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Najee Harris

Steelers hoping rookie can spark dormant running game

If Najee Harris is going to have a successful rookie season, it will be with the Steelers playing a lot differently than they did last year. Their running backs didn’t really do much of anything in 2020.

They weren’t used a ton, and they also weren’t very effective. (The Steelers ranked last in rushing.)

The plan for this year is to completely re-work the offense. They’ve got a new coordinator, and they’re planning to run a lot more. But those kind of things are always easier said than done.

The offensive line is a huge concern. Three starters are gone, and they didn’t really make any personnel upgrades in that area. They’re hoping some young guys will ascend.

At Alabama, Harris typically played for teams that were a lot better than what he was going against, with big holes to run through. I like that he’ll be heavily used, but I won’t be making him one of the first 10 running backs selected in drafts.

Nowhere to go but up, at least. Using PPR scoring, Pittsburgh’s running backs last year were the least productive in the league.

TEAMS: PPR PRODUCTION BY RUNNING BACKS
TeamRecRec YdRun YdTot YdTDPoints
New Orleans1139871,7352,72226541.2
Indianapolis1149161,8832,79920513.9
San Francisco938381,7082,54626503.6
Minnesota756512,1102,76124495.1
Cleveland604832,1262,60923458.9
Washington1208481,4182,26618454.6
Green Bay916961,9262,62216449.2
LA Chargers1298901,5272,41710430.7
Tennessee382402,3892,62920420.9
New England957721,6452,41714420.7
Las Vegas866131,6292,24217412.2
Miami1068581,3802,23812401.8
Detroit816661,3111,97720398.7
Seattle815941,3801,97419392.4
Baltimore473641,8862,25018380.0
Tampa Bay845331,4852,01815375.8
Arizona805571,4051,96216372.2
Carolina956331,1341,76716367.7
Dallas805311,4381,96913354.9
Cincinnati845891,3021,89113351.1
LA Rams504441,6682,11214345.2
Chicago705521,4101,96213344.2
Jacksonville905911,2401,83111339.1
Atlanta784971,4251,92211336.2
Kansas City765841,3361,92011334.0
Denver522721,6691,94111312.1
Houston695971,0181,61511296.5
NY Giants583981,2561,65412295.4
Philadelphia604361,3501,7869292.6
NY Jets613861,3831,7698285.9
Buffalo544061,3011,70710284.7
Pittsburgh603761,2301,60610280.6

—Ian Allan

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