Brock Bowers or RJ Harvey: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Bowers — the projection and consensus rank edges are too wide to ignore.
Brock Bowers projects 14.2 to Harvey's 9.1 and is the higher consensus play (TE2 to RB38). Harvey's edge is availability, a clean report to Bowers's questionable. The gap is wide.
Brock Bowers
8.111.214.2 Projected Points
RJ Harvey
6.27.69.1 Projected Points
Brock Bowers’s market
RJ Harvey’s market
Why Brock Bowers
Sit· highTE1 and offensive focal point. Elite separation and yards-after-catch ability; mismatch weapon with WR-level target volume.
Bowers is listed Out — you can't start a ruled-out TE2, even with an 86% snap share and 25% target share when healthy.
- Currently ruled out — not a viable start until his status changes.
- NO ranks 13 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 2-game sample).
- Vegas implies 19.5 team points as 3.5-point underdogs.
- Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 86% snap share in 2025.
The call
- Availability is the whole call: the sheet lists him Out, so the 14.2 projection and TE2 consensus rank are moot this week.
- When active he's an every-down weapon — 86% snap share and a 25% target share over 12 games — so he's an immediate must-start the moment the designation flips.
- Reports quoted here say Kubiak called him 'very close' and expects a Week 3 debut against the Saints; if he's activated before kickoff, this becomes a start, but you need a real backup plan until then.
- Matchup and script are neutral anyway — New Orleans grades 13 of 32 vs the position on a thin 2-game sample, and Las Vegas carries just a 19.5 implied total as a 3.5-point underdog.
Latest on Bowers
In the game, Bowers functioned more as a wide receiver than a traditional tight end for most of his routes.
Raiders' Brock Bowers shines in return from knee procedureESPN · Sep 27, 2026Bowers returned to practice last Friday and remained a limited participant afterward.
Raiders' Brock Bowers shines in return from knee procedureESPN · Sep 27, 2026Brock Bowers practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday this week before missing Friday's practice, which was planned.
Sources: Raiders TE Brock Bowers expected to play vs. SaintsESPN · Sep 27, 2026Ryan McFadden reports Brock Bowers returned to practice but is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Brock Bowers is doubtful to play against the Chargers, though the Raiders will see how the tight end feels pregame before making a final decision.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why RJ Harvey
Toss-UpRB2 and passing-down complement. Explosive change-of-pace back with strong receiving production and red-zone scoring.
Toss-up — RB38 consensus, projects RB35 this week: LAR is the 11th-toughest matchup vs RBs, 19% target share.
- LAR ranks 11 of 32 against RBs (one of the tougher matchups, 2-game sample).
- Vegas implies 21.3 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
- Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 51% snap share.
Latest on Harvey
RJ Harvey is available for the upcoming game after being a full participant in Friday's practice and receiving no game status.
Injury Report: RBs RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins not assigned game statuses, RB Jonah Coleman ruled out for Week 3 game vs. Ramsdenverbroncos.com · Sep 25, 2026RJ Harvey was a full participant in Thursday practice after being limited on Wednesday.
Injury Report: RBs J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey improve to full practice participants Thursday ahead of Week 3 game vs. Ramsdenverbroncos.com · Sep 24, 2026RJ Harvey (hamstring) was inactive for Denver's Week 2 win over Jacksonville after being limited in practice all week, but head coach Sean Payton suggested Monday that Harvey could return to action in Week 3 against the Rams.
ESPN · Sep 22, 2026Broncos running backs J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey were limited in practice Wednesday, and Jonah Coleman did not practice. Nevertheless, coach Sean Payton said he thinks "we're going to be all right" at the position Sunday against the Rams.
With injuries to J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, the Denver Broncos are looking at the week ahead before determining which running back will be ready for Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Broncos have announced their inactive players for Sunday’s matchup with the Jaguars.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Brock Bowers | RJ Harvey |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 8.111.214.2 | 6.27.69.1 |
| Consensus rank | TE2 | RB38 |
| Opponent vs position | NO · 13 of 322-game sample | LAR · 11 of 322-game sample |
| Receptions | 22 of 32 | 21 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 16 of 32 | 12 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 1 of 32 | — |
| Targets | 24 of 32 | — |
| Anytime TD | 1 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Rushing Yards | — | 16 of 32 |
| Rushing TDs | — | 1 of 32 |
| Rushing Attempts | — | 15 of 32 |
| Target share | 25%(2025) | 19% |
| Reception share | 27%(2025) | 27% |
| Implied total · spread | 19.5+3.5 | 21.3+3.0 |
| Depth chart | TE1 | RB2 |
| Snap share | 86%(2025) | 51% |
| Injury designation | questionable | — |
| Start/Sit record | 1–0 | 0–0+1 toss-up |
Recent form
Brock Bowers — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs LAC | 0.00.00.0 |
| Week 1 | vs MIA | 0.00.00.0 |
RJ Harvey — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs JAX | 0.00.00.0 |
| Week 1 | vs KC | 4.16.18.1 |
Signal breakdown
- 14.2 vs 9.1 projected PPR pointsBrock Bowers +
- Rank 2 vs 38Brock Bowers +
- Opponent DvP rank 13 vs 11 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 19.5 vs 21.3 team pointsRJ Harvey +
- questionable vs no designationRJ Harvey +
- 86% vs 51% snap shareBrock Bowers +
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