A Lisfranc foot injury harpooned the first half of Harris' 2022 season, but a lack of explosiveness over his two-year career keeps his Fantasy value bottled up. It might be a little unfair to hold his first eight games of 2022 against him when he averaged 10.9 PPR points per game, averaged 16.9 touches per game and scored three times while playing hurt. The final nine outings of 2022 were more representative of what he's capable of, averaging 20.1 touches per game and scoring seven total touchdowns with improved (but not great) efficiency. That second half was close to what Harris was as a rookie, save for lower catch numbers (16.7 PPR points per game). But that simply reinforces that Harris is a volume-driven, touchdown-needy running back who has 10 career plays of 20-plus yards over 694 touches. That's sad. Without much competition for playing time, Harris is a very easy fade within the first 30 picks on Draft Day but is tougher to resist as startable RBs fly off the board. If you get him in Round 4, you're doing just fine.
Harris rushed 12 times for 29 yards and secured all three targets for 19 yards in the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots on Thursday night.
Harris was unsurprisingly stymied on the ground by an elite Patriots run defense, and he wasn't able to do much to complement his production with his work through the air. The third-year back did outpace backfield mate Jaylen Warren by five carries, although the latter drew two more targets. It was a forgettable night for both backs, so Harris' role should remain robust in a more palatable Week 15 road matchup against the Colts on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 16.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Suits up Thursday
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Harris (knee) is listed as active for Thursday night's game against the Patriots.
Harris, who is managing a knee issue, was listed as a non-participant on practice reports Tuesday and Wednesday before being deemed questionable ahead of Thursday's contest. With the running back's active status versus New England confirmed, Harris will have an opportunity to continue to pace the Steelers backfield in Week 14. However, if he ends limited at all or encounters any setbacks with his knee, Jaylen Warren is available to pick up added backfield touches. In Pittsburgh's 24-10 loss to Arizona this past Sunday, Harris carried 16 times for 63 yards and added two catches (on three targets) for 14 yards, while Warren rushed nine times for 59 yards and caught one pass for minus-4 yards.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Likely to play Thursday
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Harris (knee) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Thursday against the Patriots, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Harris was listed as a non-participant on practice reports issued Tuesday and Wednesday, but Pelissero relays that the running back is in line to face New England, barring any pregame setbacks with his knee. Either way, official confirmation of Harris' Week 14 status will arrive once the Steelers' inactive list is released approximately 90 minutes prior to Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: RBs to Sit
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Harris was a huge letdown as the Start of the Week in Week 13 when he scored just 9.7 PPR points at home against the Cardinals. It's clear he needs to score a touchdown with only three games over 70 rushing yards on the season and a combined three catches on five targets in his past three outings. He's also still losing touches to Jaylen Warren, and the Steelers are starting Mitch Trubisky this week in place of Kenny Pickett (ankle). New England has also shut down Saquon Barkley and Austin Ekeler the past two games, holding them to a combined 10.9 PPR points. If the Patriots keep Harris out of the end zone, then his production will also be minimal in Week 14.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Optimism for Thursday night
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The Steelers are optimistic Harris (knee) will play Thursday against the Patriots, despite him being listed as questionable for the contest after he was a non-participant in practices Tuesday and Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Harris didn't shown any sign of injury in the Steelers' 24-10 loss to the Cardinals this past Sunday, with the running back taking 18 touches for 77 yards while handling his largest snap share (59 percent) of the season. He's taken between 49 and 59 percent of snaps every week this season -- and has never missed a game since entering the NFL in 2021 -- but possibilities for Week 14 include him being active in a smaller role than usual. Fantasy managers should prepare for all outcomes, including the possibility that Harris isn't available when Pittsburgh releases its inactive list 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:15 p.m. kickoff. In such a scenario, Jaylen Warren would be in line for his largest workload of the season after splitting work fairly evenly with Harris in recent weeks. Behind the Harris-Warren duo, Pittsburgh has Anthony McFarland and Godwin Igwebuike on its roster as backfield depth.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Questionable for Thursday night
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Harris (knee) didn't practice Wednesday and is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Patriots, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Harris also sat out Tuesday's walk-through session, so he hasn't practiced at all leading into Thursday's game. It's possible that his absences were precautionary on a short week, but there's legitimate doubt over Harris' availability, which will be cleared up one way or another when Pittsburgh releases its inactive list 90 minutes before Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. If Harris is unavailable or limited Thursday, Jaylen Warren would likely take on a larger workload, with Godwin Igwebuike or Anthony McFarland possibly mixing in behind him.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Tending to knee issue
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Harris didn't take part in Tuesday's walkthrough due to a knee injury, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Harris wasn't included on Pittsburgh's practice estimate Monday, so his addition one day later is somewhat concerning ahead of Thursday's game against the Patriots. He hasn't missed a game in his two-plus seasons as a pro, however. If Harris is limited or sidelined Thursday, Jaylen Warren could take on a workhorse role for the Steelers.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Racks up 77 yards
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Harris rushed the ball 16 times for 63 yards in Sunday's 24-10 loss to Arizona. He added two receptions on three targets for 14 yards.
Despite Jaylen Warren being the more efficient runner, Harris once again led the Pittsburgh backfield in terms of both carries and yards. Harris' longest rush of the day went for 11 yards, and he was also involved in the turning point of the game when he was stonewalled at the goal line on fourth down late in the second quarter. Though this wasn't a particularly notable performance, Harris has at least 75 total yards in four of his last five games, and he also has three touchdowns in that span.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Scores in victory
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Harris rushed 16 times for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Packers. He also caught three of four targets for 14 yards.
Harris opened the scoring with a walk-in touchdown from four yards on Pittsburgh's first offensive series. That gave Harris a score in three of his last four contests, including back-to-back outings, and he proceeded to set a season high in rushing yards to boot. Harris' production came while teammate Jaylen Warren actually outgained him with 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, yet it was a successful display from the former nonetheless.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Start Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Harris remains a touchdown-dependent running back who steadily gets the kind of opportunities we like to see. His inefficiency is a big-time downer, and it's especially underscored this week given the matchup. If you start him, you're hoping for around 9 Fantasy points if he doesn't score, 15 if he does. He remains a low-end RB2 worth giving the nod to over Gus Edwards, Jerome Ford and the Panthers RBs, but he's not ranked as high as Javonte Williams or Alexander Mattison.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: RBs to Start (Start/Sit
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I've been reluctant to trust Harris for most of this season, but I'm OK with him as a No. 2 running back in all leagues in Week 10 against Green Bay. Harris has actually scored at least 10.5 PPR points in three games in a row, with two of those outings over 15 PPR points, and this should be a favorable game script for him against the Packers at home. While Green Bay limited the Rams running backs of Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman to a combined 8.7 PPR points in Week 9, the Packers have allowed five running backs this season to score at least 12.6 PPR points. I like Jaylen Warren as a sleeper in Week 10 as well, but Harris should have one of his better outings in this matchup with the Packers.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Finds end zone in Week 9 win
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Harris rushed 16 times for 69 yards and a touchdown and brought in two of four targets for seven yards in the Steelers' 20-16 win over the Titans on Thursday night.
Harris saw backfield mate Jaylen Warren outgain him by 19 yards on five fewer carries, but the former still put together a solid performance overall. Harris' yardage total was actually his second highest of the campaign, and he got the night off to a noteworthy start by recording a 10-yard touchdown run to cap off a game-opening 10-play, 78-yard drive for Pittsburgh. While Warren's career-best effort Thursday was impressive, it's likely Harris retains at least a slight advantage in workload during a Week 10 home matchup against the Packers on Nov. 12.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Catches five passes
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Harris rushed seven times for 13 yards while securing all five of his targets for 42 yards during the Steelers' 20-10 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Harris averaged just 1.9 yards per carry Sunday, the third-lowest mark of his career. However, he managed to prop up his fantasy production through his success as a receiver. Fellow running back Jaylen Warren was also inefficient on the ground with five rushes for 19 yards, but Harris' performance didn't do much to strengthen his case for a larger role in the backfield. Harris has rushed 84 times for 313 yards and a touchdown while securing 13 of 16 targets for 94 yards over the first seven games of the season.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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If you start Harris, you're hoping he scores for the second straight week. Otherwise, expect what he did before Week 7 -- below 12 PPR points, if not below 10. Against this tough matchup that has proven to be outstanding at the specific type of run scheme Harris does best in, I would rather start Gus Edwards, Darrell Henderson and Dameon Pierce in all formats as well as Jaylen Warren in PPR.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: RBs to Sit
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Harris had his best game of the season in Week 7 at the Rams with 15.8 PPR points because he finally scored his first touchdown. He also had 14 carries for 53 yards and three catches for 15 yards on three targets, and his work in the passing game was a season-best. But I expect Jaylen Warren to still do more as a receiver this week, and Harris should struggle on the ground against Jacksonville. The Jaguars have allowed just two rushing touchdowns to a running back all season, and Harris will likely struggle if he's not involved in the passing game against this Jacksonville defense.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Still touchdownless through five games, Harris' passing game role has shriveled and his rushing average has been above 3.5 yards per carry once in his past three. The Rams run defense is trending in a tough direction and the lack of scoring chances keeps Harris' upside lean. I'd rather start Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams and Jaylen Warren in PPR.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: RBs to Sit
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Harris has yet to score a touchdown this season. He has one game with more than 6.5 PPR points, and that happened in Week 4 when he had one catch for a career-long 32 yards. He's also caught just five passes for 37 yards on nine targets this year. Maybe things change for him after the bye in Week 6, or we could see Jaylen Warren start to take on more work. And remember, Warren has led the Steelers backfield in PPR points in every game this season. The matchup isn't bad for Harris since the Rams have allowed three running backs in their past five games to score at least 14.0 PPR points (Christian McCaffrey, Joe Mixon and D'Andre Swift). But I just can't trust Harris as anything more than a flex after what I've seen from him so far this season.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Held in check by Baltimore
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Harris carried the ball 14 times for 37 yards in Sunday's 17-10 win over Baltimore. He added one reception for three yards.
Harris led Pittsburgh in carries and out-touched Jaylen Warren by a mark of 15-12. However, Harris found very little running room and managed more than two yards on only five of his 14 attempts. Harris appeared to be trending in the right direction after racking up 168 total yards across his last two games, but this performance was a step back and raises questions about his role after the team returns from a bye for a Week 7 matchup against the Rams.
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Steelers' Najee Harris: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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The Steelers' lack of scoring opportunities really crushes the upside for Harris, who admittedly has improved this season and could be on his way to being a reliable RB2. The Ravens have been pretty good against the run but they can give up some numbers. Harris is a volume-based back who is at best a low-end starting option given everything that's going on. I'd rather start Breece Hall, Rhamondre Stevenson, Dameon Pierce and Jaleel McLaughlin (if Javonte Williams sits out).
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Steelers' Najee Harris: RBs to Sit
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Harris is having the best season of his career in yards per carry (4.3) and yards after contact (3.5), but that hasn't mattered with his Fantasy production. His best game of the season came in Week 4 at Houston with 14 carries for 71 yards and one catch for 32 yards on two targets, but he scored 6.5 PPR points or less in each of his previous three games. Jaylen Warren has outscored Harris in PPR in every game this season, and he's still searching for his first touchdown. I can't trust Harris as anything more than a flex option in the majority of leagues against the Ravens in Week 5.
