Najee Harris & His Wide Range Of Fantasy Outcomes
Najee Harris eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing for the third consecutive year, with a career-best 4.1 average yards per carry in 2023. However, through the air, he only tallied 170 yards, which is a career low for him.
Najee was bad for fantasy in the first five weeks of the season. Then, after the bye week, he had six top-15 finishes with only three disappointments in Weeks 11, 14, and 15. In Weeks 16-18, he averaged 24 carries for 104 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and one touchdown a game.
Najee was held to 60% or less snap percentage throughout the entire 2023 season. A drastic change from 2022, when he only saw less than 60% of the snaps 3 times. Teammate Jaylen Warren saw his workload increase within that timeframe, and the team made it clear that last year, they intended to use both backs.
Despite the Steelers' solid output the past three years, the Steelers declined Najee’s fifth-year option, making 2024 a contract year for Harris. This off-season, the Steelers also brought in fantasy fan favorites (don't worry, we are joking) Arthur Smith and Cordarelle Patterson. Arthur Smith gave Patterson decent usage in Atlanta while taking away opportunities from the young talents of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
Adding these questionable tactics to an already shared backfield doesn't forecast much optimism for the year ahead. If his ADP falls because of this, he could become an intriguing target for fantasy managers this year.
Our consensus projections for Harris in the 2024 season are 234 carries for 1,024 yards and 8 touchdowns. In the receiving game, his consensus projection is 35 receptions for 214 yards and 2 touchdowns.
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