After a strong stretch of solid production, Najee Harris has struggled recently during the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ three-game losing streak. With Jaylen Warren’s touch count inching up, is Harris the type of running back you should consider benching in fantasy football this weekend?
Should You Start Najee Harris in Week 16?
For most of November, Harris was a viable option. However, those days seem to be a thing of the past. Harris has 62 yards on 24 carries over the past two weeks, per the Week 16 Cheat Sheet, and has failed to clear three feet receiving in three of his past five games.
For me, Harris is very similar to Gus Edwards in the Baltimore Ravens offense. He projects to lead his team in rush attempts and will handle the goal-line work, but the per-carry upside is limited.
A lost fumble last week in the blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts certainly doesn’t fuel optimism moving forward. If you want a silver lining, he had 99 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.
On the downside, it’s unlikely that the Steelers will hold the ball for north of 37 minutes again, thus putting a repeat performance very much in doubt.
Trending Start/Sit Searches for Harris
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It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, which we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Harris or Jerome Ford?
Jerome Ford’s rushing production has been underwhelming for more than a month now, but with 26 targets over his past five games, I prefer the floor he offers over that of Harris.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
I’m not excited to play either, but with a 10+ yard rush and catch in three of his past four games, his path to meaningful production is a bit more clear than that of Harris.
Should You Start Harris or Javonte Williams?
Javonte Williams hasn’t reached 4.0 yards per carry in a game since October. But with multiple catches in 12 of 13 games and a higher RB carry rate, he owns enough of a usage edge over Harris to get the nod in this spot.
The Broncos are also a 6.5-point favorite, something that implies a favorable game script to elevate his floor over the New England Patriots defense on Sunday Night Football.
Kyle Yates’ Week 16 RB Rankings
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (vs. BAL)
2) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. NO)
3) Alvin Kamara | NO (at LAR)
4) James Cook | BUF (at LAC)
5) Rachaad White | TB (vs. JAX)
6) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. DAL)
7) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at MIN)
8) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. IND)
9) Tony Pollard | DAL (at MIA)
10) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (at TB)
11) Derrick Henry | TEN (vs. SEA)
12) Joe Mixon | CIN (at PIT)
13) Jonathan Taylor | IND (at ATL)
14) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. LV)
15) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. WAS)
16) Aaron Jones | GB (at CAR)
17) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (at DEN)
18) Saquon Barkley | NYG (at PHI)
19) D’Andre Swift | PHI (vs. NYG)
20) De’Von Achane | MIA (vs. DAL)
21) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (at TEN)
22) Josh Jacobs | LV (at KC)
23) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (vs. GB)
24) Ty Chandler | MIN (vs. DET)
25) David Montgomery | DET (at MIN)
26) James Conner | ARI (at CHI)
27) Austin Ekeler | LAC (vs. BUF)
28) Devin Singletary | HOU (vs. CLE)
29) Javonte Williams | DEN (vs. NE)
30) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. CIN)
31) Jerome Ford | CLE (at HOU)
32) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. CIN)
33) Gus Edwards | BAL (at SF)
34) Tyjae Spears | TEN (vs. SEA)
35) D’Onta Foreman | CHI (vs. ARI)
36) Antonio Gibson | WAS (at NYJ)
37) Chase Brown | CIN (at PIT)
38) Jerick McKinnon | KC (vs. LV)
39) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. IND)
40) Roschon Johnson | CHI (vs. ARI)
41) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (at TEN)
42) Kareem Hunt | CLE (at HOU)
43) Justice Hill | BAL (at SF)
44) Rico Dowdle | DAL (at MIA)
45) Zamir White | LV (at KC)
46) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. NYG)
47) Khalil Herbert | CHI (vs. ARI)
48) Samaje Perine | DEN (vs. NE)
49) Jamaal Williams | NO (at LAR)
50) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (at NYJ)
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