RJ Harvey
Harvey enters year two in Denver as the pass-catching complement in a crowded three-way backfield with JK Dobbins and rookie Jonah Coleman. His rookie season leaned heavily on touchdown production (12 scores, 47 targets) rather than efficient rushing, and coverage consistently frames him as a receiving-down specialist whose standalone value hinges on Dobbins missing time. He's a boom-bust fantasy asset with a clearly capped role rather than a workhorse.
The two-week arc is mostly bearish: FantasyPros' Pianowski calls him a possible midseason cut, Yahoo's Josh & Hayden and Matthew Berry's crew flag Coleman as the real threat to his role, and Matt Harmon's show shifted from breakout-back optimism on 8/26 to noting his sub-4.0 YPC confirms Dobbins has the lead job. Counterpoints exist — Fantasy Football Today says he's working with the first team and prefer him to Dobbins, and The Ringer and Late-Round Fantasy Football argue he's undervalued given his receiving profile and Dobbins' injury history — but even skeptics like Dynasty Nerds and RotoWire question his tape and note Denver's Coleman investment as a vote of no confidence. The consensus note from 8/25 crystallizes the shift: both FFT and Harmon see the backfield slipping away from him.
The line: Draft him as a touchdown-dependent passing-down flier, not a lead back — his value collapses if Dobbins stays healthy.
▲ The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast: Sneaky appeal vs. San Francisco, which allows the second-highest target share to RBs; Harvey has strong route and target share, though Tyler Badie could cut in if Denver trails big. listen ↗
▶ Fantasy Football Today: Cheap buy-low handcuff who gets targets and has a favorable rest-of-season schedule even without being the lead back. listen ↗
▶ The Audible: Interesting since Jonah Coleman is hurt and JK Dobbins is banged up, facing a Niners defense depleted on the D-line. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Football Today: Playing a valuable 'joker' role in Sean Payton's scheme with PPR floor plus touchdown/explosive-play upside, more valuable than many starting RBs. listen ↗
▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Also banged up in Denver's crowded, injury-hit backfield; hosts expect a committee with no consistent weekly lead back. listen ↗
▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Dealing with hamstring issue, backfield situation with Dobbins and Jonah Coleman called a 'choose your own adventure' with no clear lead back. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Football Today: Trending toward being cleared; would be a flex if active given Rams' tough run defense pushing dump-offs. listen ↗
▶ Harris Fantasy Football Podcast: Also limited with hamstring issue, adding to Denver backfield uncertainty. listen ↗
▶ Fantasy Football Today: Also dealing with a hamstring injury; hosts noted his strong career goal-line success rate (56% inside the 5) suggests he could remain the default short-yardage back even if Coleman gets more overall work. listen ↗
▲ Dynasty Nerds Podcast | Dynasty Fantasy Football: Expected back soon and projected to be the passing-down back in Denver once healthy, giving him more PPR fantasy value than Coleman. listen ↗
▶ Fantasy Football Today: Also trending toward playing in Week 3; job could still be his even with Dobbins back, likely leading to a split situation. listen ↗
▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: His potential absence is the key variable that would boost Jonah Coleman to bell-cow status. listen ↗
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