Najee Harris, the Pittsburgh Steelers' running back, has consistently been a solid performer since entering the league in 2021, consistently racking up over 1,000 rushing yards each season. However, he has yet to claim the top spot among the league's rushing leaders.
In his first three seasons, Harris finished behind the likes of Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs, and Christian McCaffrey, falling short of their impressive yardage totals. Nevertheless, Derrik Klassen of The Athletic has made a bold prediction: Harris will lead the league in rushing yards this season, surpassing the second-place finisher by a significant 200 yards.
Klassen's prediction hinges on the arrival of new head coach Arthur Smith, known for his run-heavy offensive schemes. He points to Smith's track record with Tyler Allgeier and Derrick Henry, suggesting that Harris will be the focal point of the Steelers' offense. A strong offensive line and the emergence of tight end Darnell Washington could also contribute to a heavy workload for Harris.
"I think Najee Harris leads the league in rushing by 200 yards," Klassen stated on The Athletic Football Show. "Arthur Smith wants the big man to run the ball. He's going to give the big man the ball. If this young offensive line can at least be an above-average unit and if Darnell Washington can be a useful piece, they are going to give the ball to Najee Harris, he's going to get enough volume. I think Najee Harris is way better than people think."
This prediction, however, has been met with skepticism. Tony Calderone of Steelers Depot labelled it "absurd," citing Harris' lack of efficiency per carry as a reason why the goal seems unrealistic. While Smith's offensive philosophy leans heavily on the running game, it remains highly improbable that Harris will eclipse all other running backs by such a large margin.
The Steelers' offensive personnel, including the presence of backup running back Jaylen Warren and a relatively weak receiving corps, further suggests that Harris may not receive the volume of carries required to achieve Klassen's prediction.
While Harris' potential for increased productivity under Smith's guidance is certainly plausible, the notion of him leading the league by such a significant margin seems improbable given his past performance and the current state of the Steelers' roster.
