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.