Najee Harris entered the NFL with high expectations after being selected 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. Harris has shown flashes of talent, but has also faced criticism due to his production not matching the draft capital the Steelers spent on him. While he had an impressive rookie year, the last two seasons have left fantasy owners wondering about his long-term potential. In addition to this, the arrival of Arthur Smith as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator and the rise of Jaylen Warren presents significant reasons to approach Harris with caution.
Harris burst onto the scene in his rookie season where he had 1,200 rushing yards and scoring 7 touchdowns. These impressive numbers set high expectations and hopes for even higher production. However, his production dipped slightly where he barely reached the 1,000-yard mark in his next two seasons. This led to scrutiny from everyone as talks of him being only an average performer began swirling.
Adding to the uncertainty is the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. While he was with the Atlanta Falcons he had the opportunity to coach Bijan Robinson. Despite Robinson’s generational potential, Smith faced heavy criticism for not utilizing him enough. This pattern raises concerns about how Smith will handle Harris. Therefore, even if Harris is a great player, there is a justified concern on how he will be utilized.
Jaylen Warren’s emergence as a producing player in the Steelers’ backfield is another reason for caution. Warren had an impressive rookie season where he accumulated 784 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground. Further, Warren supplemented that with 370 receiving yards. These stats demonstrate that he too can handle a substantial workload.
Warren’s performance has opened the door for a potential shift in the Steelers’ backfield dynamics. It’s not far-fetched to think that Warren might become the franchise back in a couple of years. Even in the short term, his rise means that he could cut into Harris’s touches and opportunities. It’s easy to see how this affects Harris’s overall production and fantasy value in the short term.
Despite the need for caution it’s essential to remember that Harris is still young and still has significant potential. With the Steelers’ offseason additions like Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, this could open up the run game for Najee, creating more opportunities for him to shine.
Given Harris’s decline in production and the other factors mentioned above, fantasy owners should approach him with caution. While his talent is undeniable, his average production coupled with Arthur Smith’s reluctance to focus on the run game and Jaylen Warren’s rising prominence, a cautious approach to Harris is warranted. Keep an eye on Harris’s performance and his role in the offense over the first couple weeks. If his production and touches increase, buy immediately. On the other hand, sell if they stay stagnate or even decline further.
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