Derrick Henry vs Najee Harris: Who Should You Start?
Derrick Henry and Najee Harris are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG across 17 games with the Baltimore Ravens, while Najee Harris posted 12.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A 3.2-PPG gap gives Derrick Henry the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Derrick Henry ran for 1595 yards and 16 touchdowns; Najee Harris posted 1010 and 6. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
Derrick Henry has his bye in Week 7, and Najee Harris rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
