RJ Harvey’s rookie impact sets up a bigger year in 2026 for Broncos backfield

The Denver Broncos’ running back room is heading into the 2026 season with a clearer identity, and RJ Harvey is central to it. After moving down in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver selected Harvey with the 60th overall pick, betting on the kind of burst that can swing games with a single play. Yahoo Sports, in a June 8 look ahead, framed Harvey as the next-step catalyst for Denver’s offense in 2026, building from what he showed as a rookie.

Harvey’s rookie production supported that storyline. In 2025, he played in all 17 games, carrying the ball 146 times for 540 rushing yards (3.7 yards per carry) and scoring seven rushing touchdowns. He also contributed through the air, catching 47 passes for 356 yards and five receiving touchdowns. Beyond scrimmage, Denver used him as a return option as well, with Harvey logging 16 kick returns for 353 yards, giving the offense another way to change field position and pace.

That mix of skills matters for how the Broncos can attack defenses. A back who can run for scores, catch passes, and handle kick returns forces coordinators to plan for multiple phases, instead of treating the position as a one-dimensional checklist. When a team has that kind of flexibility, it also tends to create more favorable matchups in both the run game and the passing game, since defenders have to account for routes and angles in addition to blocking assignments.

Denver also has an established complement in place. On March 10, 2026, the Broncos re-signed J.K. Dobbins to a two-year contract, keeping a veteran runner tied to the same offensive plans for the second straight offseason. In his first season in Denver, Dobbins rushed for 772 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games, a reminder that the Broncos’ backfield strength is not only youth. The pairing creates a more interesting rotation, where a power-and-between-the-tackles identity can coexist with Harvey’s ability to generate quick scoring threats.

The Broncos’ selection of Harvey was built into their 2025 draft strategy. Denver made the pick after a pair of trades to move down in the second round, including a swap that took them from the 51st overall selection to the 57th, then down again to the 60th spot. In that same draft window, Denver framed Harvey as a dynamic addition, joining a room that already included Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estimé, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson.

The foundation of that bet goes back to Harvey’s college résumé at UCF. UCF described him as the program’s all-time leader in total touchdowns (48) and second in career rushing yards (3,792), and it highlighted a 2024 season in which he led the Big 12 with 1,577 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. UCF also pointed to eye-catching measurables at the NFL Combine, including a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and a 38-inch vertical, traits Denver likely believes can translate into faster acceleration and more explosive spacing at the NFL level.

What to watch next is how Denver defines Harvey’s role early in training camp and the preseason, and whether his touches expand in a controlled way. If his 2025 receiving usage grows further, or if his red-zone carries increase alongside the team’s established runners, the Broncos’ offense could gain a second source of scoring that does not depend on long drives. The bigger question for 2026 is not whether Harvey can make plays, but how often Denver can turn those plays into consistent production across four quarters. Since the NFL season ultimately rewards durability and repeatable execution, Denver’s progress will be measured by volume, efficiency, and who gets the ball in the highest-leverage moments.