RADIO
Jonah Coleman Could Have Path to RB2 Role in Week 2
Denver Broncos rookie fourth-round running back Jonah Coleman was hyped up all summer during training camp by beat writers and the Broncos' coaching staff, but he had a very minimal role in his NFL debut in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Coleman played only three offensive snaps and was out-snapped by even Adam Prentice. The 23-year-old from the University of Washington did not see a single touch on offense, but to be fair, Denver's entire backfield struggled to get anything going in a 31-10 blowout loss. Head coach Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Davis Webb will likely make a more concerted effort to run the ball in Week 2 against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, and with backfield mate RJ Harvey (hamstring) questionable to play on Sunday due to injury, Coleman could have a path to a sizable role as the Broncos' RB2 behind starter J.K. Dobbins. However, even if Harvey is ruled out this weekend, he will probably be no better than a risky RB3/flex in fantasy football lineups in deeper leagues.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
RJ Harvey an Extremely Risky Flex Play if Active in Week 2
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey (hamstring) is questionable for Week 2, when Denver will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Harvey is dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of his team's Wednesday practice before he was listed as limited following Thursday's and Friday's sessions. Harvey was the Broncos' top pass-catching option out of the backfield in Week 1, tying a team-high with four receptions that totaled 23 yards, but got just three carries, recording 18 yards rushing. Harvey is behind starting running back J.K. Dobbins in the pecking order for touches, as Dobbins totaled eight carries this past week to Harvey's seven total opportunities. Still, Harvey is RotoBaller's RB40, while Dobbins is the 29th-ranked running back this week. Neither player is a great option at this point, especially given what the Denver offense produced in Week 1, when it produced just 176 yards of total offense in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers are better off looking for a different option at the running back position this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J.K. Dobbins Looking for More After Quiet Start
Running back J.K. Dobbins led the Denver Broncos' backfield during a Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but his performance didn't amount to much. Now, he looks ahead to a Week 2 matchup with a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that allowed Cleveland Browns running backs to manage a measly 34 yards rushing on just 2.6 yards per carry in Week 1. Dobbins was solid against the Chiefs, carrying the ball a team-high eight times for 36 yards. But that was all she wrote, as running back RJ Harvey was the Broncos' first option in the passing game. Harvey is listed as questionable to play this week with a hamstring injury, and if he's out, that could open the door for Dobbins to get even more work. Dobbins recorded four fantasy points last week and is RotoBaller's RB29 entering the game against Jacksonville. He is worth flex consideration on Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
RJ Harvey Questionable for Week 2 With Hamstring Injury
Denver Broncos second-year running back RJ Harvey (hamstring) is listed as questionable to play in Week 2 against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, according to the team. Harvey did not practice on Wednesday before putting in limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. He could be considered a game-time decision on Sunday, so fantasy managers should check back this weekend for a status update. If Harvey does not get the green light to play this weekend, rookie fourth-rounder Jonah Coleman would see a boost in role, as would starter J.K. Dobbins. In the 31-10 blowout loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night in the season opener, Harvey and Dobbins combined for 11 carries and 54 yards on the ground, with Harvey catching all four of his targets for 23 yards in the passing game. On the ground, Harvey saw just three carries for 18 yards (6.0 yards per carry). He was efficient, but until the Broncos emphasize more of their ground game, it will be hard to trust Harvey as much more than a low-upside RB3/flex.
Source: Denver Broncos
Source: Denver Broncos
RJ Harvey Upgrades to Limited Practice on Thursday
Denver Broncos second-year running back RJ Harvey (hamstring) improved to a limited participant in Thursday's practice, according to Aric DiLalla of the team's official website. Harvey was listed as a non-participant in the first practice of the week, so his upgrade to limited a day later brings optimism for his chances of playing in Week 2 in the home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. If Harvey ends up being limited or out for the second game of the 2026 season, rookie fourth-rounder Jonah Coleman would be in line for a bigger role as the backup to early-down back J.K. Dobbins. Harvey led the Broncos' RBs with a 51% snap share in the season-opening loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, but it led to only three carries for 18 yards and four receptions (four targets) for 23 yards through the air in Denver's dismal offensive performance out of the gate. The Broncos' offense should eventually get things figured out, but the 25-year-old Harvey cannot be considered much more than an RB3/flex option in PPR formats going into this weekend, especially if he has an injury designation on Friday.
Source: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
Source: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
RJ Harvey Estimated as DNP on Wednesday
The Denver Broncos' injury report is an estimation on Wednesday since they did not actually hold a practice, but they listed running back RJ Harvey (hamstring) as a non-participant, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. Harvey apparently picked up a hamstring injury in the team's Week 1 season-opening loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, and now Harvey has a short week to prepare for a Week 2 clash at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The entire Denver offense struggled to get going in their 31-10 blowout loss to KC on Monday, and the 25-year-old Harvey had just three rushing attempts for 18 yards while catching all four of his targets for 23 yards in the passing game. If Harvey gets back on the practice field later this week and is cleared to face the Jags on Sunday, he is going to be a low-upside RB3/flex for fantasy managers until the Broncos can turn things around. If Harvey sits this weekend, rookie fourth-rounder Jonah Coleman will be thrust into a much bigger backup role behind starter J.K. Dobbins.
Source: The Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
Source: The Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
Jonah Coleman Still Worth Rostering as RB Depth in Deep Leagues
There was a lot of offseason buzz around Denver Broncos rookie fourth-round running back Jonah Coleman, despite the fact that the team also has J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey primed for big roles in their backfield in 2026. The 23-year-old from the University of Washington got off to a slow start in his regular-season debut on Monday night in the 31-10 loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, playing just three snaps on offense and not seeing a single touch out of the backfield. He did return one kickoff for 27 yards on special teams. Coleman came in projected as Denver's RB3, but he was a distant third behind Dobbins and Harvey, with the Broncos abandoning their running game early on in KC. Denver has a lot of room for improvement on offense after an ugly showing out of the gate, and perhaps that means more involvement for Coleman alongside Dobbins and Harvey. The 5-foot-8, 220-pounder does not have any current standalone fantasy appeal heading into a Week 2 tilt at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he remains an intriguing deep-league stash for RB depth because of his power as a runner between the tackles. Coleman is rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues right now.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Managers Should Temper Expectations for Jonah Coleman in Week 1
Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman was viewed as one of the most intriguing Day 3 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but fantasy managers should pump the brakes on starting him against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. The Washington product is still No. 3 on the Broncos' depth chart behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. It's extremely rare for three running backs on the same team to carve out fantasy relevance in the same game, especially against a defense like the Chiefs. Given that Dobbins and Harvey are both RB3/flex options for Week 1, Coleman is the odd man out from a fantasy perspective. In fact, Harvey was in a similar situation last year as a Day 3 pick with tremendous upside, and even he didn't start to produce consistent fantasy outputs until Week 8. Coleman is a very trendy name in dynasty leagues, and he's even a solid redraft stash for managers in leagues with 12+ teams. However, those same managers will have to be patient, because he faces an uphill battle to earn significant playing time right away. The RotoBaller experts agree, ranking Coleman as the overall RB62 in PPR leagues for Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J.K. Dobbins Offers RB2 Upside vs. Chiefs in Week 1
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins will open the regular season in Kansas City on Monday Night Football. The 27-year-old was the RB18 overall in PPR formats before suffering a Lisfranc foot injury to end his 2025 season. This year, Dobbins will attempt to hold off fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman as the lead back on early downs. Coleman is expected to be Dobbins' backup but has already become a fantasy favorite within the community. Dobbins is RotoBaller's PPR RB25 against a Chiefs defense that saw multiple key players leave the team in free agency. However, they allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards and the 12th fewest rushing touchdowns last season. Dobbins should be viewed as a low-end RB2 and could sneak into the top 20 scoring running backs if he can find the end zone in Week 1.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
RJ Harvey a Low-End Flex Option vs. Chiefs
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey will open the regular season in Kansas City on Monday Night Football. The 25-year-old is expected to specialize as the pass-catching running back in a crowded room after the team brought back J.K. Dobbins and drafted Jonah Coleman in the fourth round. Harvey finished his rookie season as the RB20 in PPR scoring and touchdown-reliant down the stretch. He is RotoBaller's PPR RB44 entering Week 1 with a semi-difficult matchup. The Chiefs' defense allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards and the 12th fewest rushing touchdowns last season. However, the Chiefs did struggle against pass-catching running backs last year, and the secondary took a major talent hit this offseason with the departure of their top three cornerbacks. Harvey should be viewed as a low-end flex option heading into Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
J.K. Dobbins Listed as RB1 on Broncos' Depth Chart
The Denver Broncos released their first unofficial depth chart on Wednesday ahead of their Week 1 season opener on Monday night against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, and running back J.K. Dobbins was listed as the team's RB1, according to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. Dobbins, who has a lengthy injury history in the NFL and suffered a season-ending foot injury in 2025 in his first year with Denver, is fully healthy entering Week 1 and received positive reviews during training camp this summer. The 27-year-old is set up to be the team's primary early-down option in the backfield in an offense that is rising under head coach Sean Payton and new coordinator Davis Webb. However, second-year back RJ Harvey should be the primary passing-down weapon, and rookie Jonah Coleman will be involved as well as the between-the-tackles backup to Dobbins. In 10 games last year before getting hurt, Dobbins was averaging 5.0 yards per carry for 772 yards and four touchdowns on 153 rushing attempts, and if he can stay healthy in 2026, he should be a solid weekly RB3/flex option for fantasy managers, including in Week 1 versus KC.
Source: The Denver Post - Parker Gabriel
Source: The Denver Post - Parker Gabriel
Jonah Coleman Could be a Late-Season League-Winner
Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman has consistently earned the praise of coaches, teammates, and media throughout his first preseason in the NFL. The fourth-round pick out of Washington was already trending up as soon as the Broncos drafted him, and nothing has changed in the last few months. He continues to have massive upside in dynasty leagues after posting 3,496 scrimmage yards and 33 touchdowns over his last three years of school, and he's even rising up the rankings in redraft leagues. As it stands, Coleman is worthy of a roster spot in 12+ team leagues, despite the fact that he's third on the depth chart behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. After the first few weeks of the season go by and Coleman gets more acclimated to the NFL, we fully expect him to carve out a meaningful role alongside Dobbins and Harvey. Just like we saw Harvey emerge as a fantasy league winner in the second half of the 2025 season, Coleman could do the same in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonah Coleman an Intriguing Rookie Waiver Stash in Denver's Backfield
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman will enter his first NFL season as the Broncos' No. 3 back behind J.K. Dobbins and second-year RB RJ Harvey. Coleman is rostered in only 34% of Yahoo leagues with the regular-season opener in just a few days. While the 23-year-old fourth-rounder from the University of Washington might not have a big role right away in the Broncos' backfield, he should at least be rostered by fantasy managers who selected Dobbins in their drafts. The 5-foot-8, 200-pounder impressed the Broncos' coaching staff at training camp this summer and is expected to be the early-down complement to the oft-injured Dobbins, with Harvey working mostly in pass-catching situations. If Dobbins continues to miss time with injuries, Coleman, not Harvey, would most likely jump into the early-down role for Denver in 2026. In his final season with the Huskies in 2025, Coleman had 156 carries for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games, adding 31 catches for 354 yards and two more touchdowns as a receiver. While he probably will not realize his three-down potential in his rookie campaign, Coleman has intriguing stash upside off the waiver wire in the Broncos' ascending offense.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jonah Coleman Viewed as Direct Backup on Early Downs
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman has been one of the most hyped players on the roster since the team spent a fourth-round pick on him in the 2026 NFL Draft, and in appearing with Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Broncos beat reporter Zac Stevens indicated that the buzz is well-justified. Pointing out the complexity of Sean Payton's offense, Stevens notes that Coleman has already earned the trust of Payton and new offensive coordinator Davis Webb and says, "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." Dobbins has not played more than 13 games in any year since his 2020 rookie season, so if Coleman has truly earned his coaches' favor, he could prove to be one of the league's most valuable insurance backs, heading into the final weekend of draft season as RotoBaller's RB54.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
RJ Harvey to See a "Big Role" as Broncos' Pass-Catching Back
After scoring 12 touchdowns as a rookie, Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey has been arguably the least discussed back on the Broncos' roster for most of the summer, but beat reporter Zac Stevens does not believe that should be the case, as he foresees a big role for the 2025 second-round pick. In a recent appearance with Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Stevens broke down the entire Broncos running back room and said that Harvey "has really established himself as the third-down running back and the pass-catching running back," comparing his role to that of Alvin Kamara in Sean Payton's Saints offenses. While rookie Jonah Coleman has emerged as a more likely true handcuff to starter J.K. Dobbins, Harvey is expected to see a significant role in the passing game after catching 47 passes as a rookie. As RotoBaller's RB36, Harvey is a player to target in full-PPR leagues, and he has the spike-week potential to return tremendous value from the middle rounds of drafts.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
