RJ Harvey starred in Denver’s season opener, piling up 70 rushing yards on six carries and ripping a 50-yard sprint that helped set up the winning score in a 20-12 victory over Tennessee. He earned NFL Rookie of the Week nomination as the breakout performance raised expectations for a bigger role in Payton’s run game.

Harvey sits in a rotating backfield but is poised to see more than the 22 snaps from Week 1, with Denver signaling a more run-friendly second-half approach and continued use of RPOs. The list of nominees also features Emeka Egbuka, Tyler Warren, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Dylan Sampson and Demetrius Knight, underscoring a wide spread of rookie talents across the league.

Week 2 fantasy outlooks lean on Omarion Hampton, Dylan Sampson, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, TreVeyon Henderson, and Bhayshul Tuten as the key Week 2 calls. Hampton is the clear lead in Los Angeles’s backfield with a favorable Raiders matchup, while Sampson flashed in the Browns’ Week 1 and looks to stay atop the backfield, especially with Judkins arriving. Croskey-Merritt is shaping as early-down work for Washington; Henderson, Tuten, and Harvey carry upside but come with risk. Emeka Egbuka and Kaleb Johnson enter discussions more as college-floor targets, and the piece nudges readers to use the Who Should I Start tool for precise four-player comparisons to optimize Week 2 lineups.

The article emphasizes how matchups, usage, and format (PPR, Half-PPR, Standard) drive start decisions, with a strong focus on volume and TD upside for backfields in flux. It also highlights that the start tool has been revamped for more actionable projections and better in-app news integration, supporting fantasy managers in making sharper Week 2 calls while navigating byes and injuries.

Denver's run game is a work in progress as Payton studies the tape and leans into strengths. RJ Harvey sparked the late surge with a 50-yard run, and J.K. Dobbins finished the drive with a 19-yard TD to salvage the day on the ground.

Bo Nix turned the ball over four times, stalling drives, while Denver went 6-of-15 on third downs. The offense still produced 30 rushes for 151 yards and a TD, hinting at a potential late-season shift. Harvey and Dobbins offer a two-headed spark if the line tightens up and the play design emphasizes explosive runs.

The late-game surge suggests a committee approach could emerge, with Harvey stepping forward and Dobbins finishing drives—giving fantasy managers a path to upside if workload climbs and the offense gains rhythm in the weeks ahead.

Denver survived four turnovers to beat Tennessee 20-12, a win that exposes both the Broncos’ rough edges and their ceiling. Talanoa Hufanga stepped in as a true defensive catalyst, piling up a game-high 10 tackles (7 solo) and forcing a fumble, signaling a leadership leap on a defense that rose to the occasion.

In the backfield, J.K. Dobbins (63 rushing yards and a TD) and RJ Harvey (70 yards on six carries) delivered a promising duo that could shape Week 2 plans against Indianapolis. Bo Nix fought through pocket pressure, finishing 25-of-40 for 176 yards with a TD and two interceptions, while Denver’s defense stymied Titans’ drives, including back-to-back sacks in the fourth that flipped field position.

Turnovers loomed large, yet the Broncos’ defense carried the day. Marvin Mims muffed a punt, and Denver still won minus-two in the turnover margin for only the second time since 2016. The Week 2 test against the Colts looms, and the backfield plus the emerging pass rush could be fantasy levers if the offense cleans up its miscues.

Bottom line: Denver’s defense is for real, Hufanga’s leadership is evident, and Harvey–Dobbins is a backfield to monitor as the Broncos chase a higher ceiling this season.

Week 1 fantasy outlook centers on Chubb, Hall, Henderson, Diggs, and the rookies Harvey and Odunze. Henderson and Harvey bring rookie upside behind NE and DEN, while Chubb and Hall anchor safe, high-floor picks. Odunze is a high-risk, high-reward WR play in Chicago, and Diggs remains a top-tier target in Buffalo. The piece uses the Who Should I Start tool to compare up to four players and guide Week 1 lineups, plus a snapshot of Popular Week 1 Searches.