Najee Harris

Najee Harris

25-Year-Old Running BackRB
Pittsburgh Steelers
2023 Fantasy Outlook
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. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#31.33
ADP
$Signed a four-year, $13.05 million contract with the Steelers in May of 2021.
Modest output in win
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 24, 2023
Harris took 19 carries for 65 yards while failing to bring in his lone target in Sunday's 23-18 win over the Raiders.
ANALYSIS
Harris' 19 rushing attempts Sunday surpassed the total from his first two games combined. This was due in large part to the Steelers' more balanced offensive gameplan that featured 28 passes and 31 rushing attempts. Backup Jaylen Warren remained involved with 43 combined yards on 11 touches, but Harris ate up most of the early down work amid rumors of possibly losing touches following a slow start. Pittsburgh's starter struggled to find running room with the increased workload, but no player on either team averaged more than 3.7 yards per carry in what turned out to be a physical battle. Harris and his fantasy managers will be looking for carries closer to the end zone as he seeks his first touchdown of the season against the Texans next Sunday.
Read More News
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
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.
Loading Fantasy/Red Zone Stats...
Advanced NFL Stats
How do Najee Harris' 2023 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 %
25.7%
 
Positive Run %
68.6%
 
% Yds After Contact
87.8%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
3.5
 
Rushing TD %
0.0%
 
Touches Per Game
12.7
 
% Snaps w/Touch
40.9%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-0.3
 
Air Yards Per Snap
-0.01
 
% Team Air Yards
-0.1%
 
% Team Targets
5.1%
 
Avg Depth of Target
-0.2 Yds
 
Catch Rate
60.0%
 
Drop Rate
20.0%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
1.7
 
% Targeted On Route
10.6%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.04
 
Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2023
2022
2021
2023 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
2022 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
2021 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers 2023 RB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

9353%
7342%
53%
11%
Loading Weekly Snap Counts...
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Najee Harris lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Team Alignment Breakdown...
This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Texans 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.
HOU
@ Texans
Sunday, Oct 1st at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
71.2
 
Cornerbacks
71.4
 
Safeties
128.1
 
Linebackers
4.9
 
Loading Opponent Pass Defense Stats...
2023 Najee Harris Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
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
232 lbs
 
Hand Length
10.25 in
 
Arm Length
33.25 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Najee Harris See More
Weekly Rankings: Week 4 Value Meter
Yesterday
De'Von Achane set the fantasy world on fire last week, but how will he fare in a tougher matchup against the Bills?
Backfield Breakdown: Running Back Usage Report and Week 4 Waivers Preview
2 days ago
Jerry Donabedian surveys the RB landscape with the help of advanced stats, identifying Melvin Gordon and Matt Breida as the top Week 4 waiver adds in leagues where De'Von Achane isn't available.
NFL Box Score Breakdown: Snaps, Routes, Air Yards and Personnel from Week 3
3 days ago
The Dolphins rightfully get most of the headlines this week, but De'Von Achane might not be the only emerging rookie star in a high-flying AFC offense.
Sunday Night Football Betting Picks: Steelers at Raiders, Sept. 24
4 days ago
Juan Carlos Blanco has the Week 3 Sunday Night Football Betting Picks for Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Las Vegas Raiders.
Sunday Night Football DFS Breakdown: Las Vegas vs. Pittsburgh
4 days ago
After a slow start through two weeks, Josh Jacobs will likely get more on track against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
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
Could lose carries to Warren
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 24, 2023
Harris is "still very much a big part" of the Steelers' plans, though Mike Garofolo of NFL Network relays that Jaylen Warren is expected to see more involvement in the running game in Sunday's matchup with the Raiders.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Minimal output in win
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 18, 2023
Harris rushed 10 times for 43 yards and caught his lone target for no gain in Monday's 26-22 win over Cleveland.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Logs six carries in blowout loss
RBPittsburgh Steelers
September 10, 2023
Harris rushed six times for 31 yards while securing both of his targets for two yards during the Steelers' 30-7 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Gets more work than Warren
RBPittsburgh Steelers
August 24, 2023
Harris took four carries for 18 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 16 yards in Thursday's preseason game at Atlanta.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Not in danger of losing top spot
RBPittsburgh Steelers
August 21, 2023
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada said Monday that Harris is undoubtedly Pittsburgh's top running back, Chris Adamski of TribLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.