The Pittsburgh Steelers have a respectable offense for the first time since Ben Roethlisberger was the quarterback. Mike Tomlin’s decision to bench polarizing quarterback Justin Fields for veteran Russell Wilson was met with controversy, but turned out to be the right move.

But a quarterback change isn’t the only reason for the team’s success. Najee Harris has been running like a man possessed this year. Many wondered how the sore running back would fit into Arthur Smith’s wide zone offense, and Najee quickly put any concerns to rest in the first half of the 2024 season.

Najee had a forgettable game against the Commanders in Week 10, and from the sounds of it, this is the only Steelers game Rodney Harrison has seen so far.

The former NFL All-Pro safety and football commentator joined Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio to discuss the state of the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of their Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Williams didn’t shy away from explaining who he thinks the Pittsburgh starter should be, and his comments toward Najee Harris seemed unnecessary.

“Jaylen Warren should be the starting running back,” Harrison explained. “Najee Harris, when he runs, it looks like his legs are heavy; it looks like he’s almost running in the sand sometimes. Every now and then you look at Najee, he gives you that energy and he runs like Ricky Waters, but for for the most part I’m starting Warren as my running back.”

That seems a bit… harsh.

I’ve been as big a Najee critic as anyone early in his career, but Harris is easily having his best season in the NFL in 2024. Before his tough sledding performance against Washington, Najee posted a career-best three consecutive matches. his career – he earned 322 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns while averaging almost six yards per attempt.

Over the past two years, a legitimate case could be made why Warren should be Pittsburgh’s best running back. But in 2024, the young RB was struggling with hamstring and knee problems. Now he is dealing with a back injury ahead of Week 11, which forced him to miss practice.

Meanwhile, Harris is a battering ram who never wears out and is on his way to a career-high in rushing yards.

Najee Harris is a durable, capable running back who is having a career season. Rodney Harrison might want to put on some Steelers tape before erasing a focal point of Pittsburgh’s offense with unnecessary and misguided comments.