Is Najee Harris A Bust Or A Solid RB1 For The Steelers? Fantasy Football Outlook

If you're reading this column, you're probably a fantasy football manager who is either very happy or incredibly disappointed with your team's performance after the first three weeks of the 2023 NFL season.

Each year, there are players who make us smile every day when we wake up knowing they are on our rosters, and then there are players who make us want to spit out our morning coffee. Pittsburgh Steelers starting running back Najee Harris falls into the second category. 

Harris has drastically underperformed so far in 2023. After a lackluster 2022 campaign, fantasy owners are beyond frustrated. Is it time to panic or can you trust him moving forward? Let's take a closer look.

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Is Najee Harris A Fantasy Football Bust In 2023?

The 6' 1" bruising back from the University of Alabama has had an up-and-down start to his NFL career since entering the league in 2021. In his rookie season, he did find success, rushing for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns while also catching 74 passes for 467 yards on an impressive 94 targets. Last year, he showed some regression, rushing for just over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns while snatching 41 receptions for only 229 yards on just 53 targets. 

Through three games this year, Harris has been flat-out bad. He has rushed for a paltry 139 yards while catching just three passes with zero touchdowns. He is averaging only five fantasy points per game, and his managers are wondering if it's time to jump ship.

Particularly concerning for Najee managers is that he averaging only two targets per game this season, meaning quarterback Kenny Pickett doesn't seem to be too focused on making Harris an integral part of the offense.

Should You Start Najee Harris As An RB1 In Fantasy Football?

If patience is one of your strengths, then hang onto the 25-year-old and hope he finds his way sooner rather than later. But if not, it might be time to put Harris on your bench until or if he is able to become a more productive fantasy producer. Find a better option for the time being because five fantasy points from a starting running back on any roster simply isn't going to cut it.

The Steelers are a middling team, and they, along with Najee, need to make great strides over the next few weeks if they want to be considered a contender in the AFC. Harris must revert back to his 2021 self, show he still can kick it into high gear, and become the back fantasy fans know he can be.

If you are lucky enough to have multiple options on your roster out of the backfield, sit Harris until further notice. If you are hamstrung with a small selection of candidates to replace him, like so many other owners are, roll with Najee and just pray he turns it around. But as things currently stand, he is certainly not an RB1, he is a flex option at best. 

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