Should I start RJ Harvey in Fantasy Week 11? Broncos RB lineup advice vs. Chiefs

Matt Sullivan

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Should I start RJ Harvey in Fantasy Week 11? Broncos RB lineup advice vs. Chiefs image

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The Denver Broncos were dealt some unfortunate news on Friday, as NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport revealed that running back J.K. Dobbins is out for the Week 11 matchup vs. The Kansas City Chiefs.

While Dobbins is set to miss an extended amount of time, for Week 11, the start/sit decision for fantasy managers with RJ Harvey is a big one. For the first time all year, Harvey is projected to be the lead back.

But, with a matchup against the Chiefs, can Harvey be trusted? Should fantasy managers start Harvey in Week 11? There are pros and cons to starting Harvey this week, making the new Broncos lead back a fascinating start/sit question for Week 11.

Should fantasy managers start RJ Harvey vs. Chiefs?

This week is a tough matchup for Harvey, as the Chiefs are the seventh-best defense against running backs in fantasy this season.

While Kansas City has allowed some big scoring performances on a whole, running backs have struggled against this team. Earlier in the year, Jahmyr Gibbs put up just 7.5 points in Full PPR, Saquon Barkley had 17.4, and most recently, James Cook had 13.5 points.

Running backs typically don't perform well against Kansas City, making Harvey a risky play this week, despite the increased workload expected in Dobbins' absence.

However, with a lack of wide receivers and the Broncos' strong defense, this game could wind up being a close one, giving Harvey enough touches to finish with a solid performance.

Part of the issue for Harvey this week, beyond the Chiefs potentially putting Denver in a negative game script, is that Kansas City has a knack for draining the clock and can limit his chances to touch the ball, even if the game script remains neutral.

More: Broncos' JK Dobbins blasts NFL over hip-drop tackles in NSFW social media post

In Full PPR leagues, Harvey is the 24th-ranked running back with 99.9 fantasy points in 10 weeks. He's been productive lately, putting up 24.1 and 16.6 points in back-to-back weeks against the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.

Harvey was splitting time with Dobbins for those performances, making him a lot more appealing now as the lead back. Harvey has a high ceiling, since he's an effective runner and a strong receiving threat, but in a matchup against the Chiefs, he's a risky play.

Even though this isn't an easy matchup, and there's some risk, Harvey is still worth a start in most leagues. He's going to get the bulk of the work, and on a good team, there's always some value with such a role.

If fantasy managers have better, more proven options, there's no need to force him into the lineup. But for lineups that need a jolt, or that have iffy options otherwise, Harvey is a decent play this week despite a brutal matchup.

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Editorial Team