RJ Harvey has been a volatile fantasy option this season. He swung from a 19.3-point eruption in Week 4 to a 0.7-point dud in Week 5, then bounced back with 14.6 PPR points and a rushing touchdown against Seattle. Now Denver heads to Arizona with a backfield that could get more crowded soon. Find out whether you should start or sit RJ Harvey in Week 7.
RJ Harvey Start or Sit Advice for Week 7
Harvey’s receiving role is what keeps him in the conversation every week. He has caught 23 of his 26 targets for 163 yards, giving him a 15.2% share of Denver’s targets. That is a substantial number for a running back, and it gives him a path to PPR points that committee backs rarely enjoy. He also leads the Broncos backfield with four red zone targets, so he has a way to contribute near the goal line even without carries there.
His Week 6 performance showed the full range of his usage. He ran six times for 25 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 31 yards. Tyler Badie left that game in the first half with a thumb injury, and Harvey and J.K. Dobbins handled the backfield the rest of the way. Badie has not practiced this week, which trims the rotation further.
Arizona’s run defense is a neutral draw. The Cardinals allow 21.2 PPR points per game to running backs, right around the league average of 21.8, and 4.25 yards per carry against a league mark of 4.09. They have faced the Chargers, Seattle, San Francisco, the Giants, Detroit and the Rams, a group running 10% above league average, so those numbers are a fair read.
The Biggest Fantasy Risk for RJ Harvey in Week 7
The matchup does not suit his specific role. Arizona holds running backs to just 25.2 receiving yards per game, well below the league average of 31.1, and 3.0 catches per game against a league mark of 4.4. A back who leans on receptions faces a defense that has kept passing-down backs in check.
Where the Cardinals do give ground is near the goal line, and that benefits Dobbins rather than Harvey. Arizona has allowed 35 red zone carries to backs this season, well above the league average of 21.8. Dobbins owns that work with 11 red zone carries to Harvey’s one, and he has two rushing touchdowns on the season.
The backfield may also get more crowded. Jonah Coleman has been practicing in full this week with his window to return from injured reserve open. Coleman handled 13 touches and scored a touchdown in Week 2, and his return would add another body to a rotation that already limits Harvey’s carries. Harvey holds just 14.3% of Denver’s carries.
Denver’s offense is also a drag. The Broncos are scoring 19.0 points per game, averaging 3.44 yards per carry as a team and throwing for 168.0 yards per game. Harvey’s own rushing efficiency is modest at 3.9 yards per carry.
Fantasy Outlook for RJ Harvey in Week 7
Start Harvey in Week 7 as a PPR FLEX option. His receiving role is secure, Badie’s thumb injury thins the rotation, and he has shown he can deliver useful weeks even with limited carries.
The ceiling is capped by Arizona’s ability to limit receiving backs and a Broncos offense that has struggled to score. His weekly floor is also shakier than his target share suggests, as Week 5 showed. If Coleman returns and takes on a meaningful role, Harvey’s volume could shrink further.
He is a better play in full PPR formats than in standard leagues. Fantasy managers covering byes from the Chargers, Commanders, Bills and Jaguars can feel comfortable using him at FLEX, but those with a more stable option should consider it.