3 years agoNew England Patriots running back Damien Harris entered 2021 with the expectation that he would be the Week 1 starter for the first time in his career. This proved to be true, and he didn't look back. In his third NFL season, Harris totaled 202 carries, 929 rushing yards, and 15 rushing touchdowns. He also added 132 yards in the passing game. His 201.1 fantasy points in half-PPR leagues led him to an RB13 finish. However, there's reason to believe he will regress this coming season. First, he's facing steep competition. Bill Belichick doesn't use his running backs traditionally, and now he's allowing Rhamondre Stevenson and James White to play major roles in the offense. Even if Harris is the starter, his backups are going to significantly eat into his usage. Second, White offers large upside in the passing game. Stevenson is a capable receiver, too. The same can't be said about Harris, who has essentially no fantasy value on passing downs. Not only will this strip him of snaps and yardage, but it will directly dampen his production in PPR leagues. Finally, Harris's 15 touchdowns were an anomaly. Stevenson is going to garner a larger share of goal-line work now that he's out of the doghouse in his second pro season, and Mac Jones is going to be given more freedom to throw the football in the red zone, too. Harris might still be a candidate for double-digit scores, but he's sure to regress from 15. These factors all point to a significant step backward for Harris, which is why his ADP of 75 is tough to stomach. Fantasy managers would be wise to look at other players with similar ADPs when addressing their running back position. Miles Sanders, Kareem Hunt, or even Stevenson himself represent options with lower price tags and higher fantasy potential.--Andersen Pickard - RotoBaller