Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris had his worst showing of the campaign in Week 15 and unfortunately draws another tough challenge against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Baltimore has given up just 3.41 yards per carry to opposing backs, the fewest in the NFL. It is worth noting, however, that Harris played well against the Ravens just a few weeks ago. In a Week 11 meeting with his division rival, Harris totaled 93 yards from scrimmage and finished as the RB17 in half-PPR scoring. With George Pickens (hamstring) set to miss a third straight contest, Pittsburgh could try to dictate the tempo at home by establishing the run with Harris and Jaylen Warren. Fantasy managers should keep their expectations in check given the difficulty of the matchup, but Harris can be started as a low-end RB2 or flex option this week.
Najee Harris Has Poor Performance In Loss To Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris managed just 14 rushing yards on six carries and hauled in his only target for a seven-yard gain in a 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Although fantasy managers cannot be pleased with this performance, Harris' output would have been even worse had he been credited with a lost fumble on a dropped toss from quarterback Russell Wilson. This turnover, which occurred in Philadelphia territory, arguably cost the Steelers the game as they trailed by just one touchdown in the third quarter before coughing the ball up. Harris' lack of touches can mostly be attributed to the fact that Pittsburgh never led on the scoreboard and only possessed the ball twice in the second half. Unfortunately, Harris has another difficult matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has had to overcome a few difficult matchups this season and will once again have his work cut out for him in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles limit opposing offenses to the eighth-fewest rushing yards and hold running backs to the fourth-fewest fantasy points. That said, Philadelphia has allowed a running back to score on the ground in three of its last four contests. Harris is averaging over 20 touches per game and should be a focal point of Pittsburgh's offensive attack on Sunday, especially with George Pickens (hamstring) out of the lineup. Fantasy managers should not expect a massive performance from Harris but can still count on him as a volume-based low-end RB2 this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris handled 16 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown in a Week 14 win against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. Harris was a focal point of Pittsburgh's offense early in the first quarter, gaining 32 yards through its first two possessions. Although he was surprisingly quiet for much of the rest of the contest, he punched the ball into the end zone for a one-yard score in the second quarter to give the Steelers a 10-7 lead. He was not utilized as a pass-catcher on Sunday after hauling in six receptions last week. Regardless, Harris has been a steady contributor for fantasy and continues to receive a heavy workload on the ground. A difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles awaits in Week 15.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris had his best fantasy outing of the season in Week 13 and will look to keep rolling against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Harris was ineffective against this Browns' defense two weeks ago, but he remained a focal point of the offense with 18 opportunities. Even if Jaylen Warren mixes in for additional work, Harris should be a lock for at least 15 touches, a number he has surpassed in every contest this year. Although Cleveland has been solid against the run in 2024, the Browns are giving up a lot of points and are tied for the fifth-most rushing touchdowns surrendered to running backs. Fantasy managers can continue to rely on Harris as a volume-based RB2 with a good shot of finding the end zone in Week 14.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris handled 16 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown while catching all six of his targets for 54 yards in a Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Harris, who struggled mightily against the Cleveland Browns and played on fewer snaps than Jaylen Warren last week, dominated opportunities in Pittsburgh's backfield and bounced back in a big way on Sunday. His six receptions were his most since Week 4 as quarterback Russell Wilson targeted him early and often. He seemingly injured his leg on the Steelers' second possession of the contest but quickly returned to score from 10 yards out in the second quarter. The fourth-year pro will look to keep trending positively in another meeting with the Browns next week.
After a hot stretch in the middle of the campaign, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has quieted down in recent weeks with fewer than 70 rushing yards in three straight contests. He could struggle again in Week 13 in a tough divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals give up plenty of points to opposing teams but have been shutting down the running game for most of the season. It is worth noting, however, that Cincinnati has surrendered the fifth-most rushing touchdowns to running backs. With Jaylen Warren mixing in to split touches with Harris, it's difficult to project Harris for a lot of yardage on Sunday, so fantasy managers may be disappointed with his output unless he falls into the end zone. Because of this, Harris should be viewed as just a low-end RB2 in most formats.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris was held to 41 rushing yards on 16 carries in a Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He hauled in both of his targets for an additional 13 yards through the air. For the first time since Week 5, Harris failed to score double-digit fantasy points as he found very little running room on Thursday night. Backfield mate Jaylen Warren was far more efficient and found the end zone in the contest. While it's highly unlikely Harris will lose his job at any point this season, it's certainly possible that he and Warren split touches fairly evenly going forward. This would make him a bit more difficult to trust for fantasy, especially if Pittsburgh's offense continues to struggle in the red zone. The 26-year-old will hope to bounce back in a slightly more appealing matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals next week.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has been a consistent fantasy producer for most of the season and will hope to continue this success on the road against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have been solid against the run this year, specifically in Cleveland where they allow just 98.6 rushing yards per game. Nonetheless, Harris is a dependable fantasy asset based on volume. The 26-year-old has been given at least 16 opportunities in every contest this season and usually earns a few looks in the passing game even with backfield mate Jaylen Warren healthy. Thursday night's divisional face-off isn't expected to be high-scoring, so while Harris' touchdown upside might be somewhat limited, he still offers a high floor and thus should be started in most formats as an RB2.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris turned 18 carries into 63 yards and four receptions into 30 yards on five targets in a Week 11 win over the Baltimore Ravens. While Harris only managed 3.5 yards per rush attempt against a stingy Baltimore defense, he ran hard and demonstrated great vision numerous times. He saw an uptick in utilization through the air as his four catches were his most in a contest since Week 3. Jaylen Warren continued to serve as a nice change-of-pace back, but there is no doubt at this point in the season that Harris is the player Pittsburgh leans on in the running game. The 26-year-old has been a consistent fantasy option recently and should be viewed as a volume-based RB2 heading into a Week 12 bout with the Cleveland Browns.
Najee Harris
• RB
•
Steelers
