Luther Burden III or RJ Harvey: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Burden — the consensus rank and projection edges are too wide to ignore.

Luther Burden III is the higher consensus play (WR27 to RB38) and projects 11.2 to Harvey's 9.1. No signal favors Harvey this week. The gap is wide.

Luther Burden III

Luther Burden III

WR27CHIvs PHI

Projected Points

Toss-Up
RJ Harvey

RJ Harvey

RB38DENvs LAR

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Luther Burden III’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-105 / -121
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 35.5
-114 / -110
Receiving Yards Props →

RJ Harvey’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 19.5
-113 / -113
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 2.5
-145 / +113
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 16.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →

Why Luther Burden III

Toss-Up

WR2 and outside starter opposite Rome Odunze. Explosive yards-after-catch threat with manufactured-touch usage.

Toss-up — WR27 consensus, projects WR37 this week: PHI is the 11th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 24.0 implied team total.

  • PHI ranks 11 of 32 against WRs (one of the tougher matchups, 2-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 24.0 team points as 1.5-point favorites.
  • Listed WR-2 on the latest depth chart with a 65% snap share.

Why RJ Harvey

Toss-Up

RB2 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

Status

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, 2026
Status

RJ 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, 2026

Broncos 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.

ESPN · Sep 24, 2026

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.

ESPN · Sep 21, 2026

The Broncos have announced their inactive players for Sunday’s matchup with the Jaguars.

denverbroncos.com · Sep 20, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricLuther Burden IIIRJ Harvey
Projected points
Consensus rankWR27RB38
Opponent vs positionPHI · 11 of 322-game sampleLAR · 11 of 322-game sample
Receptions7 of 3221 of 32
Receiving Yards13 of 3212 of 32
Receiving TDs15 of 32—
Targets7 of 32—
Anytime TD15 of 321 of 32
Rushing Yards—16 of 32
Rushing TDs—1 of 32
Rushing Attempts—15 of 32
Target share21%19%
Reception share20%27%
Implied total · spread24.0-1.521.3+3.0
Depth chartWR2RB2
Snap share65%51%
Start/Sit record0–10–0+1 toss-up

Recent form

Luther Burden III — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs MIN
Week 1vs CAR

RJ Harvey — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs JAX
Week 1vs KC

Signal breakdown

  • 11.2 vs 9.1 projected PPR pointsLuther Burden III +
  • Rank 27 vs 38Luther Burden III +
  • Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 11 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.0 vs 21.3 team pointsLuther Burden III +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 65% vs 51% snap shareLuther Burden III +

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