Monday Night · Week 1
Harvey is the listed RB2 behind Dobbins.
Why this pick · the matrix
Evidence: low. Stash priority: 78/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | No stats available before this game week | ||||||
| 2025 | 17 | 146 | 540 | 58 | 47 | 356 | 12 |
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | No stats available before this game week | ||||||
| 2025 | 10 | 153 | 772 | 14 | 11 | 37 | 4 |
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
Denver’s Sept. 9 Week 1 depth chart lists J.K. Dobbins first, RJ Harvey second and Jonah Coleman third. Harvey is the direct replacement and already owns passing-game work.
Backfield news: Denver’s Sept. 9 Week 1 depth chart lists J.K. Dobbins first, RJ Harvey second and Jonah Coleman third. Harvey is the direct replacement and already owns passing-game work.
Scouting: Denver's designated third-down back per Sean Payton and one of the most productive receiving backs in the league as a rookie (27% target rate on routes). Durable, already trusted in protection, and the obvious man to inherit a full workload the moment Dobbins breaks down — a premium handcuff.
Starter injury history: 2024 (LAC): MCL sprain cost four weeks; 13 games. 2025 (DEN): Lisfranc foot injury vs. LV in Week 10 required surgery and ended his season, missing the final four games (10 games, 772 yds). 2026: soft-tissue injury limited camp and he sat out all three preseason games. Career: torn ACL (2021), torn Achilles (2023), broken foot (2025); no season above 13 games since 2020.
Also considered: Jonah Coleman (55), Tyler Badie (30)
The Week 1 chart and Reid's pass-protection comments identify Johnson as RB2.
Why this pick · the matrix
Evidence: low. Stash priority: 70/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | No stats available before this game week | ||||||
| 2025 | No stats available before this game week | ||||||
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | No stats available before this game week | ||||||
| 2025 | 17 | 221 | 1027 | 36 | 31 | 282 | 5 |
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
- Kansas City Chiefs release first unofficial depth chart ahead of Week 1
- Andy Reid's comments on Emmett Johnson explain Chiefs roster cuts
- Photos: Practice for Regular Season Week 1 vs. Broncos | 09/14/26
A Sept. 8 report of Kansas City's first Week 1 depth chart lists Kenneth Walker, Emmett Johnson and Brashard Smith in that order. Andy Reid had also said Johnson's pass protection was what he needed to show to be the No. 2. Official Chiefs practice photos dated Sept. 11 show Walker, Johnson and Smith participating, supporting current practice availability. Johnson matches the deterministic choice.
Backfield news: The Week 1 depth chart places Johnson behind Walker. Reid highlighted his pass protection when discussing the No. 2 role. Official Friday practice captions include Johnson, Walker and Smith; this is practice evidence, not confirmation of Monday activation.
Scouting: Rookie who Andy Reid has effectively confirmed as the top backup, moving ahead of Brashard Smith. Given Walker's ankle history he is a live handcuff, but he has no NFL snaps and Kansas City would probably split work if Walker sat.
Starter injury history: 2024 (SEA): missed roughly six games with ankle, calf and oblique injuries, including a December high-ankle sprain that put him on IR. 2025 (KC): August foot soreness tied to that ankle cost camp time, but he played all 17 games for the first time and was Super Bowl MVP. 2026: an ankle issue surfaced again in August. Roughly 10 games missed in four years to repeat ankle/calf/oblique strains.
Also considered: Brashard Smith (43)