2025 Outlook
Availability
Harvey is a tough runner. His leg drive allows him to pinball off defenders and pick up tough yards. He sheds arm tackles well, especially in the second level, and is a better short-yardage runner than you'd expect from a player his size. Harvey's lateral agility and burst improved toward the end of the 2024 season. After watching some of his early-season games, I questioned his long speed, initial burst, and lateral agility. All of those improved as the 2024 season moved along. While he might not be a home run hitter in the NFL (he gets caught from behind plenty), he should have the ability to break off chunk runs. He has a good feel for when to press and flow with outside-zone runs. He can get tentative at the line with some inside zone and interior runs. His vision isn't horrible by any stretch of the imagination, but when the picture is muddier, his feet can get choppy. At times, he needs to be more willing to bounce runs. Harvey's grit shows in pass protection. He's a willing and able blocker who is willing to stick his nose in there and get physical. His strong lower half serves him well here. As a receiving option, he is nothing more than a dump-off option at this juncture. He was tasked with only leaking out the backfield for check-downs in college. He does have moments as a receiver where he has concentration drops when he gets ahead of himself and worries too much about what he is about to do with the ball in his hands before securing the pass.
R.J. Harvey is small (5-9, 208) and overaged (24). But holy-moly, what a fun player to watch. Harvey has outstanding quickness and lateral agility. His jump-cuts are something to behold. Harvey also has great vision, quickly discerning where holes are and decisively dashing through them. He's also a capable pass catcher and a high academic achiever. The production at UCF the last two years was absurd: 42 touchdowns, just under 3,000 rushing yards, and more than 500 receiving yards. The ageists and sizeists aren't going to like Harvey, but open-minded dynasty managers might fall in love with him.
