The Pittsburgh Steelers spent their 2021 NFL Draft first round selection on running back, Najee Harris. He's quickly become one of the league's top players at his position and I don't think he'll be slowing down anytime soon! In his rookie campaign for the Black and Gold, Harris broke Steelers legendary RB Franco Harris’ rookie rushing record by totaling 1,200 rushing yards on 307 carries and 7 touchdowns. He even added 74 receptions (second on the team) for 467 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris (#22), during a regular season game between against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh, PA at Heinz Field. The Steelers beat the Broncos 27-19. | Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers
Harris showed all of last season that the team was right in their decision to select him. And most of the naysayers have quieted since the running back's play has spoken for itself. However, not all of them have quite shut up completely!
In a recent article by CBS Sports, writer Chris Towers gave all football fans a sneak-peek into 2022 Fantasy Football. Towers obviously hasn't been paying attention to the moves the Steelers have made this offseason to ensure that the offense can lean on the rushing attack with Harris in the upcoming season. Towers disrespectfully listed Harris in the category of "Won't Live up to the Hype Types," by using projections via Sportsline.
"Harris overcame middling (at best, frankly) efficiency as a rookie thanks to massive volume, but can you rely on that happening again," the author questioned in the projection. "His passing game role seems especially questionable without Ben Roethlisberger, for whom the term 'statuesque' would be a compliment in his final two seasons.""If it's rookie Kenny Pickett at QB, I expect Harris will still see plenty of targets, but the more mobile Mitchell Trubisky could cut into those targets, and there's still no guarantee this Steelers offense is going to be able to move the ball effectively in either phase of the game. I think it's reasonable to bet on Harris' efficiency improving in Year 2, but if it doesn't, he could certainly disappoint, providing more like RB2 production for a high-end RB1 price."
Harris can't be blamed for playing behind an extremely sub-par offensive line a season ago! He still amassed 1,200 yards behind that, frankly, abysmal offensive line group! With the additions of C/G Mason Cole and James Daniels, Harris will be even better this season and way more efficient! Do you plan on drafting Harris in the first round of your fantasy draft? Once your draft is complete you can rate your fantasy football draft to get an idea of how your season is going to go.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris carries the football. CREDIT | GETTY IMAGES
"What I love is that his hunger to learn, to want to be better. A lot of times, you get a young guy, first round draft pick, you come in and you say, ‘Okay, I’m here now, and I’m the best thing since sliced bread.’ And that’s not the case with Najee. He reached out to me. He wanted to learn more. ‘Hey, talk to me about this. Explain to me this,’" said Hall of Fame running back, Jerome Bettis."And that tells me that he wants to be a better football player, every year he steps on the football field. So that tells me that I think the running game is in great hands now. We’ve got to figure out who’s going to be throwing the football and can’t we get it down to these really good wide receivers that we have?"
I'll take the information from Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, Jerome Bettis, over any analyst any day of the week! Harris has a hunger to be better, even after an impressive rookie season. He'll most definitely live up to the hype this season on the field and even in your Fantasy Football lineups!
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) participates in Organized Team Activities (OTA's) Tuesday May 24, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
What do yinz think about Harris being listed in the "Won't Live up to the Hype Types" category in the CBS Sports article? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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