PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) The National Football League is weeks away from kickoff of the 2021 season and teams have their depth charts set.
The Pittsburgh Steelers took a chance by selecting Najee Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and now he sits as the teams starting option at running back.
So far through three preseason games, Harris has looked promising with the Steelers.
At the age of 23, Harris closes in on the start of his rookie season, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) has made a bold prediction for him.
PFF is predicting Harris will lead the league in rushing yards among rookies.
More specifically, they are projecting him to hit 1,033 yards on the year, beating out Javonte Williams of the Denver Broncos (923 yards) and Trey Sermon of the San Francisco 49ers (666 yards).
1,033 yards for a rookie is a high bar to cross for Harris, but its not impossible.
Multiple Steeler rookie running backs have crossed the 1,000-yard mark, including, appropriately, Franco Harris who ran for 1,055 yards in 1972.
That same year, Franco was selected as the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
PFF has high hopes for Najee, and it could lead him to rookie of the year looks.