DuJuan Harris is just a guy. But sometimes, just a guy can change your fantasy football season.
Last year, heading into the Championship game of my 16-team league, I was in serious trouble. The only starting running back I had left that was healthy on my roster was Shonn Greene. Obviously not a favorable situation to be. However, a little running back from the Penn State University would end up being the saving grace of my team. Evan Royster, a 4th round draft pick to the Washington Redskins, had backed up Ryan Torain and Roy Helu for the entire season. However, 15 minutes before kickoff, Roy Helu was ruled inactive. Sitting on my bench was Evan Royster, who was immediately subbed into my line up and produced to the tune of 19 carries for 132 yards.
Evan Royster is not the only running back to come in last in the season and produce RB1 level numbers. Every. Single. Year, there will be a 4th string running back who finds his way into the starting lineup simply because he has stayed healthy. Weather we like it or not as fantasy players, these random running backs can decide fantasy football championships. The only sure way to benefit from this trend is to ensure that they are on our roster, and not our opponents. That way, when you are setting your flex position in championship week, you can tell the Anquan Boldin’s and DeAngelo William’s of the world to get lost. This year, there is one diamond in the rough who has the potential to be this years Evan Royster. He is only owned in 0.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football leagues and received six carries in the six times he was on the field for one of the leagues premiere offenses. I am speaking, of course, about DuJuan Harris, the backup-by-attrition running back for the Green Bay Packers. DuJuan Harris’ fantasy potential is off the charts
Give this kid a chance.
The 5’7″, 187 pound running back out of Troy University was an undrafted free agent who latched on with Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011, before being waived and claimed by the Steelers before finally signing with the Packers and being promoted to the active roster on December 1st, 2012. At first glance, this is the resume of 100′s of other NFL running backs with no particular skill set or attribute that sets them apart from the others. However, Harris had an impressive pro day back in the combine with a 4.44 40 time and a 7.15 3 cone drill. This, in combonation with recent quotes about Harris coming from the Green Bay Packers, makes him an intriguing add.
Dujuan Harris could have a huge impact on your fantasy team.
Mike McCarthy made a specific point of telling the Green Bay Press Gazette that “I like a lot about DuJuan Harris. I’d like to get him in a game more, do a lot with him. I didn’t want him to get lost in the game-planning portion of the game, so he started. He’s as fast vertically as he is horizontally.” Whoa. That is a pretty strong quote that has gotten lost amongst all of the fantasy news floating around. The last two seasons, James Starks, Alex Green, Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant have been terrible. That is putting it graciously. The Packers have been a pass-heavy offense by necessity. There is just nothing impressive about James Starks, Alex Green has looked quick on a few runs but when heavily disappointed when given a full work load, Cedric Benson is on IR and Ryan Grant is mere passing-down insurance at this point. McCarthy and Co. want to run the ball but haven’t had a back who can do so. Harris looked shifty and powerful on his 6 carries last week. The way his former coach at Troy described him was as a ‘violent runner’ a la Marshawn Lynch or Chris Ivory. His natural speed is going to allow him to take advantage of the massive holes that the threat of Aaron Rodgers creates and the simple fact that he has fresh legs is going to be helpful. If Alex Green was going to do it, he would have already done it now.
There is no guarantee that Harris is going to be a difference maker for you; however, after drawing glowing praise from both McCarthy and Rodgers, it is pretty clear that he is going to be given a chance to prove himself in week 15. If you have a 5th wide receiver, or a 2nd defense, or a back up kicker, go out right now and drop them for Harris. You never know if one of your starting running backs is going to go down and force you to scramble for a replacement for your championship game. This is a no-downside, all-upside move that winners of fantasy championships make.
About Davis Mattek
20 Year old student of English at Kansas State University. Writer for Sports Wunderkind, The Fake Football and Hockey, and various other media outlets. Fan of the Cowboys, Thunder, Avalanche and Royals
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