RJ Harvey

His role doubled at midseason — and the touchdowns followed.

Harvey opened the season as a change-of-pace back behind J.K. Dobbins — 5.1 carries per game through Week 9. The Broncos flipped the depth chart in the back half: 12.5 carries per game from Week 10 on, with 5 rushing TDs in those 8 games. He outscored every Broncos RB across the back half of the year.

Half his rushing TDs came from inside the 5 — at a 50% conversion rate.

Of his 7 rushing TDs, 5 came from inside the 5-yard line on 10 carries — a 50% conversion rate. For a 5'9" rookie listed at 205 lbs, that's a striking goal-line role. The Broncos clearly built the short-yardage package around him by Week 10: he handled 8 of Denver's 11 inside-5 RB carries (73%) in the back-half stretch where he became the starter.

Last among 2025's rookie RB starters in rushing yards — first in catches.

On a per-carry basis, Harvey (3.70 YPC) sits near the bottom of the 2025 rookie RB class, with only Woody Marks (3.59) and Quinshon Judkins (3.60) lower. Where he stands out: 47 receptions — more than every rookie RB in the class except Jeanty (55). He's the most pass-game-friendly back of his rookie class, which is the role Sean Payton has reserved for him.

He outscored J.K. Dobbins as a rookie — and never started ahead of him until Week 11.

Dobbins out-rushed Harvey by 232 yards on just 7 more carries — but Dobbins played only 10 games (W1-W10) before going dark. The TD count flips (7 to 4), and total scrimmage yards is virtually tied (Dobbins 809, Harvey 896) — Harvey's passing-game role makes up the deficit.

The long-term tell: even with Dobbins healthy through Week 10, Harvey banked 23 of his 47 receptions during that stretch. 47 catches as the early-season RB2 is a passing-down skillset Denver is going to lock in.

His best game was the late-season Jacksonville performance — 121 scrimmage yards + a TD.

The W16 Jacksonville game (4 catches for 71 yards + 50 rushing) is the cleanest expression of his profile: dual-threat usage, no negative plays, a big-chunk reception. The next best (Week 14 vs Las Vegas, 17/75 + 6/25) was the first time Sean Payton gave him a true workhorse touch count — and he immediately responded with 23 touches.

His 3.7 YPC suggests he's bad — his role and TD rate suggest he's a passing-down weapon.

At a glance, 3.70 YPC (540 yards on 146 carries) looks like a problem — bottom-tier among NFL backs with 140+ carries.

But the context: he caught 47 passes for 356 yards and 5 receiving TDs, his explosive long is 50 yards (W1 vs Tennessee), and his TD-per-carry rate (4.79%) ranks at the top of his draft class. Denver isn't using him as a between-the-tackles grinder — he's a short-yardage finisher and a receiving-down weapon, and the YPC line undersells both roles.

For a 2nd-round rookie (#60 overall) on a team with a productive lead back, 7 rushing TDs + 5 receiving TDs across 17 rookie-year games is a strong opening chapter.