Don’t Trust the Box Score: R.J. Harvey’s TDs Mask Real Concerns

Trust The Film

Fantasy football is all about the box score: Yards and TDs equal fantasy points, and fantasy points win your league.

But not every 5-100-1 is built the same. That’s why we use not only advanced analytics, but also film to identify talented players on the verge of delivering numbers.

Every week, I’ll bring my 21 years of experience analyzing college and NFL film to highlight when the box score doesn't match reality, showcasing a few players who performed significantly better or worse than the box score indicates.

Tyrone Tracy, RB, New York Giants

Tracy surprised as a rookie, totaling 1,123 yards and 6 TDs in 2024 after being a fifth-round pick. Expectations were high after 2024, even after the Giants spent a fourth-round pick on Cam Skattebo. But Skattebo’s emergence and a shoulder injury limited Tracy’s fantasy output.

Skattebo exited Week 8 with a dislocated ankle that required surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the year. Tracy now takes over as the lead back and has shown the same talent he displayed last season.
Despite posting only a 10-39-0 rushing line along with 2-14-0 receiving against the Eagles on Sunday, Tracy’s film shows a player poised to make a fantasy impact as the primary starter for the rest of the year.

On this play, Tracy takes the toss and sees the off-tackle hole close. He uses his vision to identify a cutback lane and sidesteps into it, turning 2 yards into 6.
That type of run may not stand out in the box score, but his awareness and vision help extend drives.

This play offers another example of Tracy’s vision. The scripted lane closes, so Tracy shifts left to pick up extra yardage. Though he doesn’t score, he sets up the Giants’ offense for an easy TD.

These subtle advantages over Devin Singletary. Singletary has been a journeyman RB who struggles with these same nuances, lacking not only vision but the athleticism to be effective. This should keep Tracy as the lead back and on the field in crucial situations.

Tracy’s background as a WR shows here. He runs his route to the flat and turns back toward Jaxson Dart while maintaining speed. On the catch, he rotates upfield in one motion, adding 5 yards after contact.

O-Line Holding Him Back

The blocking in front of Tracy doesn’t always allow him to pick up big gains, and that could remain an issue for the rest of the season.

On this play, the O-line prevents a bigger gain. Tracy slips past the first missed block, though the defender gets a hand on him. A second missed block ends the play quickly.

Tracy’s Tape Says The Best Is Yet to Come

Tracy still has the skills to finish as a top-24 RB for the rest of the season. Last year, he ranked RB21 in PPR points per game from Week 5 (his first start) onward.

His background as a college WR for four seasons was a major storyline last year but has been overlooked so far in 2025. His receiving ability remains strong, and his film shows improved decision-making.
Trust him as a reliable PPR option as an RB2 down the stretch.

R.J. Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos

Harvey came through for fantasy managers short on depth for Week 8, posting 7-46-2 on the ground and 1-5-1 receiving against the Cowboys. His 3 TDs inflated the fantasy output, while he still lagged well behind J.K. Dobbins in usage.

Harvey’s 27% snap rate was typical. He hasn’t topped 28% in the past four weeks. He handled just 30.7% of backfield opportunities (carries plus targets). Does this big game mean Harvey will finally take over the lead-back role? Probably not.

The film shows a player who still lacks the instincts to be an NFL lead back, despite his burst and speed.

Harvey’s long TD run was an example of perfect execution by the Broncos. Outside blocks were held, and the O-line reached the second level to spring him for the score.

Harvey’s burst and speed helped finish the play, but even Dobbins likely would have reached the end zone on that run. His other carries exposed the weaknesses in his game.

On this play, Harvey runs off-tackle with strong containment by the Cowboys’ defense. He follows the blocking instead of cutting back into a wide-open lane toward the middle.
The lack of vision was twofold: Harvey didn’t recognize the outside was sealed off and missed the opening inside. Instead of a potential 5-yard gain, he lost 2.

Harvey also struggled to recognize holes directly in front of him.

Here, the blocking opened a small crease in front of Harvey. When a block was shed, he panicked and bounced right into traffic, gaining just 1 yard.

He should have powered through the arm tackle for positive yardage. Instead, the play was wasted.

On this play, Harvey catches his only target of the game for a 5-yard TD. His natural hands, which stood out in college, continue to show up in the NFL. His burst helps him finish this play, but it won’t always be that easy.

The design was excellent: Harvey went in motion, slipped through a gap in the O-line, and shed the CB in traffic. The coverage and blocking gave him an open lane to the flat for an easy score.

Flashes of Talent, But Too Many Missed Chances

Harvey has the explosiveness and speed to be an effective NFL runner, backed by his 4.40-second 40 time at the NFL Combine.

He still lacks the vision and patience to turn routine plays into positive gains. There’s a reason an older, slower back like Dobbins sees more work: consistency.

Harvey has the athletic tools to develop into a top fantasy RB if he corrects these fundamentals, but until then, don’t expect him to become a workhorse under HC Sean Payton.

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

Loveland entered the NFL with high expectations after being selected 10th overall in this year’s draft. Being paired with HC Ben Johnson -- who helped turn Sam LaPorta into a star -- seemed like a perfect fit. But Loveland hasn’t found early success.

He went 3-38-0 against the Ravens in Week 8, setting season highs in yardage and targets (five). The modest box score may look like that of a rookie adjusting to the league, but the film shows a TE with breakout potential.

On this play, Loveland briefly blocks before releasing to the flat. After the catch, he turns upfield and stumbles but quickly regains balance and lowers his shoulder to run through the defender.

His acceleration and power are clear here, even with the misstep. With more consistent targets, Loveland could become a dangerous open-field threat.

On this play, Loveland displays sharp footwork and positioning. He runs a clean curl, turning toward his outside shoulder to give Caleb Williams a safe throwing window away from defenders.

He also sells a deeper route with his gait and upper-body motion mirroring earlier plays, keeping the linebacker moving upfield.

This is advanced technique for a rookie and highlights his upside.

Loveland runs an out route at the goal line to set up a potential TD. He gains strong positioning, shielding the defender from the throw.

Williams’ pass sails out of reach, and Loveland’s route is a touch too shallow. Even with a perfect throw, it might have fallen short of the goal line.

His size and technique make him an ideal red-zone target, but he still needs refinement in that area.

Signs of a Star Hidden Behind a Mediocre Box Score

Loveland’s athleticism and route technique give him the upside to become a future star if the Bears’ passing game improves. Johnson will need to tighten the scheme, Caleb Williams must continue to develop, but Loveland already flashes high-end traits.

Be patient. If this offense finds its rhythm, Loveland could start producing consistent TE numbers before the end of the season. We currently have him as the TE12 this week in our Week 9 PPR TE Rankings.

Next Up

Top 8 Fantasy Football Takeaways From Week 8 Usage

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Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.