Best Ball Guy warned against drafting Najee Harris after news that the running back has ‘no timetable for return.’ Harris is on a one-year deal with the Chargers, has missed the entire training camp, and the organization does not have significant financial obligations to him. Given the missed reps, thin commitment, and the coaching staff’s willingness to audition younger backs, the tout views Harris as a major red flag best avoided at current prices.

Rich Hribar advised fading Najee Harris even at a post-160 ADP. He noted that Harris has repeatedly been ‘‘just a guy coaches like’’ without converting volume into explosive plays or efficient fantasy points, and the backfield now contains upside contingency options such as Jaylen Warren that can cannibalize touches. With best-ball roster spots at a premium, Hribar prefers swinging on pure ceiling backs rather than tying up capital in a plodding early-down grinder whose situation he called "unfortunate."

Craig Mish said the market has over-reacted to Najee Harris’s July 4 eye mishap, pushing the former every-down back far enough down boards that he now represents one of the best cost-adjusted bets in the RB dead zone. Mish acknowledged that the Chargers added rookie O’Marian Hampton, have Hassan Haskins as a third-stringer, and still roster last year’s failed sleeper Kimani Vidal, but he believes Harris’s proven workload history and Greg Roman’s run-heavy tendencies will keep Harris firmly atop the depth chart once the medical staff clears him. With the ADP slide already two full rounds, Mish is happy to reach a half round ahead of consensus for the veteran and lock in a likely 275-touch back at a discount.

Matt Striker called Najee Harris one of his favorite late-round targets because the situation quietly checks every bell-cow box. Striker highlighted that the Chargers’ offensive line grades inside the league’s top-10 in most preseason models and that new coordinator Greg Roman has a long track record of leaning on the ground game (his Ravens offenses averaged nearly 32 RB carries per week). Harris has cleared 1,000 rushing yards in four straight seasons and has a contract escalator that kicks in at 1,050 yards, giving him extra motivation. Striker is unconcerned about Los Angeles drafting O’Marian Hampton or keeping Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal on the depth chart, noting that Harris’s proven pass-down chops keep him on the field for all three downs. With drafters shying away after the July 4 fireworks accident that saddled Harris with an “O” tag, Striker is scooping him several rounds below comparable volume bets and labeling him a clear sleeper.

Best Ball Guy urged drafters to keep fading Najee Harris even after the veteran back slipped all the way to Round 14 in Underdog’s Chow Chow room. He pointed out that Harris is no longer ranked on the community-sourced Leg-Up board and noted that Pittsburgh has kept him on the sideline at camp—"just standing there in a hoodie and sunglasses" instead of taking live reps. The concern is that a lingering, undisclosed issue could leave Harris inactive to open the season, destroying any best-ball advance equity. Because of that uncertainty, Best Ball Guy said he would rather click cheaper upside backs such as Roschon Johnson at the same part of the board than hope Harris suddenly regains a workhorse role.

Best Ball Guy urged drafters to stop clicking Najee Harris at his stubborn fourth-round ADP. Jim Harbaugh’s comment that Harris is “in our prayers” while recovering from a serious eye issue is, in BBG’s words, “the most bearish coach-speak I’ve ever heard.” The veteran back is only on a one-year deal with $5 million guaranteed, signaling minimal long-term commitment from the Chargers. With no clear timetable for training-camp participation and rookie Hampton waiting in the wings, BBG prefers the rookie straight up at cost. He views Harris as a land-mine pick who could miss extended time or cede early-down work, destroying advance-rate equity in a tournament where every roster spot matters.

Nez said he has not clicked Najee Harris since the post-Fourth-of-July FUD hit the market and will continue to pass until Harris sinks to roughly pick 140 or later in Underdog drafts. His reasoning is entirely market- and information-based: (1) the Chargers have released zero meaningful updates beyond a short agent statement, (2) beat reporters and social media have been silent—no practice photos, no helmet-visor shots, nothing—creating a "no news is bad news" scenario, and (3) the ADP slide shows no sign of stopping, so there is no incentive to buy early. Nez views the uncertainty around the eye/visor situation as purely bearish and is protecting his 1,000-plus-team portfolio by waiting for maximum discount before re-entering. Until that 140+ number appears, he advises drafting other backs in the same range and letting the rest of the room absorb the risk.

Fernando Ramirez predicted Najee Harris will be the centerpiece of Jim Harbaugh’s new power-run identity and remain a reliable 1,000-yard back for both fantasy and prop bettors. Ramirez emphasized that Harbaugh wants to "tire teams out in the fourth quarter" and now has the personnel to do it: 370-pound Mekhi Becton at tackle, rookie battering ram Omarion Hampton to spell Harris, and an offensive philosophy centered on downhill, gap-scheme runs. He blamed last season’s late-game collapses on offensive-line fatigue and a lack of between-the-tackles punch, problems Harris directly addresses. With four straight 1,000-yard campaigns even in Pittsburgh’s identity crisis, Ramirez believes Harris is positioned for heavy volume, meaningful goal-line work, and a strong chance to beat seasonal rushing props while helping the Chargers push over their 9.5-win total.

Valenzuela downgraded Najee Harris after Chargers GM Joe Hortiz revealed the veteran will open training camp on the Non-Football Injury list while he continues treatment for a 4th-of-July eye injury. Although described as "surface-level," the team has yet to examine Harris personally, creating added uncertainty inside Greg Roman’s run-heavy scheme. Valenzuela cautioned that any extended absence could cost Harris first-team reps in a brand-new offense and make him an overpriced pick at his current RB27 range.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound said he is now a "big fade" on Najee Harris after being a borderline truther last season. His main concern is that the Chargers have, in his words, "upgraded the running back room—there’s a better running back there now," cutting directly into Harris’s early-down volume and goal-line equity. Pat stressed that paying Najee’s current price makes no sense when the coaching staff just signaled they want more explosiveness at the position. He is reallocating those mid-round picks to backs like J.K. Dobbins or Zach Charbonnet, whom he feels offer comparable upside without the depth-chart threat Harris now faces.

Harris remains in Stanford’s medical facility two weeks after the July 5 fireworks accident, and the Chargers have released zero reassuring details. Winks dropped him to 138th overall, worrying that vision issues could sap receiving work or delay his return. He simultaneously vaulted Amarion Hampton to 33rd, arguing the rookie could seize the job outright with a strong camp while Harris rehabs.

Chris Raybon cautioned drafters that Najee Harris’s off-season fireworks mishap—reportedly impacting vision in one eye—creates an unpriced risk at his current RB30 range. Harris has never missed a game in college or the pros, but Raybon noted that a depth-perception issue would be catastrophic for a runner who already ranked outside the top-40 backs in explosive-run rate last year. The Chargers hedged by drafting Amarian Hampton for early-down work and signing Gus Edwards as a goal-line specialist, so any camp absence could relegate Harris to a rotational role. Until medical reports confirm Harris is 100 percent, Raybon is pivoting to Hampton in best-ball drafts and treating Harris as a fade in season-long leagues.

PPRTyler urged managers to fade Najee Harris after a beat report said the veteran won’t open training camp with the first team. Rookie Omarion Hampton is already penciled in for early-camp reps, and Tyler thinks two weeks of Hampton’s 4.46 speed and fresh-leg burst next to Harris will make the coaching staff rethink a straight veteran hierarchy. Harris has lived on volume – 20-plus opportunities per game in Pittsburgh – but a reduced role in Los Angeles would leave fantasy drafters banking on empty calorie touches behind a brand-new line. Tyler still sees a path for Harris to smash if Hampton gets hurt, yet at current Superflex ADP he prefers similarly priced upside swings like J.K. Dobbins or Zach Charbonnet.

Connor Allen recommended staying away from—or outright betting under—Najee Harris’ season-long rushing totals given a murky eye injury and his late arrival to the Chargers system. Harris opened camp on the NFI list, and Allen highlighted the lack of concrete medical updates, noting we still don’t know if surgery is required or how much vision has been compromised. Even if Harris suits up by Week 1, he will be jostling for reps with Amarian Hampton, who has already been running with the starters. Allen emphasized that Harris is not a returning veteran in this playbook and will need practice time to learn protections and route concepts. With the Chargers eager to establish the run behind their improved line, any early-season absence or slow ramp-up could leave Harris in a timeshare all year, making current over/unders in the 800-yard range far too optimistic.

JSU admitted he is "not a Najee Harris guy" but still clicked him at pick 130 because the market has finally priced in the plodding efficiency. Harris has never finished worse than RB17 in half-PPR points per game, yet is now going outside the top-35 backs. Even if Jim Harbaugh keeps the Chargers’ run rate in neutral, JSU argued a stubborn 60-plus percent snap share and near-goal-line monopoly make Harris a value once he slides into Round 11. The bet is purely volume-driven, but volume at that cost is hard to pass in 20-round best-ball drafts.

Nez thinks the market has finally found equilibrium on Najee Harris after the July 4th eye injury scare. Twitter physicians suspect only a corneal abrasion—painful but not vision-threatening—and Chargers veterans report to camp tomorrow, where coaches should confirm the timeline. Harris has slid a full round and now settles around RB20. Nez pointed out that Harris detractors never needed much ammunition, so the drop feels overdone. Assuming camp comments back up the minor-injury narrative, Nez views Harris as a perfectly fine pick at this new level and doubts he falls further once beat writers see him practicing with tinted goggles.

PPRTyler told viewers to pounce on Najee Harris because the market is reacting to a phantom injury timetable that does not exist. He blasted the "victory-lapping" on Twitter and in Discord, emphatically stating Harris is "not even going to miss Week 1" and will "prove everyone wrong." Tyler has already built 9 % exposure and loves that Harris now falls past ADP in Superflex rooms, giving managers a discounted three-down back with a locked-in workload. The thesis is simple: the health risk is fake, the price is cheap, and drafters should scoop up shares before the crowd wises up.

Best Ball Guy pointed out that if Najee Harris slips to picks 125–130 he becomes an automatic click. Even if Hampton impresses, the veteran should open Week 1 as the nominal starter and there is ‘no one else behind him’ on the depth chart. That makes Harris a rare case of a back who supplies both contingent upside (if Hampton falters or gets hurt) and standalone goal-line equity at an 11th-round cost—exactly the kind of profile you want on tournament rosters.

Tyler Knaeble said Najee Harris is a value pick in Underdog’s Best-Ball drafts despite the eye-roll factor attached to his name. Knaeble acknowledged Harris “feels like a gross click” after two uninspiring seasons in Pittsburgh, but argued the situation has completely flipped now that Harris is running behind what he called “one of the top-three O-lines in football” with the Chargers. Because the rookie Kimani Hampton is unlikely to be handed 20 carries a game out of the gate and the team is paying Harris very little, Knaeble expects Harris to keep a weekly role and retain what he called “elite hand-cuff upside” if Hampton misses time. He compared the pick to Zach Charbonnet at a similar ADP, pointing out that Harris offers the same talent level in a far better offense. Knaeble is taking the 20-touch ceiling and betting on a minor resurgence at a price the room clearly hates.

Calling the current price tag ‘an absolute layup,’ Davis Mattek encouraged drafters to scoop discounted shares of Najee Harris. He argued that Harris’ rookie-year workload (381 touches) is still well within range for 2024 because Jalen Warren failed to seize the job during years two through four. Harris remains one of the league’s better tackle-breakers, and Mattek expects Kellen Moore’s new Chargers offense to feature a ton of dump-offs with Aaron Rodgers under center—an easy path to full-PPR points. At a mid-round ADP that bakes in zero upside, Harris offers a 15-point weekly floor and room for much more if Los Angeles lives in the red zone.

Mathology scooped Najee Harris nine picks past ADP and called it a smash because the former Steeler is now running behind what his model grades as the sixth-best offensive line in football. He expects the Chargers’ downhill concepts under Greg Roman to open "nice holes" and, more importantly, keep Harris on the field for every goal-line snap. Mathology projected 10–12 rushing touchdowns if Harris’ minor eye issue proves meaningless and added that the Chargers’ projected top-10 red-zone rate should give him multiple two-TD spike weeks. He sees Harris as the perfect RB4 in elite-QB builds: cheap, touchdown-centric and no longer saddled with Pittsburgh’s bottom-five line.

Greg Brainos said Najee Harris remains a "pretty good pick" at his current ADP after a deleted Reddit post suggested the back was injured in a fireworks accident. Brainos noted there is no credible reporting on the eye-injury rumor, calling it simply a rumor that moderators removed. He also pointed out that Chargers coaches keep referencing a "one-two punch" in the backfield, a setup that could cap absolute ceiling but should still leave Harris with plenty of touches relative to where he is being drafted in Best Ball Mania drafts.

Alex Blickle spotlighted the Chargers backfield, advising drafters to pair veteran Najee Harris with rookie Omarion Hampton. He questioned whether J.K. Dobbins’ past success was talent-driven or simply a by-product of this running-back-friendly scheme, concluding that any competent runner can thrive behind LA’s zone concepts. Harris projects for heavy early-season volume, giving teams a reliable RB2 while Hampton acclimates. As the season progresses, Blickle expects the rookie’s burst to force a workload shift, potentially turning Hampton into a low-rostered playoff differentiator while still keeping Harris as an injury hedge. Because both backs satisfy his "either can handle the full load" criterion and come at affordable 2025 costs, Blickle believes locking up the entire backfield maximizes regular-season advance equity and delivers asymmetric upside in Weeks 15-17.

Jonathan Lange called Najee Harris a potential ADP hit at pick 58 after signing with the Chargers. Harris has never missed an NFL game and now pairs with Justin Herbert in an offense lacking an established early-down runner. Lange will take shares before the NFL Draft but plans to back off completely if Los Angeles spends a top-3-round pick on another back, reasoning that draft capital would cap Harris’ touch ceiling and render him overpriced in Flex Four.

Nez said he is still buying Najee Harris even after the veteran’s move to the Chargers dragged his Underdog ADP into the 90s. Harris’s 2023 inefficiency, in Nez’s view, was more about Pittsburgh’s broken blocking and predictable play-calling than the runner himself. He expects Jim Harbaugh to lean on a power run game similar to Michigan’s, allowing Harris to preserve his 250-touch profile while rookie Kimani Vidal operates only as a change-of-pace. Nez believes the market is over-penalizing Harris for a perceived loss of explosiveness when the more meaningful variables—goal-line usage, screen volume, and game-script friendly defense—could actually improve in Los Angeles. At a depressed price, Nez sees Harris as a cheap path to 9–10 weekly half-PPR points with 20-point spike-week upside in Best Ball Mania drafts.

Steph Miller snagged Najee Harris as an "early-season bridge" and said she prefers him over rookie Kimani Hampton in the same range. Her logic: Harris should dominate touches out of the gate while the Chargers slow-roll Hampton, giving best-ball drafters two usable months before bye weeks hit. Steph pointed to Jim Harbaugh’s public commitment to a downhill rushing identity (52% neutral-situation run rate in spring practices) and highlighted that Los Angeles quietly upgraded its interior offensive line with the Jonah Jackson signing. Even if Hampton eventually forces a 60/40 split, Steph expects Harris to bank three or four RB2 weeks in September–October, which is exactly what hyper-fragile WR-heavy builds need.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound urged drafters to fade Najee Harris, noting that although Harris “will start with the role,” he has “failed to keep it every year.” Pat expects Jaylen Warren’s explosive efficiency to force a mid-season committee at best or an outright takeover at worst. In a format where a single bad week can end your entry, Pat would rather bank on Warren’s rising workload than sink a Round-8 pick into Harris, who could be running on fumes by the time eliminations tighten.

Chris Raybon dropped Najee Harris to RB32—four spots below post-draft ADP (RB28)—arguing the market still underrates how much first-round rookie O’Marrion Hampton threatens Harris’s workload. Raybon noted Harris’s efficiency has fallen three straight seasons (YPC down to 3.9, explosive run rate bottom-15) and the former Steeler remains touchdown-dependent. With the Chargers investing first-round capital in Hampton, Raybon expects a 50-50 committee at best and would not be shocked if Hampton leapfrogs Harris entirely by mid-season, especially near the goal line and on passing downs. He likened Harris’s 2024 outlook to a Gus Edwards-style role—8-12 empty carries per game with little receiving work—hardly enough to justify a top-30 price tag. Unless Harris slides outside the top-40 backs, Raybon is passing in both season-long and best-ball formats.

Billy Jones pointed out that Najee Harris has tumbled to pick 100 and believes the veteran could keep falling as drafters favor higher-upside backs. With Arthur Smith expected to feature Jaylen Warren on passing downs and Pittsburgh investing in two mauling guards, Jones envisions Harris handling early-season volume but losing high-value touches later in the year. He’s comfortable clicking Harris only after the 9/10 turn, preferring to let the market finish correcting before adding significant exposure.

Billy Jones advised skipping Najee Harris in drafts where managers have already burned early capital on three bankable workhorses such as Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor and Christian McCaffrey. Jones said Harris simply does not add the playoff-winning ceiling those builds still need. The fourth-year back has produced just 11 runs of 20-plus yards in 694 career carries and continues to lose two-minute and long-down snaps to Jaylen Warren, capping both explosive-play and reception upside. Because Najee’s fantasy value relies on volume that Pittsburgh could easily siphon to the more efficient Warren, Jones prefers reallocating that pick toward a contingency option with true takeover potential rather than stacking another floor back onto an RB-heavy roster.

Davis Mattek advised fantasy managers to view Najee Harris as nothing more than a placeholder after signing a one-year, $5.25 M deal with the Chargers. Mattek noted Harris’ fifth-year option was declined, Pittsburgh let him walk, and he is now competing with first-round rookie Omarion Hampton in a Greg Roman backfield that historically feeds one bell-cow. Harris’ résumé—splitting snaps with UDFA Jaylen Warren, posting sub-4.0 YPC three straight seasons and failing to earn a second contract—suggests the best-case is a short-lived veteran bridge role. Mattek expects Harbaugh and Roman to ride the rookie once Hampton masters the playbook, relegating Harris to low-value third-down or pass-protection duties by mid-season. He has moved Harris outside his top-120 overall in Best Ball Mania drafts and labelled him undraftable in shallow season-long formats unless an ADP crater presents an injury-hedge price.

Discussing roster construction for Underdog’s Eliminator, Davis Mattek said managers should be "more Week-1-brained" at running back because only 0.7 percent of teams survive to Week 7. That makes veteran workhorse types—Najee Harris, Aaron Jones, Tony Pollard, Javonte Williams—far more viable than their season-long ADPs suggest. Mattek prefers drafting two of those backs early and skipping an eighth wide receiver to add a third quarterback or tight end. The logic: half-point PPR scoring and head-to-head matchups reward 20-point touch monopolies these backs can still deliver before wear-and-tear becomes an issue. Harris, for example, averaged 19.6 carries over Pittsburgh’s first six games last year; similar early-season volume could single-handedly advance Eliminator rosters before their fragility shows up in December.

Mike Wright said he is "pleased to dislike Najee for fantasy again" after the Chargers spent first-round capital on Omari and Hampton. While Harris could poach some early-season goal-line carries, Wright thinks that role evaporates once Hampton proves himself. He reminded listeners that Harbaugh’s front office gave Harris only a one-year deal and drafted Hampton specifically for three-down usage. Wright expects Harris to open the year in a committee but projects his snap share to dip below 30 percent by mid-season, making him nothing more than a touchdown-dependent RB3/FLEX in redraft and a sell-now asset in dynasty formats before the inevitable mid-season benching tanks his value.

Davis Mattek told listeners to dump Najee Harris shares now that the Chargers spent first-round capital on Amarion Hampton. Harris signed only a one-year, $5.25 M deal—comparable to Zach Moss money—which Mattek called clear “running-back-two” compensation. He pointed out that Harris was forced into a split with UDFA Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh, had his fifth-year option declined, and now profiles as a pure placeholder. Because Hampton and Harris are both "thunder" backs, Mattek expects Harris to lose early-down work once the rookie digests the playbook. The best-case scenario for Harris is a short-lived opening-day starter role based on veteran trust and pass-pro chops, but Mattek thinks the rookie’s talent eventually pushes Harris into a backup/third-down specialist by mid-season. With Greg Roman’s historical rushing ranks (first or second in attempts six times) and Harbaugh’s willingness to ride one lead back, Harris’s weekly ceiling is capped even if he hangs onto 8–10 touches. Mattek has dropped him outside his top-40 RBs for both Season-Long and Best Ball drafts and will maintain near-zero exposure unless an injury sidelines Hampton.