.K. Dobbins (foot) as Denver's RB1 following a Week 10 foot injury, Harvey has scored six touchdowns in his last seven games, and he is RotoBaller's RB4 for the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Jan 17, 2026 3:26 PM EST
RJ Harvey Could Carry Denver to AFC Title Game
Denver Broncos running back R.J. Harvey finished his rookie season with 896 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns, helping the Broncos win their first division title since 2015. Harvey began the season as a backup to starter J.K. Dobbins, but after Dobbins went down with a foot injury in Week 10, Harvey took over. Since the injury, Harvey has ranked as the RB13, averaging 15.2 PPR points per game. He faces a Buffalo Bills run defense that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points this season. The Jaguars were productive on the ground against the Bills in the Wild Card Round, with Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten totaling 118 rushing yards on just 14 carries. With the Bills boasting one of the NFL's strongest pass defenses, the Broncos will need to rely on Harvey and the run game to advance to the AFC Championship.
Jan 15, 2026 11:03 AM EST
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