RADIO
Many fantasy football managers are critical of leagues that stretch their championships into Week 18. With so many meaningless games, teams intentionally resting their starters, and defenses on tanking teams simply giving up, the last week of the regular season can be highly unpredictable.
Of course, the more variables there are in play, there more you can take advantage of to try to get an edge. It's not always easy predicting matchups with opposing defenses, though.
If you have Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Najee Harris or Jaylen Warren or Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert on any of your rosters. Hopefully, we can help you make the right decision.
Should I Start Najee Harris for Fantasy Football?
Pittsburgh still has plenty to play for -- depending on the outcome of this week's games; they could end the year as high as the No. 3 seed and as low as the No. 6 seed. Their team's identity is also built around being tough and durable. They won't be tanking this week.
Najee Harris put together his 4th straight season of 1000 plus yards rushing, becoming the ONLY RB to accomplish this from 21-24
That still hasn't been great for your fantasy teams as he was just the RB2️⃣8️⃣ in ppr/PPG.
Are you buying Najee in '25?pic.twitter.com/aKNfsd2xOs
— PlayerProfiler NFL (@Profiler_NFL) January 2, 2025
A lot of this game could come down to game script -- as the Bengals are one of the best offenses in the league, and the Steelers are perfectly capable of going pass-heavy to win, we could see another shootout. Lately, though, Warren has been taking a bigger workload.
Harris scored 24.9 PPR fantasy points in the team's last matchup but got an anomalistically high six receptions for 54 yards. We don't expect that to repeat itself, so he's an RB3/FLEX at best but with a very low PPR floor.
Should I Start Jaylen Warren for Fantasy Football?
Just when you think you have a backfield run by Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith figured out, it turns out you don't. But Warren is an RB3/FLEX option for deeper leagues (like those with big rosters or 14+ teams), anyway. He's just gotten a lot more touches in the past few games.
Jaylen Warren performing Christmas miracles for fantasy managers on championship week. pic.twitter.com/PuDehpf4Rj
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) December 25, 2024
It's hard to know if this will continue, but the passing game work is encouraging.
Should I Start Khalil Herbert for Fantasy Football?
Probably not. If running back Chase Brown (ankle) isn't able to play in Week 18, Herbert will be the starter, but he's produced so little this season. And in a potential shootout, it's hard to see him having a big receiving role. The Bengals will probably lean heavily on wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (ankle, knee) if he plays.
Zack Moss's last game with the Bengals was on October 27th.
This is the first carry by a RB not named Chase Brown since then.
Welcome to the show, Khalil Herbert. pic.twitter.com/EeDapwZZW2
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) December 2, 2024
There are safer options out there.
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