Najee Harris

Najee Harris

26-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
$Signed a four-year, $13.05 million contract with the Steelers in May of 2021.
Stymied by Bills in loss
RBPittsburgh Steelers
January 15, 2024
Harris rushed 12 times for 37 yards and brought in two of three targets for 15 yards in the Steelers' 31-17 wild-card loss to the Bills on Monday afternoon.
ANALYSIS
Harris got his fair share of work despite the game script turning against the ground game fairly early. The third-year pro's quiet finish was in stark contrast to the last three games of the regular season in particular, a span in which he recorded 312 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground while adding a 5-21-0 line through the air. Looking ahead to 2024, Harris is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract after three straight 1,000-yard seasons to open his career, and a decision on picking up his fifth-year option therefore looms this spring.
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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' 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 %
18.8%
 
Positive Run %
80.8%
 
% Yds After Contact
71.8%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
2.9
 
Rushing TD %
3.1%
 
Touches Per Game
16.7
 
% Snaps w/Touch
51.8%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-0.1
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.00
 
% Team Air Yards
0.0%
 
% Team Targets
7.7%
 
Avg Depth of Target
0.0 Yds
 
Catch Rate
78.4%
 
Drop Rate
5.4%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
6.1
 
% Targeted On Route
18.7%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.86
 
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2023
2022
2021
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2022 NFL Game Log
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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

58353%
52648%
61%
10%
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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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2023 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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41 days ago
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56 days ago
Breece Hall gets the No. 2 spot in Jerry Donabedian's initial 2024 PPR rankings for RBs after leading the position with 95 targets this past season.
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68 days ago
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Box Score Breakdown: Snaps, Routes and Air Yards from the Wild Card Round
73 days ago
Aaron Jones worked in timeshares for most of the season but is now dominating Green Bay's backfield touches with everything on the line.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Still lead back
RBPittsburgh Steelers
August 22, 2023
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada said that Harris is still the Steelers' lead back heading into the regular season, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.comreports.
ANALYSIS
Jaylen Warren's usage and success this preseason have caused speculation that he could challenge Harris's title as Pittsburgh's lead back. Warren put his explosiveness on display in Saturday's preseason game against the Bills when he ripped off a 62-yard touchdown run. Meanwhile, Harris has never tallied a run of more than 40 yards in 34 regular-season games. Even so, his job appears to be safe for now.
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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
Set to face Bills on Sunday
RBPittsburgh Steelers
January 11, 2024
Harris (knee) returned to a full practice Thursday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Sits out practice Wednesday
RBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee
January 10, 2024
Harris (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Tops 100 rushing yards again
RBPittsburgh Steelers
January 6, 2024
Harris rushed the ball 26 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 17-10 win over the Ravens. He added five catches on five targets for 21 yards.
ANALYSIS
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Ready to go for Saturday's game
RBPittsburgh Steelers
January 4, 2024
Harris (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Saturday's game against the Ravens, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Sits out practice
RBPittsburgh Steelers
Knee
January 3, 2024
Harris (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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