In the span of less than a month, Najee Harris could realistically go from being an unwanted free agent to the New York Giants’ Week 1 starting running back.
Football is funny like that, isn’t it? We spent so much of the offseason expecting Cam Skattebo to take the second-year leap (though for his sake, we hoped it’d go better than his backflip attempts) or a breakout season from Tyrone Tracy Jr. The Giants’ decision to forgo drafting a running back this past spring only furthered the impression that they’d rely on their returning leading rushers.
Instead, Harris quickly overtook Tracy on the depth chart, and concerns have already mounted about Skattebo’s relationship with John Harbaugh. The door is open for Harris, who had four 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers, to capitalize on his newfound Giants opportunity.
Don’t be surprised if Najee Harris becomes the New York Giants’ lead running back
Harbaugh saw enough of Harris throughout their Steelers-Ravens clashes to know the value he can provide, even after last year’s Achilles injury. Not only is the 2021 first-round pick healthy, but he made so much progress upon signing in mid-August that he played in the Giants’ Aug. 31 preseason finale.
With respect to Harris, it’s telling that he skyrocketed up the depth chart so quickly. Skattebo impressed as a rookie, and Tracy has regularly flashed in his first two seasons. Surpassing Devin Singletary is one thing, even after the former Florida Atlantic standout had multiple big plays during the preseason, but to leave Skattebo and Tracy in the dust?
An optimist might claim that the greater takeaway is Harris looking healthy, and that’d certainly help erase concerns about the Giants’ running game. It’s nonetheless hard not to look at the depth chart and wonder where Skattebo and Tracy fit into the team’s long-term plans. Skattebo arguably didn’t help matters when he admitted that he considered retiring following last year’s leg injury.
Harris is still only 28, though he’s got plenty of mileage under his belt. The question is how much Tracy and Skattebo will really factor into next Sunday’s game with the Cowboys. By no means do we believe Harris will have 80 percent of the Giants’ overall carries, especially not with a healthy Jaxson Dart.
Harbaugh and the Giants should view this season as a one-year tryout for the three main running backs; Singletary turned 29 on Thursday and is playing on the veteran minimum, so we’re not including him. Tracy will be a free agent after next year, and Harbaugh didn’t draft Skattebo.
Things are quickly getting very interesting in the Giants’ backfield, and Harris is poised to take advantage. Let’s see whether we’re still talking about Tracy and Skattebo’s workload come October, or if Harris will have fully claimed the No. 1 spot.
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