After being outproduced by RB Jaylen Warren through the majority of the first 11 weeks of the 2023 NFL season, Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris has been the preferred option over the last two games, with Matt Canada no longer calling the plays.
Does his recent usage make him a reliable fantasy option for your starting fantasy football lineup heading into the Steelers’ matchup against the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football (TNF) in Week 14?
Let’s take a closer look.
Should You Start Najee Harris in Week 14?
Editor’s note: Harris is active for Thursday Night Football against the Patriots.
Analysis by Kyle Soppe| Is Harris the winner of the Matt Canada firing? He has certainly been more involved since the team switched up their play-calling situation, something that was highlighted by a 36-26 snap edge over Jaylen Warren. The snap count is one thing, but a 15-7 edge in routes run for the objectively less explosive Harris?
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We can disagree with the usage (believe me, I don’t!), but our job as fantasy managers is not to call plays on the professional level; it’s to evaluate the plays that are being called and maximize the production of our roster.
Harris was stopped on the goal line on a fourth-down carry, failing to do what we thought was his primary strength. If we are reading the tea leaves, the usage trends point in favor of Harris, and that is why I have him ranked above Warren this week, with the thought being that yardage is going to be difficult and playing either of these backs is a race for a single upside play (ideally a touchdown).
I’m not playing either Steelers back with confidence — both are mere Flex options and outside of my top 24 at the position.
Trending Start/Sit Searches for Harris
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Should You Start Najee Harris or Jerome Ford?
It may be difficult to trust a running back who rushed for just 19 yards on nine carries last week, but Cleveland Browns RB Jerome Ford still had a productive fantasy outing by scoring a catching a receiving TD from QB Joe Flacco on Sunday.
MORE: Katz’s Fantasy Football Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Picks for Week 14
Ford and Harris both find themselves splitting work with other backs, but Ford is more involved in the passing game and has been the more explosive option this season. The Jacksonville Jaguars just gave a monster performance to Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon on Monday Night Football, which has me leaning towards Ford over Harris in Week 14.
Should You Start Harris or Joe Mixon?
If you could guarantee me that Harris is fully healthy, then I would be very torn on which RB to start this week. Unfortunately, Harris is coming into this matchup less than 100%, even though he is active.
The Bengals offense showed signs of life with a great game from QB Jake Browning, which helped Mixon register his first two touchdown performance of the 2023 season. I’m going to roll with Mixon in Week 14.
Derek Tate’s Week 14 RB Rankings
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (vs. SEA)
2) Alvin Kamara | NO (vs. CAR)
3) Austin Ekeler | LAC (vs. DEN)
4) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (at CLE)
5) Rachaad White | TB (at ATL)
6) Zack Moss | IND (at CIN)
7) Josh Jacobs | LV (vs. MIN)
8) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. BUF)
9) Tony Pollard | DAL (vs. PHI)
10) Saquon Barkley | NYG (vs. GB)
11) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. TB)
12) D’Andre Swift | PHI (at DAL)
13) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at CHI)
14) James Cook | BUF (at KC)
15) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. BAL)
16) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. TEN)
17) David Montgomery | DET (at CHI)
18) AJ Dillon | GB (at NYG)
19) Jerome Ford | CLE (vs. JAX)
20) De’Von Achane | MIA (vs. TEN)
21) Derrick Henry | TEN (at MIA)
22) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (at PIT)
23) Joe Mixon | CIN (vs. IND)
24) Javonte Williams | DEN (at LAC)
25) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. HOU)
26) Gus Edwards | BAL (vs. LAR)
27) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (at SF)
28) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. NE)
29) Alexander Mattison | MIN (at LV)
30) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. NE)
31) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (at SF)
32) Devin Singletary | HOU (at NYJ)
33) Khalil Herbert | CHI (vs. DET)
34) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at NYJ)
35) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (at NO)
36) Kareem Hunt | CLE (vs. JAX)
37) Keaton Mitchell | BAL (vs. LAR)
38) Tyjae Spears | TEN (at MIA)
39) Roschon Johnson | CHI (vs. DET)
40) Miles Sanders | CAR (at NO)
41) Ty Chandler | MIN (at LV)
42) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. TB)
43) Samaje Perine | DEN (at LAC)
44) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC (vs. BUF)
45) Royce Freeman | LAR (vs. BAL)
46) D’Ernest Johnson | JAX (at CLE)
47) Rico Dowdle | DAL (vs. PHI)
48) Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL (vs. TB)
49) Jamaal Williams | NO (vs. CAR)
50) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (at DAL)
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