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Factoid

Najee Harris

Harris rides receiving to big overall numbers

The Steelers haven’t been able to get their running game going, but Najee Harris looks like a good fantasy option anyway. They’ve got him plugged into their passing game, and that makes him a reliable option for fantasy purposes (particularly in PPR formats).

Sunday’s game marked a low-point in recent Steelers history, with it becoming more apparent that the team shouldn’t have brought back Ben Roethlisberger. He’s last-season Eli Manning now – a decrepit veteran who stayed too long. And that’s made worse by one of the league’s leakiest offensive lines.

With that lesser line, the Steelers can’t run the ball. Harris is big and strong, but it doesn’t really matter – he can’t do it on his own.

With the way Harris is catching short passes, however, he looks like a reliable stats producer anyway. He came up with the best receiving game of his career on Sunday, catching 14 passes for 102 yards against the Bengals.

Harris collected those receptions on a mind-numbing 19 targets.

At Pro-Football-Reference.com, they have target data going back 30 years. According to their numbers, only one running back has had more targets in a game (Alvin Kamara, who saw 20 targets in a 2018 game against Atlanta. Four others have had at least 18 targets in a game.

Right now, it’s looking like Harris will fall well short of 1,000 rushing yards, but with the receiving production, he might be a top-10 PPR back anyway.

RUNNING BACKS WITH 15-PLUS TARGETS IN A GAME
PlayerTmOppResultTgtRecYdsTD
Alvin Kamara, N.O.2018@ATLW 43-3720151240
Darren Sproles, N.O.2012@SFOL 32-3619151181
Najee Harris, Pitt.2021CINL 10-2419141020
Earnest Graham, T.B.2007@DETL 16-231813990
Brian Westbrook, Phil.2007DALL 17-381814900
Darren McFadden, Oak.2012SDGL 14-221813860
John Williams, Sea.1992@NYGL 10-231711450
Ricky Watters, Phil.1995WASW 37-341711900
Ronnie Harmon, S.D.1995INDL 20-3517101330
Shane Vereen, N.E.2013CLEW 27-2617121530
James White, N.E.2019LACW 41-281715970
Larry Centers, Ariz.1996STLW 31-281613831
Larry Centers, Ariz.1996@MINL 17-411610851
Amp Lee, St.L.1997@OAKL 17-3516101091
Marshall Faulk, St.L.2002@DENL 16-231614910
LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.2003GNBL 21-3816111442
Reggie Bush, N.O.2007@HOUL 10-231612700
LeSean McCoy, Phil.2010WASL 12-1716121100
Roy Helu, Was.2011SFOL 11-1916141050
James White, N.E.2016@DENL 18-20165450
James White, N.E.2017v.ATLW 34-2816141101
Saquon Barkley, NYG2018@DALL 13-201614800
Austin Ekeler, LAC2019DENL 13-201615860
Austin Ekeler, LAC2020@BUFL 17-271611850
Herschel Walker, Phil.1993BUFL 7-1015111090
Terry Kirby, Mia.1993BUFL 34-471591481
Priest Holmes, Balt.1998TENL 8-121513980
Richie Anderson, NYJ2000@BALL 20-3415111391
Duce Staley, Phil.2001STLL 17-201511810
Larry Centers, Buff.2001NYJL 36-421512751
Kevin Faulk, N.E.2002MIAW 27-24159700
LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.2003OAKW 21-14158170
Deuce McAllister, N.O.2004DENL 13-341511870
Jermaine Wiggins, Min.2005@CHIL 3-281510680
Pierre Thomas, N.O.2007@CHIL 25-3315121211
Joseph Addai, Ind.2008SDGL 24-28159670
Matt Forte, Chi.2011GNBL 14-211510900
Christian McCaffrey, Car.2018@ATLL 24-3115141020
Christian McCaffrey, Car.2019ATLL 3-2915111210
Christian McCaffrey, Car.2019@INDL 6-3815151190
J.D. McKissic, Was.2020@DETL 27-30157430

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index