Denver Broncos rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey didn't see much run in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the visiting Arizona Cardinals, but it didn't stop him from scoring his first NFL touchdown in the 27-7 victory. Harvey only carried the ball three times for 18 yards while catching his only target for a two-yard gain. The 24-year-old was the starter in this contest with J.K. Dobbins not suiting up. His touchdown run went for eight yards up the middle to get the team on the board in the first quarter. The fact that Dobbins didn't play at all suggests he could have a leg up as the "starter" for the Broncos over Harvey, but make no mistake, Harvey is going to have a key role in Denver's backfield in 2025. He should be viewed as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 with more home-run ability that Dobbins.
Aug 17, 2025 11:39 AM EST
Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey earned the majority of the early down work in the team's first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night, according to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. Veteran J.K. Dobbins mixed in with Harvey, but mostly served as the third-down back. Harvey and Dobbins are expected to share the majority of the backfield workload in Denver this season. However, their usage against San Francisco could be a window into how Broncos head coach Sean Payton envisions deploying his running backs when the games start to count. Harvey profiles as a borderline RB2/RB3 in fantasy with clear upside if he can play well enough to dominate playing time in the Denver backfield.
Aug 9, 2025 11:13 PM EST
Denver Broncos second-round rookie running back RJ Harvey is a candidate for the joker role in head coach Sean Payton's offense this year, per Zac Stevens of DNVR. Payton is in love with the joker position on offense, but it remains to be seen how much Denver will actually use one in 2025. New tight end Evan Engram has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role. The 24-year-old Harvey has impressed throughout training camp so far as he battles for a big role in the Broncos' backfield in his first year in the NFL with J.K. Dobbins. The fact that Denver is considering Harvey for the joker role means that he could be their primary pass-catching weapon out of the backfield, which in turn could give him immediate RB2 upside in PPR fantasy leagues in an offense that could take a step forward in quarterback Bo Nix's second season.
Aug 2, 2025 1:11 PM EST
Denver Broncos running backs RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins have been "routinely shuffling in with the first-team offense" in camp, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Denver drafted Harvey in the second round of the 2025 draft out of UCF, while Dobbins was a late free-agent addition after spending 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers. Kosmider notes that Harvey has had impressive moments and showcased his explosiveness in camp, but has also had some struggles in pass protection. Last year at UCF, Harvey rushed for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns, with 23.3% of his carries going for 10 or more yards. Dobbins has battled injuries throughout his career, but he managed 905 yards and nine touchdowns on 195 carries in 13 games as a Charger in 2024. The two backs are sure to share touches to some degree this season, but the exact nature of their workload split is one to monitor throughout the preseason.
Jul 29, 2025 9:11 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey has agreed to his four-year rookie deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The rookie out of UCF is expected to have a meaningful role right away in Sean Payton's offense, which has been friendly for running back production in the past. The team used a second-round pick on the do-it-all weapon after many believed he was a potential Day-3 prospect, so that should give fantasy managers confidence in him despite the addition of veteran J.K. Dobbins. While Dobbins is likely to take some early-down work, he has a lengthy injury history and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry with the Los Angeles Chargers last year after Week 2. Meanwhile, Harvey is a high-level pass-catcher and should be viewed as the primary receiving back right away. Quarterback Bo Nix heavily targeted running backs in the passing game during his time at Oregon, and Payton has been known for involving his RBs in that aspect of the offense. Harvey is being drafted in the high-end RB3 range, but he has legitimate RB1 upside in PPR leagues if things break right.
Jul 17, 2025 3:01 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey is expected "to play a significant role in the passing game," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Denver selected Harvey out of Central Florida in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft and he enters training camp in a battle with free agent addition J.K. Dobbins for backfield touches. Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime could also be in the mix. Harvey had just 20 receptions for 267 and three touchdowns last season at UCF, but it sounds as though he'll be relied upon as a pass-catcher in Denver. Broncos' head coach Sean Payton has designed offenses that heavily feature running backs in the passing game before, so Harvey's usage in that role could be a significant boost to his value in PPR league formats.
Jul 14, 2025 6:53 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which was a surprise to many. Most draft analysts projected Harvey to be a third or fourth-round pick, so Sean Payton's conviction to select him early immediately increased his fantasy football value. However, the recent signing of veteran ball carrier J.K. Dobbins brought a new factor to Harvey's perceived value. Broncos reporter Nick Kosmider said that should not be the case. [Dobbins] signing had nothing to do with a souring outlook on Harvey." Kosmider wrote. "If anything, Harvey has exceeded expectations during his early days in Denver. He's in tremendous shape and has shown a natural feel as a receiver. Truer tests of his progress and his immediate readiness to contribute will come in training camp and the preseason, but the Broncos have been pleased with his progress to this point and plan to have him be a significant part of the offense." Kosmider said the Broncos targeted Dobbins well before April's draft, and Payton prefers a 1-2 punch approach. While Dobbins' presence somewhat lowers Harvey's ceiling, he should retain his RB2 upside in 2025. Dobbins is entering his age-26 season and has dealt with a multitude of significant injuries. If he gets banged up again, Harvey could be an RB1 with league-winning upside.
Jun 25, 2025 2:54 PM EST
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey has become one of the hottest fantasy football names among rookies after being selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. According to team reporter Andrew Mason, the University of Central Florida product had a strong minicamp and "made another statement" at Thursday's OTA practice. Harvey was the fifth running back off the board last month after rushing for 3,789 yards (6.5 YPC) and 43 rushing touchdowns over the last three seasons. He added 61 receptions for 720 yards and four scores in 41 games. In Sean Payton's offense, expectations are high for the versatile and explosive back. He has minimal competition in the Denver backfield, and he should be utilized heavily as a receiver right away. Harvey should have no problem producing an RB2 season as a rookie, and he has an RB1 ceiling.
May 29, 2025 3:20 PM EST
The Denver Broncos have intentionally been getting rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey pass-catching reps in rookie minicamp. General manager George Paton said that Harvey might have the best vision of any RB in this year's NFL draft. The young runner set Central Florida's all-time touchdown record and led the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns in his final season in 2024. He also became the second player in school history to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Harvey caught only 20 passes at UCF last season, but head coach Sean Payton said Harvey will have the ability to play on third down -- in addition to first and second own -- because of a variety of protection options. It sounds like Payton plans on using Harvey more as a pass-catcher at the next level, and he has the skills to become a three-down back sooner than later for the Broncos in 2025.
May 11, 2025 1:16 PM EST
Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey, who was taken 60th overall in last week's NFL draft in the second round, could end up doing it all for the Broncos as a runner and pass-catcher, even though he caught only 20 passes in 2024 in his final season at UCF. "This was kind of our pet cat throughout the process," general manager George Paton said. "His running style we feel he's dynamic. He has really good vision, really good instincts, really good contact balance. Highly explosive. We thought maybe he had the best vision in the draft." Harvey wasn't used a lot as a pass-catcher in college, but that's going to change in Denver with head coach Sean Payton. In addition to his potential as a pass-catcher, Harvey had 1,577 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024. With home run ability and a three-down skill set, expect Harvey to be the team's RB1 come the fall.
Apr 29, 2025 1:40 PM EST
Copyright 2025 Fantasy Football Calculator | Image Source: Icon Sportswire. Not affiliated with the National Football League (NFL).
Stats powered by FantasyData.com.
