R.J. Harvey Should Get Plenty of Opportunity in Year 1, But Could He Be the Next Jamaal Charles?

Kevin Szafraniec
May 6, 2025

Leading up to the NFL Draft, R.J. Harvey was receiving plenty of buzz despite being stuck in the middle of a deep running back class. Being selected on the second day of the draft was always a possibility, but Harvey fell into one of the best situations possible when he landed in Denver at the end of the second round. Things for Harvey got even more promising as the Broncos chose not to add any additional RBs during the draft, making Harvey the clear favorite to lead the team’s backfield in 2025.

Harvey’s college production and draft capital combine to pull in some very promising NFL comps for him. However, there are also some red flags in his profile that warrant careful consideration. As we weigh Harvey’s pros and cons, exactly how bullish should we be when looking to acquire him in dynasty and 2025 season-long leagues?

R.J. Harvey’s NFL Comps

Harvey had an impressive three-year run at UCF from 2022 through 2024, with his numbers from the past three years rivaling elite prospects like Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. However, the major difference is that Harvey graduated high school in 2019, while the other two RBs graduated in 2022.

Harvey’s age is certainly a red flag, but his testing numbers at the combine and college production were enough to counterbalance the concerns.

Harvey’s smaller stature brought down his speed score and freak score, but his 92nd-percentile explosion score aligns with his impressive 17.7% rushing boom percentage (ruBOOM%) from 2023 and his follow-up 16.4% ruBOOM% from 2024. However, Harvey’s game isn’t entirely predicated on speed, as he posted broken tackle percentages (BT%) of 13.3% in 2023 and 12.5% in 2024, numbers that come in at similar levels to larger backs like Kaytron Allen (13.4% BT% in 2023), Braelon Allen (13.3% BT% in 2023), Hampton (13.0% BT% in 2023), and Quinshon Judkins (13.0% BT% in 2024).

While Harvey’s overall receiving numbers won’t necessarily wow anyone, his average of slightly more than 20 receptions per season over the past three years should make us believe he can be an asset in the passing game. Digging deeper helps solidify Harvey’s claim as a capable receiver, with his 142.0 receiver rating (reRTG) from 2023 being one of the best marks among NFL-caliber college RBs over the past two years and his 118.0 reRTG from 2024 lining up closely with Jahmyr Gibbs’ 2022 season. Meanwhile, Harvey’s 0.082 receiving points earned per route in 2024 measured up nicely with the elite numbers put up by more heralded receivers Cam Skattebo and Jaydon Blue.

Sean Payton and the Broncos took a glass-half-full approach when evaluating Harvey, looking past his age and selecting him with the 60th pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Once draft capital is taken into account, Harvey had the fifth-highest RB prospect score in the class. The Box Score Scout also doesn’t seem to hold Harvey’s age against him, as some intriguing names populate his top-end comps.

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Please subscribe For Full Access to all RotoViz content and tools!

What’s included in your subscription??

Exclusive Access to RotoViz Study Hall
- A treasure trove of our most insightful articles that will teach you the metrics that matter, time-tested winning strategies, the approaches that will give you an edge, and teach you how to be an effective fantasy manager.
Revolutionary Tools
- Including the NFL Stat Explorer, Weekly GLSP Projections, NCAA Prospect Box Score Scout, Combine Explorer, Range of Outcomes App, DFS Lineup Optimizer, Best Ball Suite,and many, many, more.
Groundbreaking Articles
- RotoViz is home of the original Zero-RB article and continues to push fantasy gamers forward as the go-to destination for evidence-based analysis and strategic advantages.
Weekly Projections
- Built using RotoViz’s unique GLSP approach.
Expert Rankings
And a whole lot more…

Kevin Szafraniec

Full-time Cat Dad, Sneakerhead, Record Collector, LOTR Fanboy, and Jeopardy Enthusiast. Fantasy football writer and beatmaker in my free time. Follow me on X and Bluesky @thecatdadff

Week 3 Waivers: A Rash of QB Injuries Could Lead to Uncharacteristic Heavy Bidding at the Position, Plus Last Call on a League-Winning RB

Kevin Szafraniec September 16, 2025

Kevin Szafraniec highlights the best players available on waivers in 50% or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues heading into Week 3. A string of quarterback injuries was one of the biggest storylines in Week 2. For a position that usually doesn’t get a ton of attention in this space, perhaps this is the week when the right QB pickup will trump all other needs…....

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Week 2 Monday Review: An Offensive Explosion Makes Up for 2025’s Lackluster Opening Weekend

Kevin Szafraniec September 15, 2025

Kevin Szafraniec breaks down the biggest fantasy headlines from Week 2 of the NFL season with the help of RotoViz’s suite of industry-leading tools. Saying that teams around the NFL were able to shake off the rust in Week 2 may be the understatement of the year. During Sunday’s early slate, the lowest combined point total was 40 between the Bills and the Jets. Six…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Three’s Company: Are Liam Coen and Jacksonville’s Three-Headed Backfield About to Take Over the NFL?

Kevin Szafraniec September 12, 2025

Kevin Szafraniec breaks down how the Jaguars’ trade of Tank Bigsby to the Eagles could affect the backfields in Jacksonville and Philadelphia moving forward. Back in June, there were consistent rumblings that Travis Etienne could find himself in a new home for the 2025 season. The Jaguars had just selected two running backs in the NFL Draft, and Tank Bigsby was coming off a sophomore…...