The Pittsburgh Steelers’ first game since firing Matt Canada as offensive coordinator resulted in a season-high 421 total yards, snapping a 58-game streak of being held under that figure.
The running game — 153 yards — was a big part of their success, leaving fantasy football managers to decide if they should start RB Najee Harris or RB Jaylen Warren in their lineup. Let’s check out the fantasy outlook for each player.
Should You Start Najee Harris or Jaylen Warren This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Warren is the player to start. His projected 12.0 points include 40 rushing yards, four receptions, and 31 receiving yards. That projected stat line narrowly outperforms the consensus projection of Harris’s 9.8 points.
However, when you isolate my rankings, I see Harris outperforming Warren this week. Harris seemed to respond to the change in the offensive coordinator position, and I expect more good things from him this week.
Fantasy Outlook for Harris This Week
Was it a coincidence that as soon as Pittsburgh made its change in play-calling, Harris came up with a season-high in rushing yards? Was it a fluke that he tied his season-high for offensive plays on the field with 38? I don’t think so.
Consider me among those who thought there was a direct connection with the Steelers’ changes in the coaching duties and improved offensive production, including from Harris.
While he still was not the workhorse we’re used to seeing, Harris finished with only 15 carries — his 99 rushing yards were easily his most this season.
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He found his way into the end zone once again, scoring a touchdown for the third time in his last four games. Previously, he only had one touchdown over his first seven games.
Considering the Steelers are hosting an Arizona Cardinals team that allowed a season-high 228 yards on the ground against the Los Angeles Rams last week, I would expect more solid numbers from Harris this week.
Fantasy Outlook for Warren This Week
One week after rushing for a career-high 129 yards against the mighty Cleveland Browns defense, Warren finished with 49 rushing yards last week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Warren is still seeing plenty of time on the field — he was on the field for a season-high 34 offensive snaps last week — and he can still catch the ball out of the backfield. He finished with three receptions — the 10th time in 11 games he has had multiple receptions in a game.
However, if you believe, as I do, that the Steelers’ plan is to figure out a way to get Harris playing like his old self, then I’m expecting more attention to him and a little less to Warren.
Still, Warren is a valuable and vital part of the Steelers’ success on offense. But for this week, I’m willing to see if Harris can put two solid games together.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Warren to finish with 40 yards with four receptions for 31 yards.
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