If you didn’t draft RJ Harvey in 2025, you probably spent the better part of the season staring at the waiver wire in a cold sweat. Honestly, it’s understandable. The guy was a 24-year-old rookie coming out of UCF. Most fantasy managers saw the "senior" tag and the 5-foot-8 frame and immediately pivoted to younger, shinier prospects.
That was a massive mistake.
By the time the Denver Broncos hit the home stretch of the 2025 season, Harvey wasn't just a "change of pace" back. He was the engine. He finished his rookie campaign with 896 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns, essentially saving seasons for anyone who snagged him in the double-digit rounds or off the wire after J.K. Dobbins went down.
The Denver Landing Spot: A Match Made in PPR Heaven
Landing in Denver with Sean Payton was basically the best-case scenario for RJ Harvey fantasy football value. We know the history. Payton loves a "Joker" back—that specific archetype of runner who can split out wide, run a choice route, and make a linebacker look silly in space.
Think back to the Alvin Kamara glory days in New Orleans.
Joe Lombardi, the offensive coordinator, kept a wild streak alive in 2025: for 18 straight years, any staff he’s been on has finished top five in passes to the running back. Harvey walked right into that volume. While Javonte Williams had the targets in 2024, he didn’t have the explosiveness. Harvey, with his 4.40 speed and 38-inch vertical, was a different animal entirely.
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He didn't start the season as the "guy." J.K. Dobbins actually held the lead role early on, but the NFL is a brutal business. When Dobbins suffered another knee injury in Week 11, the Harvey era began in earnest.
What the Stats Actually Tell Us
It’s easy to look at the 540 rushing yards and think, "Eh, that’s mediocre." But look closer at the efficiency.
Harvey averaged 3.7 yards per carry, which isn't world-breaking, but he was a touchdown magnet. Seven rushing scores and five receiving touchdowns in a single season? That is pure fantasy gold, especially in half-PPR or full-PPR formats where his 47 catches acted as a massive floor.
- Week 4 vs Bengals: 98 total yards and a receiving score. This was the "wake up" call.
- Week 8 vs Cowboys: 3 touchdowns, including a 40-yard dash that was Denver’s longest TD run in years.
- Late Season Reliability: From Week 13 to Week 17, he found the end zone four times.
He basically became the ultimate "safe" RB2 with RB1 upside because of how Payton used him in the red zone. If the Broncos were inside the 10, Harvey was on the field. He’s compact at 205 pounds, but he runs like he’s 225. His contact balance—something scouts raved about at UCF—translated perfectly to the Sunday game.
Why People Were Skeptical (and Why They Were Wrong)
The biggest knock on Harvey during the 2025 draft cycle was his age. He spent six years in college. People worry about "older" prospects because the ceiling is supposedly lower.
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Kinda ridiculous when you think about it.
In fantasy, we really only care about the next three years. If a guy can give you elite production on his rookie contract, who cares if he’s 24 or 21? Harvey had elite production metrics at UCF—consecutive 1,400-yard seasons and 48 career touchdowns. He was the highest-drafted RB in UCF history for a reason, going 60th overall to the Broncos.
The other concern was his "yards before contact" numbers in college. Critics said his UCF offensive line did all the work. While it’s true he had big holes in the Big 12, his 2025 NFL season proved he could create for himself. He forced missed tackles at a rate that rivaled established vets.
Dealing with the "Committee" Headache
If you’re looking ahead to 2026, the backfield situation in Denver is always going to be a bit of a headache. Sean Payton doesn't really do "bell cows" anymore. Jaleel McLaughlin is still there taking some of the lightning, and the team will likely bring in more competition.
But Harvey has the "Joker" role locked down.
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He is the most versatile back on that roster. He can pass protect (which he improved on significantly over the 2025 season), he can catch, and he can run between the tackles. That versatility keeps him on the field for the high-value snaps.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Draft
If you’re playing in dynasty leagues, the window to buy "low" on Harvey is officially shut. You missed it. However, in redraft for 2026, he’s going to be one of the most debated players in the middle rounds.
Here is the game plan:
- Target the Volume: Don't get hung up on the YPC. In a Sean Payton/Joe Lombardi offense, the targets are the stat that matters. If Harvey is projected for 50+ catches again, he’s a must-start.
- The "Post-Hype" Value: There might be some managers in your league who think 2025 was a fluke because of the Dobbins injury. Use that. He earned the trust of the coaching staff by Week 18.
- Watch the Goal Line: Harvey’s nose for the end zone is real. It’s not just luck; it’s his low center of gravity. He’s very hard to stop once he gets a head of steam in the green zone.
Harvey finished as the Week 8 NFL Rookie of the Week and never really looked back. He’s the classic example of why college production—real, sustained, high-level production—usually wins out over "potential" and "youth" when the landing spot is right.
Keep an eye on the Broncos' off-season moves. If they don't draft a running back in the first three rounds of 2026, Harvey is a screaming value. He has already shown he can handle the workload and, more importantly, he’s shown he can win you a fantasy matchup in a variety of ways. Stop worrying about his age and start worrying about how many shares of him you have.