Khalil Herbert vs Najee Harris: The Full Breakdown
Najee Harris and Khalil Herbert are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back averaged 12.8 PPG in 2025, a full 7.0 points per game ahead of Khalil Herbert's 5.8 with the Cincinnati Bengals. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
That 7.0-point weekly advantage for Najee Harris is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Khalil Herbert ran for 248 yards and 2 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.
Khalil Herbert has his bye in Week 12, 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.
