FlurrySports’ AI take on Jonah Coleman for Week 8 fantasy football, using the rankings and data from the FlurrySports Playbook.
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Quick answer: Jonah Coleman is a flex play in Week 8, not a locked-in RB2. RJ Harvey (knee) is out, so Coleman should split the Broncos’ backfield with J.K. Dobbins. The FlurrySports Playbook ranks him RB28 in half-PPR and RB27 in PPR this week. The matchup is tough: Kansas City allows the 8th-fewest fantasy points to running backs. The bigger story is what comes after Week 8. Coleman has the best rest-of-season schedule of any running back in the Playbook’s Trade Value Chart, so add him now even if you don’t start him.
RJ Harvey Injury Update
RJ Harvey hurt his knee in Thursday’s practice. He was limited Thursday, sat out Friday, and the Broncos ruled him out for Sunday’s home game against the Chiefs.
The good news for Harvey managers: the injury is not believed to be serious. Denver hasn’t given a timeline, and head coach Sean Payton didn’t elaborate on Friday. Treat it as a short-term absence until we hear otherwise.
Harvey’s absence opens up real work. He played 25% of Denver’s snaps last week and scored on a 52-yard screen pass from Bo Nix. With Harvey out, his early-down carries and his receiving role get split between:
- Jonah Coleman: the rookie led Denver with 9 carries in his first game back from injured reserve
- J.K. Dobbins: the veteran has 87 carries for 293 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns this season
Expect a near-even committee, with Coleman getting a slight edge on efficiency.
Jonah Coleman’s 2026 Season So Far
The Broncos took Coleman in the fourth round (108th overall) out of Washington. He scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 2 against Jacksonville, then sprained his ankle in that game and went on injured reserve. He returned in Week 7.
| Week | Opp | Snap % | Carries | Rush Yds | Rush TD | Targets | Rec | Rec Yds | PPR Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | at KC | 6% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2 | vs. JAX | 40% | 10 | 39 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 14.8 |
| 7 | at ARI | 49% | 9 | 54 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 8.9 |
It’s a small sample, but the efficiency stands out. The Playbook’s Advanced Rushing Data tool shows Coleman at:
- 4.9 yards per carry and 0.12 EPA per carry
- 4 runs of 10+ yards on just 19 carries, more than one explosive run for every five carries
- Only 10.5% of carries stuffed at or behind the line
- 34 of his 93 yards gained after contact
He also ranks 20th among all running backs in fantasy points per snap in the Playbook’s Opportunity Index. He’s produced when he’s been on the field. The question is how much more field time he gets.
Track his usage week to week in the Playbook’s Snap Share tool.
The Matchup: Chiefs Run Defense Is a Tough Draw
Kansas City (5-1) visits Denver (5-2) at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Chiefs are 1.5-point favorites, and the game total has dropped from 41.5 to 40.5, one of the lowest on the slate.
The Playbook’s Fantasy Points Against tool shows why this isn’t a smash spot:
- 19.4 PPR points per game allowed to RBs, 25th in the NFL (8th-fewest)
- 73.7 rushing yards per game allowed to RBs on 21.8 carries, about 3.4 yards per carry
- 0.7 rushing touchdowns per game allowed to RBs, and zero receiving touchdowns
- Opponents score touchdowns on just 31.3% of red-zone trips, 2nd-lowest in the NFL
Denver’s offense doesn’t help. The Broncos run just 56.6 plays per game, 30th in the NFL, and rank 25th in red-zone trips. When these teams met in Week 1, Kansas City won 31-10 and Coleman played three snaps.
The weather won’t be a factor: the Playbook’s Weather forecast calls for 64 degrees, cloudy skies and 5 mph winds in Denver.
The Risks: What Could Go Wrong?
A true committee. Dobbins has handled 87 carries this season and scored 3 touchdowns. If Denver rides the veteran, Coleman could finish with 8 to 10 touches.
Low team volume. Denver ranks 30th in plays per game. A slow, low-scoring game limits how many carries there are to share.
Limited receiving role. Coleman has 5 targets in three games and a 6.2% target share. Harvey’s receiving work won’t automatically go to him.
Goal-line work. Coleman has just one carry inside the 5 this season, and his goal-line share sits at 4.8% in the Playbook’s Paydirt tool.
Jonah Coleman Fantasy Picks: Our Best Pick
Here are the four Jonah Coleman picks available this week, with the side the FlurrySports Playbook data supports:
| Pick | Line | Our Side | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touchdowns | 0.5 | Lower | Highest |
| Receiving Yards | 23.5 | Lower | Strong |
| Rushing Yards | 47.5 | Lower | Lean |
| Receptions | 2.5 | Higher | Coin flip |
Our Pick: Jonah Coleman Lower 0.5 Touchdowns
This is the pick the data backs most clearly. Kansas City allows running backs just 0.7 rushing touchdowns per game, and Coleman will be sharing those chances with Dobbins. Here’s what stacks the odds against a Coleman touchdown:
- The Chiefs allow touchdowns on only 31.3% of red-zone trips, the 2nd-lowest rate in the NFL.
- Denver reaches the red zone just 2.7 times per game, 25th in the NFL.
- Coleman has one carry inside the 5 all season and a 4.8% goal-line share.
- Kansas City hasn’t allowed a receiving touchdown to a running back all season.
By our estimate, Coleman scores in roughly one of every four games in this spot, which makes Lower the strong side.
Why lower on the others? His receiving yards (23.5) would require a big jump from his 6.8-yard average per catch and 1.7 targets per game. His rushing yards (47.5) would need about 11 to 12 carries at his 4.9 yards per carry, against a defense holding backs to 3.4. He’s capable of it, but that’s a lot to ask in a split backfield. Receptions (2.5) is the closest call: he caught 3 in Week 2, and the Chiefs allow 4.5 catches per game to running backs.
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Rest-of-Season Outlook: Add Him Now
Week 8 is a tough spot, but Coleman’s schedule after that is outstanding. He’s No. 11 on the FlurrySports Playbook Waiver Wire board and rostered in only 24.2% of leagues.
His trade value is rising fast too. In the Playbook’s Trade Value Chart, Coleman jumped 7.6 points this week to 16.7. That makes him the RB36 and No. 88 overall, and he has the No. 1 rest-of-season strength of schedule among running backs on the chart. See what that buys you with our Trade Calculator.
Here’s the run Denver’s backs have coming, from the Playbook’s Strength of Schedule tool:
| Week | Opponent | RB Pts Allowed Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | vs. KC | 25th |
| 9 | at CAR | 2nd |
| 10 | BYE | – |
| 11 | vs. LV | 5th |
| 12 | at PIT | 23rd |
| 13 | vs. MIA | 4th |
| 14 | at NYJ | 15th |
| 15 | at LV | 5th |
| 16 | vs. BUF | 3rd |
| 17 | at NE | 19th |
(Rank 1 = the defense that allows the most points to RBs.)
Denver’s remaining RB opponents average a rank of 11.2, and five of them rank top five in points allowed to the position. Even when Harvey returns, Coleman’s efficiency gives him a real case for a bigger share heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Jonah Coleman Fantasy Week 8 FAQ
Should I start Jonah Coleman in Week 8?
Only as a flex. The FlurrySports Playbook ranks him RB28 in half-PPR and RB27 in PPR. RJ Harvey is out, but Coleman will likely split work with J.K. Dobbins against a Chiefs defense that allows the 8th-fewest fantasy points to running backs.
Is RJ Harvey playing in Week 8?
No. Harvey hurt his knee in Thursday’s practice and has been ruled out against the Chiefs. The injury is not believed to be serious.
Is Jonah Coleman a waiver-wire pickup?
Yes. He’s No. 11 on the FlurrySports Playbook Waiver Wire board, rostered in 24.2% of leagues, and has the best rest-of-season schedule of any running back on the Playbook’s Trade Value Chart.
Who is the Broncos’ starting running back?
With Harvey out, Jonah Coleman and J.K. Dobbins are expected to split the work against Kansas City.
When is the Broncos’ bye week?
Week 10. Denver plays the Chiefs in Week 8 and the Panthers in Week 9 before the bye.
Final Verdict: Should I Start or Sit Jonah Coleman in Week 8?
Coleman has been efficient in limited work, and Harvey’s injury opens the door for more. Week 8 is still a tough matchup in a low-scoring game with a crowded backfield. Treat him as a flex in Week 8, and add him everywhere for the schedule that starts in Week 9.
