Fantasy managers have been less than impressed with Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter Najee Harris’ regular-season campaign to date. Up to this point, backup Jaylen Warren has outscored his counterpart in PPR leagues, so which of the two Pittsburgh backs should fantasy football managers roll with in Week 4 lineups?
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Najee Harris’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
Harris entered the 2023-2024 season with high expectations from both Steelers fans and fantasy managers alike. However, through just three games this season, the former Alabama Crimson Tide star has yet to crack 70 yards from scrimmage.
Despite a disappointing start to the season, it has been encouraging to see Harris’ rushing attempts increase each game. His Week 3 tally of 19 carries were a season high for the third-year pro, who has seen an average of 31 offensive snaps per game.
Harris’ steady increase in rushing volume is a good sign as far as his fantasy outlook. The 25-year-old back has had the misfortune of facing two of the toughest defenses in the NFL in the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns before last Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
While Harris’ 3.4 yards per carry versus Las Vegas still wasn’t anything to gloat about, it is fair to say the Steelers’ 2021 first-round pick had his best game of the season.
The Steelers have yet to get Harris involved in the passing game, which was naturally something fantasy managers were expecting after he recorded 115 catches in his first two seasons. Through three games, Harris perplexingly has just three receptions for two yards on five targets.
Only time will tell if Pittsburgh decides to reincorporate Harris into the passing game, but it would be reasonable to expect that the versatile back will begin to see his volume in that area tick up as the season unfolds.
Jaylen Warren’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Warren is undoubtedly one of the best backup running backs in the league. The undrafted back offers a very effective change-of-pace dimension that has been a highly effective fit in Pittsburgh’s offense since last season.
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The former Oklahoma State Cowboys standout ability to produce on such low volume has raised the question of whether he should be getting starter touches. Through three games, Warren is averaging just over 24 snaps per game and enters Week 4 having logged a season-high eight rush attempts against Las Vegas.
However, where Warren has been most impactful this season has been in the passing game. Warren now has a combined 12 receptions for 101 yards on 16 targets, a complete 180 from Harris.
Warren’s quickness on dump-offs and backfield screens has been a vital component of a struggling Pittsburgh offense. While the volume of carries will likely never come close to that of Harris, the efficiency with which Warren plays makes him a surefire candidate for a productive performance in any given game.
Warren could be a high-risk, high-reward option as a Week 4 start, but the 24-year-old is undoubtedly a good stash option, at minimum, and a definite handcuff for Harris owners this season.
Which of the Steelers’ Running Backs Should You Start?
The volume in snaps and touches makes Harris the clear-cut option to start in Week 4.
While Warren has been much more efficient with the touches he’s seen, there is no denying the Steelers still see Harris as the workhorse back of this offense and are highly likely to keep his touches at an elevated level.
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It is worth noting either of the two backs will be facing what appears to be a significantly improved run defense compared to Houston’s recent defensive fronts – under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, the Houston Texans are allowing an acceptable 117.3 rushing yards per game through the first three weeks, compared to the NFL-high 170.2 rushing yards per contest they surrendered under Lovie Smith a year ago.