Buy RJ Harvey this weekend, while his owner stares at four empty weeks

Buy RJ Harvey this weekend. Somebody in your league just watched their running back land on IR, and they're about to do something impatient with him. You want to be the first person they hear from.

You've seen the move. Denver placed Harvey on short-term injured reserve Saturday with the knee injury he picked up in Thursday's practice, Adam Schefter posted, and Ian Rapoport said he'll miss the next four games and can come back as soon as the Dec. 6 game against Miami. The Broncos had already ruled him out Friday for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.

I'll give you the scary part up front, because it's real. That knee went from limited Thursday to out Friday to IR Saturday, and Denver hasn't put a timeline on it. Dec. 6 is the earliest he can play, and nobody has promised it. I'm not going to pretend I know more about a knee than the Broncos do. If it drags, you've paid for a guy who shows up after your league stopped caring.

The second scary part is Jonah Coleman. Our own desk wrote Saturday that the back who handles early downs against Kansas City is the one most likely to keep that job through November, and the rookie and J.K. Dobbins are the other backs on the active roster. So Harvey could come back to find a rookie with a month of carries. I'll concede that's possible.

Now think about what you're actually buying. You aren't buying November. You're buying a second-year back on whatever years are left on his deal in your league, from a manager whose bench just sprang a leak. Four games on short-term IR hurts the guy setting a lineup Sunday. If he's on a multiyear deal in your league, it barely dents what he's worth to you. And every week Coleman runs well, Harvey's owner gets a little more nervous and the asking price drops a little more. That's great news, as long as you're the one buying.

This isn't a move for the contender who needs points Sunday at 4:25. If that's you, go get Dobbins or Coleman for the month and leave Harvey alone. It's a move for the rebuilder, or for the contender with an open IR slot and the stomach to wait until Miami week. Your league is full of people who pay for players at their healthiest and sell them at their most annoying. Do the opposite.

I could be wrong in two ways. The knee could linger, or Coleman could be good enough that Denver doesn't hand the job back. Fine. I'd still rather buy Harvey during his worst week than pay full price the Monday after he scores against the Dolphins, when your whole league suddenly remembers he exists. Send the offer before Sunday's kickoff. If Coleman goes for 100 against Kansas City, Harvey's owner will take even less, and I'll pretend I told you to wait.

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