Joe Mixon vs Najee Harris: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Joe Mixon and Najee Harris is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Houston Texans running back put up 16.5 PPG in 2025 over 15 games; Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 12.8 in 17. A 3.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 3.7 points favors Joe Mixon, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Joe Mixon ran for 1165 yards and 11 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.
Joe Mixon has his bye in Week 14, 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.
