RJ Harvey Headshot

Zac Stevens of theDNVR.com broke down the Broncos' backfield outlook Thursday on Ari Meirov's podcast and confirmed what we've been suspecting for the RB roles. That includes RJ Harvey occupying the same role he played before Dobbins went down last year, even if Dobbins goes down again.

What They're Saying: Coleman Has Changed the Plan

Stevens on Harvey: “He can run the ball, but that’s not what they’re going to ask him to do. They’re going to ask him to be that Alvin Kamara role out of the backfield.”

Stevens on rookie Jonah Coleman: “Sean Payton says, ‘Man, I don’t see a rookie when I look at him.’ And that is big, because Sean Payton’s offense is very complicated, very difficult for rookies to pick up. And Jonah has picked that up and earn Sean Payton’s and Davis Webb’s trust to have a role. So if and when J.K. Dobbins gets hurt, it’s not going to be RJ Harvey that steps up into that starting running back role; it’s going to be Jonah Coleman … and then RJ Harvey stays where he’s at. ... The Broncos are going to have [Coleman] eat a little bit into J.K. Dobbins’ carries this year so that J.K. can stay healthy as long as possible. So you’re going to see all three of those guys on the field in different roles.”

2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Broncos RBs Tough to Trust

Stevens' version of the "Kamara role" undoubtedly refers to when he was sharing the New Orleans backfield with Mark Ingram or Latavius Murray, but it's also a lazy comp even in that context.

Kamara spent only his 2017 rookie year not leading Payton's Saints in carries, and there's clearly not the same as the role Stevens is pointing to for Harvey this year.

Harvey's expected to not only play a third-down type of role when everyone's healthy this season; he's expected to stay in such a role even if Dobbins gets hurt again.

The plan for Coleman to siphon some work from a healthy Dobbins, meanwhile, makes this a potentially frustrating backfield for fantasy usage. The positive: None of the three Denver backs is going inside the position's top 30 in ADP.

Here's how you should treat them in your drafts:

  • Ignore Harvey unless he tumbles. The second-year back is still first off the board at RB31 in PPR consensus ADP, a practice that ignores all of this summer's buzz in favor of overrating his TD total from last year. Harvey now needs two teammate injuries to assume his late-2025 usage.
  • Consider Dobbins as a low RB3 or RB4, who makes more sense without reception scoring. The veteran was already set to lose receiving work to Harvey. Coleman's quick rise will only further challenge Dobbins' weekly floor.
  • Coleman looks most attractive. There's some risk the rookie vaults up in late drafts with all the buzz. But his current RB48 ADP makes him a straight fantasy reserve. That's the ideal way to roster Coleman, who presents two paths -- injury to either backfield mate -- to increased work.

If Denver loses Dobbins to injury again, expect to see Coleman ahead of Harvey in our weekly rankings.