Najee Harris

Najee Harris

26-Year-Old Running BackRB
Pittsburgh Steelers
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Harris will probably never be one of the league's more explosive runners, but he's a steadying presence and capable of taking 20-plus carries whenever the Steelers need him to. His ability to soak up so many grinding carries between the tackles is a real asset to the Steelers offense, which uses Harris like a series of jabs meant to set up a bigger strike once the defense goes to block the jab. Useful as he might be for assembling the structure of the offense, Harris' fantasy prospects are pointed downward relative to his 2021 rookie year, when the first-round pick claimed 307 carries and 94 targets. The emergence of Jaylen Warren as the team's preferred passing-down and general in-space back has badly drained Harris' target share in the Pittsburgh offense, and Warren's monopoly on draw-type carries makes it difficult for Harris to juice his rushing average against light defensive fronts. Harris saw only 255 carries and 37 targets in 2023, and that theme of limitation will exist as long as Warren is present even with the Steelers hiring run-first offensive coordinator Arthur Smith this offseason. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#75.92
ADP
$Signed a four-year, $13.05 million contract with the Steelers in May of 2021. Steelers declined $6.79 million team option for 2025 in May of 2024.
Touchdown saves day
RBPittsburgh Steelers
December 8, 2024
Harris rushed the ball 16 times for 53 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
ANALYSIS
The Steelers had a mediocre day offensively, with nearly all of their skill-position players posting modest stat lines. Harris was no exception, as he managed only 3.3 yards per carry despite tallying a 20-yard gain for the second consecutive game. Even with the inefficiency, Harris still managed a decent fantasy performance thanks to a one-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Since Russell Wilson has taken over under center, Harris has four trips to the end zone in seven contests, though he's failed to reach 80 yards on the ground in five straight matchups.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Najee Harris' 2024 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
22.9%
 
Positive Run %
80.7%
 
% Yds After Contact
70.4%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
2.8
 
Rushing TD %
2.2%
 
Touches Per Game
19.4
 
% Snaps w/Touch
55.3%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-2.5
 
Air Yards Per Snap
-0.07
 
% Team Air Yards
-1.2%
 
% Team Targets
10.6%
 
Avg Depth of Target
-0.9 Yds
 
Catch Rate
78.4%
 
Drop Rate
10.8%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
9.8
 
% Targeted On Route
20.6%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.38
 
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers 2024 RB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

45654%
12948%
30035%
12045%
8810%
3613%
273%
00%
101%
00%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Najee Harris lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Eagles pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
PHI
@ Eagles
Sunday, Dec 15th at 4:25PM
Overall QB Rating Against
67.6
 
Cornerbacks
73.1
 
Safeties
59.5
 
Linebackers
63.9
 
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2024 Najee Harris Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Najee Harris' measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* All metrics are from his Pro Day (not the combine).
Height
6' 1"
 
Weight
242 lbs
 
Hand Length
10.25 in
 
Arm Length
33.25 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Najee Harris See More
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5 days ago
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NFL Reactions: Week 14 Recap
6 days ago
Week 14 in the NFL saw some big performances, including Sam Darnold throwing five TD passes. Jim Coventry recaps all of Sunday's action.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
The constant smothering from defenses caught up with Harris in 2022, leaving the normally durable 232-pound back nicked up in ways he hadn't dealt with previously, even as he played all 17 games for a second time in two NFL seasons. Running in the sluggish Pittsburgh offense was difficult enough – Harris didn't need the Lisfranc sprain he suffered in training camp and played through for an unspecified amount of the season, nor did he need the oblique and hip injuries he played through later. Considering the circumstances, Harris was rather impressive. That he's not higher in the fantasy rankings is mostly an acknowledgment of the fact Pittsburgh's passing game isn't scaring anyone and defenses will continue to gun for Harris, potentially leaving him as a high-volume, low-efficiency RB for a third straight season. The good news is that the volume isn't really in question, especially if he can manage to stay a bit healthier. The Steelers didn't sign or draft any backfield competition, instead focusing on blocking with the additions of former Eagles G Isaac Seumalo, rookie T Broderick Jones (14th overall) and 264-pound rookie TE Darnell Washington (93rd). The new big bodies should help Harris and backup Jaylen Warren, not to mention second-year QB Kenny Pickett.
Volume was the biggest selling point for Harris in fantasy drafts last year after the Alabama product became the 24th overall pick, and Mike Tomlin didn't disappoint as the rookie was a huge part of the Pittsburgh offense right away. Harris was the only player other than Jonathan Taylor to top 300 carries last season, and the rookie's 94 targets tied with Austin Ekeler to lead running backs. Harris' 3.9 yards per carry was disappointing, and his other efficiency stats weren't much better, but he faced tough circumstances between a subpar offensive line and a passing game with little vertical element. Ben Roethlisberger's retirement won't necessarily improve things — especially with Mitchell Trubisky or rookie Kenny Pickett taking over under center — but the roster still offers little competition for touches behind Harris, who could have slightly better blocking this season after the Steelers signed C Mason Cole and G James Daniels. Harris ran for only 1.7 yards before contact per carry last year, ranking 49th of 53 qualified RBs, and better blocking would give the 232-pounder more opportunities to run over defensive backs in the open field. Combined with another huge workload, it's a formula for big- time production if the Pittsburgh offense takes even a modest step forward.
The latest product of Nick Saban's running back factory, Harris is a big, athletic runner who offers three-down potential in the NFL. His ability to run through would-be tacklers (or, in the case of one poor Notre Dame defender featured in endless replays, hurdle over them) jumps out from his tape, but Harris also features some elusiveness and burst through traffic that allows him to pick up plenty of extra yards, even if his lack of top-end speed keeps him from being a consistent home-run threat. Harris seems to be more of an instinctive runner than one with well-developed vision, but either way he can find an opening and hit it. He's put in work to become better as a pass catcher and blocker, but he's simply adequate at both and not a difference-maker. The track record of Crimson Tide backs is a very good one in recent years, and Harris has the skills to establish himself as a three-down back in Pittsburgh after becoming the first running back off the board in the 2021 draft (24th overall). Given his size and running style, a career like that of former Rams star Steven Jackson wouldn't be surprising.
More Fantasy News
Totals 129 yards from scrimmage
RBPittsburgh Steelers
December 1, 2024
Harris rushed the ball 16 times for 75 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 44-38 win over the Bengals. He added six receptions on six targets for 54 yards.
ANALYSIS
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Tough sledding on 18 touches
RBPittsburgh Steelers
November 21, 2024
Harris rushed 16 times for 41 yards and brought in both targets for 13 yards in the Steelers' 24-19 loss to the Browns on Thursday night.
ANALYSIS
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Falls short of 100 yards Sunday
RBPittsburgh Steelers
November 17, 2024
Harris carried the ball 18 times for 63 yards and caught four of five targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 18-16 win over the Ravens.
ANALYSIS
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Clear for Week 11
RBPittsburgh Steelers
November 15, 2024
Harris (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Turns in full practice
RBPittsburgh Steelers
November 14, 2024
Harris (ankle) was a full practice participant Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Starting job in danger?
RBPittsburgh Steelers
July 25, 2024
Harris is one incumbent starter in danger of losing his starting job, Eric Edholm of NFL.com suggests.
ANALYSIS
Edholm cites Jaylen Warren's efficiency edge over Harris last season on a per-touch basis as the foundation of his case, adding that Warren's ability to play all three downs is an especially attractive asset in an offense like Arthur Smith's. Harris did prove capable of handling a lead-back job in each of the first three seasons, but Edholm also points out head coach Mike Tomlin had no qualms about having Warren eat into Harris' touches in 2023.
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