Mark Andrews or RJ Harvey: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Andrews: his red-zone role has more paths to a useful PPR day

Start Mark Andrews: Baltimore's favorable scoring setup gives his red-zone role more ways to pay off than Harvey's specialist usage. The 1.6-point projection edge is modest, but Andrews brings the steadier workload and stronger positional standing, making this a clear—not overwhelming—preference. Harvey's receiving ability can help in PPR, yet his RB2, passing-down role leaves him dependent on game script and efficient checkdowns (Sports Illustrated (onsi) 2026-09-09; ESPN 2026-09-04).

What flips it: A verified expansion of Harvey’s role into early downs.

Sources: Sports Illustrated (onsi) · Sep 9, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 4, 2026

AI editor

Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

TE15BALvs IND

Projected Points

Start· medium
RJ Harvey

RJ Harvey

RB38DENvs KC

Projected Points

Sit
BAL@
INDSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
DEN@
KCMon, Sep 14, 8:15 PM ETView the game →

Why Mark Andrews

Start· medium

TE1 and red-zone mismatch. Veteran seam-stretcher with strong hands and quarterback rapport.

26.5 implied total and a 17% target share keep Andrews in the TE1 mix despite a TE15 tag — he's the red-zone target in a favored offense.

  • Baltimore’s scoring outlook directly supports Andrews’ red-zone mismatch role.
  • His veteran rapport with the quarterback gives the target share more stability than the raw TE15 rank suggests.

The call

  • Baltimore's 26.5 implied team total as a 3.5-point favorite means plenty of scoring chances, and Andrews is the one target who converts those trips inside the 10.
  • A 17% target share on 62% of snaps is a route-running specialist's usage — he's not a blocker padding volume, he's the designed passing-game piece.
  • TE15 and 10.1 projected points is exactly the tier where touchdown equity breaks ties, and Andrews carries more of it than almost anyone ranked near him.
  • Risk is the 62% snap share capping his floor if Baltimore grinds out a lead on the ground — he's a start, not a set-and-forget.

Why RJ Harvey

Sit

RB2 and passing-down complement. Explosive change-of-pace back with strong receiving production and red-zone scoring.

Sit — RB38 consensus, projects RB40 this week: 10% target share in 2025, 8.5 PPR projected vs KC.

  • Harvey’s receiving role offers a PPR escape hatch if Denver trails Kansas City.
  • His explosive change-of-pace profile can produce a splash play despite limited early-down work.

Latest on Harvey

Role

Denver's Week 1 depth chart lists RJ Harvey as RB2 behind Dobbins, with Harvey projected as the Broncos' third-down back who will see more passing opportunities rather than a bigger early-down role.

Sports Illustrated (onsi) · Sep 9, 2026
Role

Coach Sean Payton said last week that Harvey's receiving ability is 'certainly a strength,' framing him for a pass-game-heavy role in 2026 rather than an every-down rushing role.

ESPN, CBS Sports · Sep 4, 2026
Role

Harvey is expected to stay in a passing-down/satellite role rather than an every-down one, because Dobbins is not a receiving threat (70 catches on 652 career touches). Harvey's rookie usage was reception-driven, with 47 catches on 58 targets and five receiving touchdowns.

Yahoo Sports · Aug 30, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricMark AndrewsRJ Harvey
Projected points
Consensus rankTE15RB38
Opponent vs positionINDno ranking yetKCno ranking yet
Target share17%(2025)10%(2025)
Reception share17%(2025)12%(2025)
Implied total · spread26.5-3.520.0+2.5
Depth chartTE1RB2
Snap share62%(2025)42%(2025)

Signal breakdown

  • 10.1 vs 8.5 projected PPR pointsMark Andrews +
  • Rank 15 vs 38Mark Andrews +
  • Matchup (DvP composite)even
  • Implied 26.5 vs 20.0 team pointsMark Andrews +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 62% vs 42% snap shareMark Andrews +

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