The Denver Broncos were in need of a running back coming into the 2025 NFL Draft more than just about any team in the league. They took care of that problem by selecting UCF running back RJ Harvey with the No. 60 overall pick in the second round. 

Harvey will now be expected to help lead the Broncos' offense as the team looks to finally topple the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC West division and then look to compete for the Super Bowl. The hype is starting to come out involving the rookie running back, and fantasy football players see him as an immediate impact player. 

As Bucky Brooks of NFL.com took a look at some long-shot picks to win awards in the NFL this season, he landed on Harvey as the potential Offensive Rookie of the Year. He notes that Harvey's odds to win that award, according to Caesar's Sportsbook, currently sit at +2200. 

"When Sean Payton decided to draft Harvey in Round 2, he likely envisioned the former UCF standout thriving in an Alvin Kamara-like role with the Broncos. Measuring 5-foot-8, 205 pounds with outstanding balance, body control, hand-eye coordination and burst, Harvey can create mismatches in a variety of spots depending on his pre-snap alignment. He’s too quick and shifty for linebackers in space, but he also flashes enough power and pop to run through arm tackles in the hole. As a gritty runner with a little pizzazz, he is the do-it-all playmaker Payton covets as his feature back in his diverse offensive system. Given his potential workload and supporting cast, Harvey could put up eye-popping numbers for a team on the rise", wrote Brooks. 

Those are some great thoughts and Broncos fans would love to see it all become a reality, but the recent signing of J.K. Dobbins has to be factored in. Sean Payton has never been one to lean too heavily on one running back, and he's not likely to do that with a rookie. 

Harvey could still be dynamic as a rookie, but Dobbins is going to eat into his workload. It could be difficult for Harvey to post the kind of numbers needed to win the OROY Award. 

The Broncos have had two players win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in team history, and both were running backs. Mike Anderson in 2000 and Clinton Portis in 2002. 

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