A legitimate engine for the NCAA's most potent offense. If you are in the Buckeye State, you are able to get bonuses now. Should We Use Dynasty ADP to Inform Redraft Decisions? . That's really the biggest issue because he's otherwise a very polished, NFL-ready feature back who should be in line for a minimum of 15 touches from Week 1 on. Their roster contains just Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Malcolm Brown. 24 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harris is heading to the NFL. He's expected to play at a high level, but for how long? Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The crowded backfield played a part in Harris's breakout age (21.5) occurring later than that of other top prospects in the draft. When you see Harris drag defenders while in an Alabama uniform, you think about Derrick Henry or maybe Eddie Lacy, but he's not as massive as those guys. The Pittsburgh Steelers GM was at the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he had plenty to say. Steelers Free Agent Tracker: Keeping tabs on players staying, and leaving. If Najee Harris were to rush for 1,200 yards again in 2022, but not needing him to take as many carries was the goal, a reduction of somewhere between 35 and 60 carries on the season based on 4.4 to 4.9 yards per carry could still have Harris giving the same yardage. After a few years, Harris earned significant playing time as a co-lead back with Damien Harris in 2019 before leading the Alabama run game in 2020. Entering 2021, Harris currently has an ADP of 38 per FantasyPros, going towards the end of the third round in ten-person fantasy leagues, ranking as RB16 heading into this . Had 460 carries and 70 catches across 26 games in 2019-20. Le'Veon Bell, Jeremy Hill and James Conner highlight the list, with Matt Jones, T.J. Yeldon, Todd Gurley and Joe Mixon appearing as more distant comparisons. (College Stats), Weighted Career AV (100-95-): 16 (6428th overall since 1960). A more accomplished receiver than most of his physical comparisons, Harris likely hears his name called no later than the second day of the draft. Find out more. In 2021, the first year of the 17-game schedule, Najee Harris rushed for 1,200 yards to rank fourth in the NFL. 7 . Because of this, teams drafting towards the end of the first or top of the second round make the most sense for Harris. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. If Harris could reach that mark, he would be right on pace with some of the top Steelers of all time when it came to yards per carry in their second season. Harris carried the ball 23 times for 84 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Browns. However, Harris benefitted from a full SEC schedule and an enormous 252-carry workload. If Harris wants to improve, he needs to look at another former Alabama running back for inspiration. Looking at Najee Harris and his YBC/A per game, the best he saw all season was in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos where he had 3.0 yards before contact per attempt. 1. Measuring in at 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds, Connor ran a 4.65 40-yard dash coming out of school. Najee Harris went from a Bay Area legend to the greatest career by an Alabama running back ever. One News Page. Upon first reading this tweet myself I had to check the stats to be positive Harris is really THAT close to averaging 100 yards per game. Harris rushed the ball 16 times for 53 yards in Saturday's 13-10 win over the Raiders. There are universal sportsbook promo codes that are able to be redeemed in sports betting states. In my first run of projections, I had Harris as RB20, and then I did another run with a more aggressive projection for him as the lead back, and he came in as RB11. Herbstreit moments before Najee Harris plunged through for . But when it comes to the list of successful first-round Steelers running backs, it is much . While Harris was obviously last in this category among the top five rushers in the NFL, yards after contact put him in the middle of the pack. All Rights Reserved. Join our linker program. May 11Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft choice Najee Harris will be following in the footsteps of many Pro Bowl running backs in franchise history. Of course, his receiving totals get a big boost because of his 100 yard game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but it is still pretty interesting. He dodged trouble like he did defenders. When adjusted on a per attempt basis, Harris actually provides average efficiency metrics. Najee Harris has run 148 routes through the first four weeks of the NFL season.That ranks 1st among all running backs. In three seasons at Texas, Bijan Robinson rushed the ball 539 times and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Now a consensus top-three back in the NFL Draft, Harris finds himself in the conversation to become a late-Day One or early-Day Two pick. Najee Harris had 1,034 receiving yards last season and 2,234 receiving yards over his career. Here's my evaluation of Najee Harris and why the Falcons could possibly have him on their radar if he makes it to the second round or they move down. The reduction in McFarland's playing time coincided with Pittsburgh's selection of fellow running back Najee Harris in the 1st Round of the 2021 draft. The former Alabama standout has rushed for just 361 yards and one touchdown on 108 attempts through eight appearances. Of course the Steelers have trailed in every game so far and really haven't had the opportunity to end games running the clock out. As a reminder, Najee Harris finished fourth in the NFL in rushing in 2021. Its why teams invest high draft picks in them and lots of money in contracts. 17 pick? He added six receptions for 42 yards. In 2021, Najee Harris saw 307 rushing attempts which was second in the NFL. The 2021 NFL rookie running back class may not be as deep as recent years, but several should make an immediate and long-term fantasy impact. This tool kit of moves helped him pick up extra yardage often. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Atlanta picks at 35 and sits with Mike Davis atop their roster. Harris is in consideration for the 1.01 selection in every rookie-only draft and won't be there by 1.06. All Rights Reserved. Head on over toSpotify,Apple, or wherever else you consume podcasts to subscribe toFantasy FootballToday in 5. 1 carry for 6 yards, 1 reception for three yards on first drive. Skip to main content. 2 running back according to 247Composite, 11 in ESPN 300 and the second-best running back nationally, Played in the 2017 Army All-American Bowl, Invited to participate in Nike's "The Opening" in 2015 and 2016, Named MVP of the 2016 Rivals 100 Five-Star Challenge, 2016 Bobby Dodd National High School Running Back of the Year, 2015 and 2016 first-team All-USA selection by USA Today, Finished his career with 7,948 career rushing yards, the fourth-most in California high school football history, Rushed for 2,776 yards and 36 TDs during his senior season, Ran for 2,744 yards and 36 TDs as a junior in 2015, Rushed for 2,263 yards and 23 TDs in his sophomore campaign, 2015 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Football State Player of the Year, Named the All-Metro Player of the Year by The San Francisco Chronicle in both 2015 and 2016, Played for head coach John Lucido at Antioch, Graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. 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. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris carried the ball 23 times for 84 yards and a touchdown while losing a fumble in a 28-14 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 18. The Steelers were 28th in attempts (373), 32nd in yards (1,351), 30th in RB fantasy points per game via the run (12.94), and 30th in fantasy points per rush (0.56). It is apparent the receiving volume Harris enjoyed in 2021 was a result of Ben Roethlisberger's declining skills. https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/21/steelers-titans-nfl-derrick-henry-najee-harris/, 4 alternative picks for the Steelers from Mel Kiper Jr.'s new mock draft. After a sluggish first half of his second season, Harris is within reach of 1,000 if . Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. However, his production against SEC-level competition speaks for itself. Gets head turned around to look downfield and react quickly to oncoming defenders. Consider in 16 games last season, the Steelers' top four running backs combined for only 60 receptions and . He's a massive running back at 6'2 and 229 pounds, nearly the size of Titans' star Derrick Henry, 6'3, 238 pounds. Do you have a blog? Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris is off to a shockingly poor start. 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. Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Najee Harris. The Steelers went 59 yards for a touchdown. During that elite campaign, Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and 26 scores on 251 carries. Through two drives, 4 carries for 18 yards (4.5 yards per carry), two first downs. Harris' college production is not a product of running behind a consistently elite offensive line. Harris had just 41 catches for 229 yards last year. Najee Harris' quads alone make him a first-round lock pic.twitter.com/XXwLmU2VYZ. For example, LeVeon Bell has the most rushing yards in franchise history in a players second season with 1,361 yards. Looking at those top five rushers, Pro Football Reference (PFR) has the following numbers for these players in yards before contact per rushing attempt: Jonathan Taylor: 2.6 YBC/ANick Chubb: 2.5 YBC/AJoe Mixon: 2.3 YBC/ANajee Harris: 1.7 YBC/ADalvin Cook: 2.7 YBC/A. All the resources would go to the offensive line and running back would just be a disposable position. Through five contests, Harris has gained just 222 rushing yards. Reliable ball-carrier: three fumbles (one lost) over entire collegiate career. The Pittsburgh Steelers season has started off slow, to say the least, but one player that has brought it every week. After DeVonta Smith caught a 44-yard pass down to the Ohio State 14-yard line, Fowler said: "Monster night." And it was just that for the Heisman Trophy winner, though we had to wait a bit to learn he had 11 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns - before halftime. With Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris off to the NFL, Najee Harris earned the starting spot as a junior in 2019. A first-round draft choice from Alabama on April 29, Harris entered Sunday's game with 185 yards and one touchdown on 55 rushing attempts in his first four NFL games. Jerry Donabedian looks at top performers from 2022 and checks in on players rehabbing serious injuries or potentially headed for free agency. If the offense could improve enough to add an additional yard, then Harris would be at the top of the group at 2.7 YBC/A based on 2021 statistics. Unfortunately, PFR began their advanced statistics in 2018 and there is not a breakdown of Bells yards before contact and yards after contact from 2014. By Erik Buchinger Aug 10, 2021, 4:05am PDT Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Join our linker program. Kevin Colberts Best Draft Picks: 1st Round. Gambling problem? Harris can go off the board as early as the No. (Follow along with all things 2021 NFL Draft with the FTN 2021 NFL Draft Hub!) Harris could have entered the 2020 NFL Draft, but he wisely decided to return for his senior year. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Also will be 23 years old when entering the league. But this is in no way discounting Harris and his potential. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. Please check your email for a confirmation. Also fell forward for a couple of extra yards at the end of his runs consistently. He will also be 23 years old when he comes into the NFL with 530 touches over his past two seasons. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. RUSH YDS ATT RUSH YDS/G RUSH TD REC YDS REC TRG AVG REC YDS/G REC TD; Najee Harris: 2021: PIT. If you are located in other states, there are plenty of options to wager on sports. 1 overall prospect in the country by Rivals, Scout and PrepStar, Unanimous five-star recruit by every major recruiting outlet, Consensus top-rated player in the state of California, Third-best prospect overall and No. (out of 124) and 23rd (out of 56) in yards after contact per attempt with 3.57 and 3.26. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long list of free agents this offseason, and we keep you up-to-date with the news and rumors surrounding these players. - Chris Towers. Get breaking player news and analysis directly in your inbox. 3:49 pm ET. By Tom Reed May 7, 2021 4:00 AM 22407 0 ANTIOCH,. But having a realistic expectation of where the yardage could come from, particularly from the help of the rest of the offense, may help put expectations for 2022 into perspective. Jacksonville, Buffalo, Atlanta and Miami all make picks between 25 and 50, making varying degrees of sense for Harris. Ohio residents, Ohio sports betting is live. He added one catch for 10 yards. Harriss physical profile brings a checkered past given his lack of athleticism. Najee Harris hasn't had a great start to the season thus far, with his season high of 74 rushing yards coming during Sunday's loss against the Jets. Myles Gaskin Has Nothing to Worry About in Malcolm Brown, Kenyan Drake is a Decent Fantasy Value Bet in Vegas, 10 Fantasy-Relevant 2023 Rookies: A First Look, 2023 Available Targets and Air Yards Tracker. Najee Harris' best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft Najee Harris is an interesting NFL draft evaluation because he brings a skill-set unlike really any we've seen recently. 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 rights reserved. Pass protection needs significant work -- some of his best pass protection snaps involved him barely making contact with defenders and the quarterback just barely getting the ball away. If the Steelers could get adequate production from other running backs who would potentially be taking a load off of Harris, especially if the increased yards before contact statistic would hold true regardless of the running back, the Steelers would see an overall increase in team rushing yards even if it didnt come from their leading rusher. Harris is a complete back who can be a force in the passing game as well as on the ground, and he could get a huge workload as the Steelers look to justify their pick and rejuvenate their run game. When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Najee Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the team had hoped the former Alabama standout would solidify the running game. Global Edition. Dalvin Cook 3. Even adding an additional half yard still would put him the lowest on the list of the top five rushers in 2021 at 2.2 YBC/A. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Not known for speed or athleticism on tape, this remains a major concern. In his four years in school he played in three championship games, winning two (2017, 2020). Christian McCaffrey4. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. See where Najee Harris lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot. DeVonta Smith (/ d v n t / de-VON-tuh; born November 14, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). After simulating Steelers vs. Browns 10,000 times, the model predicts that Steelers running back Najee Harris goes under 70.5 rushing yards at -115 odds. Given his size and running style, a career like that of former Rams star Steven Jackson wouldn't be surprising. 2021 NFL Advanced Rushing | Pro-Football-Reference.com via Sports Logos.net About logos 2021 NFL Advanced Rushing Previous Season Next Season Super Bowl Champion: Los Angeles Rams AP MVP: Aaron Rodgers AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja'Marr Chase More league info An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. Early in the 2021 season, it was chronicled how Najee Harris was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on most of his carries according to Pro Football Focus. He's the highest-rated rookie on the list and ahead of numerous incumbent starters. He added one catch for 10 yards. Najee Harris' fantasy outlook for 2021 For a franchise that has always prided themselves on establishing the run, 2020 was abysmal. The 2020 Doak Walker Award winner, Harris has an excellent pro frame (6-1, 232), proven three-down ability, and should have the opportunity to produce right away. . Getting more yards after contact than before, Harris is working very hard to get the yardage necessary each play. Harris originally committed to Alabama as a sophomore in high school and his recruitment never wavered, despite late pushes from Michigan and USC. Najee Harris has been a well-known, polished prospect since his high school days. Running backs, especially elite ones are expected to make things happen even when things go wrong up front. Even if the yards after contact remained the same, if the yards before contact were to be increased as suggested, Najee Harris would be looking at between 4.4 and 4.9 yards per carry. Najee Harris is officially a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts Promo Code, ADP Analysis: AFC North Players to Watch in 2023, Backfield Breakdown: 2022 Running Back Recap and Early 2023 Fantasy Rankings, Box Score Breakdown: Snaps, Routes, Air Yards & Usage Rates from Week 18, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Betting Odds, Picks, And Prediction For Week 18, NFL DFS Picks: Yahoo Plays and Strategy for Week 18 Sunday Baller, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site, If you are looking to play at FanDuel Sportsbook, you can redeem the, New players enjoy taking advantage of the, Sports bettors can get a second chance bet at BetRivers, just redeem the, More second chance bets are available with the. Do Steelers fans really want a new quarterback? 4for4 Fantasy Football. Najee Harris (@ohthatsNajee22) November 9, 2021 Thanks to Sporting News, there could be an answer: It appears Levy got his Alabama players mixed up: Josh Jacobs, a former Crimson Tide running. Ja'Marr Anthony Chase (born March 1, 2000) is an American football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Conner remains the closest comparison after leaving Pittsburgh with a 34.4% Dominator Rating and a 7.7% target share. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Pittsburgh is just about an ideal landing spot for a player like him, and whatever longevity concerns exist are probably too far in the future to realistically impact how you should view him. One reception for three yards. Only suffered two minor injuries while at Alabama: a foot injury in 2018 that required a cast but he didn't miss a game; and an ankle injury suffered in the 2020 National Championship Game (he practiced at the Senior Bowl weeks later). As for dynasty, 4for4 Dynasty Lead George Kritikos has Chase ranked as his rookie RB1 and 31st overall player in his dynasty rankings. 160 rushing yards after contact is exactly what a back like Henry and frankly a back like Harris should be able to do on a regular basis. Sasha Yodashkin analyzes Yahoo's Sunday Baller contest as George Kittle has a great matchup against the Cardinals. Per Spotrac, Harris' contract is worth. Derrick Henry was hit within 1-yard or behind the line of scrimmage on 26 of his 35 carries vs Seahawks, 160 of his 182 total rushing yards were AFTER contact, Jarad Evans (@PFF_Jarad) September 20, 2021, Sign up for the Steelers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. How do Najee Harris' measurables compare to other running backs? Just to name a few. But what do you think? Omar Khan on Cam Sutton contract talks, Mitch Trubisky and more. Najee Harris had 3.9 rushing yards per attempt in his rookie season in 2021. . There was no outlook written for Najee Harris in 2022. Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 8, 2023 A first-round draft pick in 2021, Harris. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. NFC East: Key Free Agents, Draft Picks & Needs, and Available Cap Space, Fantasy Football Depth Chart Battle: Cowboys Wide Receivers, Fantasy Football Debate: A.J. Because, the thing about the Steelers is, they ask for about as much from their lead running back as any team in the league.