The Broncos are on a roll, having reeled off six straight wins. Now, they’ll attempt to pad their AFC West lead with a victory over the rival Raiders. If Las Vegas has any shot at an upset, it’ll need to slow down one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks. That includes RJ Harvey, an emerging star out of Denver’s backfield. Can the rookie do damage during Week 10’s primetime showdown?
Denver enters Thursday as 9.5-point favorites (-110), while the Raiders are +390 underdogs on the moneyline. The total is set at 42.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Below is my favorite Harvey prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s contest.
Best RJ Harvey Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Head coach Sean Payton has molded the Broncos into a physical, run-first group. Unsurprisingly, the team ranks seventh in the NFL with 133.6 rushing yards per game. Part of what makes Denver so dangerous is that it wields two dangerous running backs. Starter J.K. Dobbins has done a solid job handling most of the carries this season. However, Harvey is quickly emerging as a threat in his own right. The second-round pick has tallied five touchdowns over his last three games.
Granted, touchdown-dependent players are never the most ideal targets for a player prop. However, Harvey isn’t just good in the red zone. The 24-year-old has snagged 23 catches for 166 yards and four TDs this season. Having a consistent pass catcher out of the backfield is a staple in most Payton-led offenses. Even more promising, Harvey’s snap share has increased from 20% in Week 5 to 32% last Sunday.
It helps that Thursday’s matchup has real blowout potential. The two-win Raiders have been a mess for most of the season, especially on offense. That’s unlikely to improve against the Broncos, arguably the NFL’s stingiest defense. On the other side of the ball, things haven’t been any better. Las Vegas is allowing the third-most rushing touchdowns (nine) and nearly five receptions per game to opposing running backs.
Both of those statistics play right into Harvey’s skillset. In addition, game script should also favor the youngster. Denver, at home, is a solid bet to hold a decent second half lead. Should that occur, expect less touches for Dobbins. After all, the veteran has an extensive injury history. There’s no good reason to over use him on a short week.
Against an inferior opponent, the Broncos should find success on the ground. Even if the Raiders provide stiff opposition, that just means Denver will throw the ball more than expected. The versatile Harvey should have a role on offense in either scenario. However, his most promising attribute remains his pass catching work. Three receptions is simply too low of a total to pass up tonight.
