It's Najee Time

By: Josh Frey-Sam

I want Najee Harris on my fantasy football team this season.

Yes, the same guy people mocked for looking like he runs with jeans on.

And yes, my feelings could change, but this is my instant reaction toward a new situation that looks favourable.

In case you’re behind, Harris, the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, left Steel Town to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency last week.

It’s a one-year, $5.25M, fully-guaranteed pact for the product of Martinez, Calif., who will play about six hours from where he grew up.

When the news dropped, I liked the fit for both sides.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is renowned for his run-heavy, hard-nosed style. He’s won with it everywhere he’s been, including LA, where he guided the Bolts to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth in his first season at the helm.

Harris’ playstyle aligns with the gap-scheme attack employed by offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Though he lacks top-end speed, Harris plays a physical brand of football at 6-1, 242 pounds and has enough wiggle to create some space for himself.

Fun fact: Harbaugh actually tried recruiting Harris when he was at Michigan. Of course, the five-star running back chose Alabama.

My feelings toward this new partnership reached another level on Friday when the Chargers scooped up one of the top offensive linemen in this year’s free-agent class, signing former Eagles’ guard Mekhi Becton to a two-year, $20M deal.

Becton is a monster and fits this offence to a tee.

He’s also the final piece to the puzzle on a Chargers’ offensive line that is primed to be one of the best in football next season.

Any Harris run to the right will be behind 6-7, 363-pound Becton and 6-8, 322-pound Joe Alt.

So why do I love this for fantasy?

Harris is still just 27, and his one-year deal bodes well for owners.

He, and every other running back, obviously didn’t have much value in this free agency class, so we should get a player who is super motivated to have a good season and cash in next off-season (which will likely be his last chance to do so).

Also, say what you want about him, Harris’s best ability is availability and consistency. He’s never missed a game in his NFL career, and he’s never rushed for less than 1,000 yards and six touchdowns.

With the workload he’s expected to get in this offence, you can bet Harris will continue that trend next season and have a chance to obliterate his single-season career highs (1,200 yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2021).

The cherry on top is that Harris carries an ability to catch the ball that has largely gone untapped as he’s matured. He caught 74 passes for 467 yards as a rookie and hasn’t eclipsed 41 in a season since.

His fantasy finishes since being drafted are: RB4, RB14, RB20, RB20. And he put up those numbers despite being used inadequately, which Harris even hinted at during his press conference last week.

Listen, a lot is going for Harris this season. He’s a reliable runner who is playing close to home, behind a great offensive line, in an offence that is going to use him properly.

It’s very early, but he’s being mocked as the RB22 right now, going somewhere in the round 7-8 range. That won’t last into August.

Pencil him in as a high-floor RB2 with RB1 upside.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh