Who Should I Start? Najee Harris or RJ Harvey

Wednesday, September 24, 6:15 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Wednesday that they placed running back Najee Harris (Achilles) on Injured Reserve, according to Fernando Ramirez of the Sporting Tribune. Harris' season is over after he tore his Achilles in the Week 3 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. It's a disappointing end to his first year with the Bolts after signing with them in free agency in the offseason. The 27-year-old will end his streak of four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons to begin his career. In his three games this year, Harris carried the ball 15 times for 61 yards and no touchdowns, adding three receptions for 25 yards through the air. The Chargers will be forced to lean more on rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton as their lead back going forward, making him a must-start each week. Hassan Haskins will be elevated to the RB2 role, with Kimani Vidal the next man up at No. 2 in the backfield.

Friday, December 5, 11:24 AM

When asked on Wednesday about running back RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton hinted that the rookie has not yet been fully unleashed and has a "rare running skill set." "There's that saying, 'You haven't seen anything yet,'" Payton noted to reporters. The 24-year-old has kept his fantasy value afloat with touchdowns while finding little room to work on the ground. Fortunately, Harvey has carved out a decent role in the passing game, picking up at least three targets in all but four outings. Payton's insinuation suggests the rookie is set to take off like a rocket ship, but he'll need to improve his efficiency as a rusher before that becomes a reality. Even with all that said, Harvey's workload has remained steady, and he has the athletic profile to be a successful NFL and fantasy asset. Look for him to continue improving this Sunday in a road clash with the Raiders. He's a high-end RB2 for that outing.