As a rookie in 2021, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris rushed for 1,200 yards. This was good enough for fourth in the league. It wasn’t a pretty 1,200 yards or flashy. Harris needed all of his almost league-leading 307 carries to get it.
This season, Harris is off to a very slow start with only 202 rushing yards on 58 carries in four games. This slow start, along with last season’s output prompted ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL player Bart Scott to take a shot at Harris and even compared him to Giants running back Saquon Barkley.
“He’s not Saquon Barkley,” Scott said. “I don’t see special when I see him.”
I know this will enrage a lot of fans but he’s not wrong. Last season Harris had six carries of 20 yards or more. To compare, six running backs and two quarterbacks had more in 2021. Harris is never going to be an explosive game-breaking back. He’s a thumper and that’s ok.
It feels like Harris isn’t the type of back you can build an offense around like Barkley or even Derrick Henry. He’s incredibly physically gifted but he isn’t incredibly talented. Until his skills catch up to his physical tools, he’s doing to be a guy who compiles stats in chunks but won’t be a player who can take over a game.
Let us know in the comments what you think of Scott’s comments.
