Jaylen Warren tops Najee Harris as Steelers’ most explosive running back

Steelers Update on Pennlive

Jaylen Warren’s explosive 62-yard touchdown runs vs. the Buffalo Bills heralded another gear – and another level for the Steelers’ running game. As soon as Warren sped into the end zone, it ignited a Steelers Nation debate over who’s the best running back in the ‘Burgh. Warren is seen as the modern do-it-all back. Najee Harris is the throwback. Warren is a game-breaker. Harris is a pounding plodder that harkens back to three yards and a cloud of dust. Both backs will be integral to the 2023 Steelers’ offense. Harris will help turnover the down markers and run out the clock. But it’s Warren who’ll become the take-it-to-the-house scoring threat from anywhere on the field. That’s not the only difference, either. One was drafted in the first round. The other was signed off the street. No wonder supposedly elite running backs across the league often go begging when it comes to signing their second NFL contract. The crucial number is yards per carry. Najee is stuck at a lackluster 3.9 YPC after two years with the Steelers. Warren put up a full yard on Najee in 2022, and if he continues to explode like he did vs. Buffalo, the gap could grow to the point of embarrassment for the former first-rounder. In today’s NFL, running backs have become a means to an end. As Warren showed, the shortest distance to a touchdown is a 62-yard run. We have much more on the juggernaut Steelers, who’ve been peaking in the preseason, along with all the resulting Yinzer hype now sweeping Steelers Nation. But is this team for real? We dig for answers in this band-wagon edition of your Steelers Update Podcast. And be sure to check out my full print column first thing Thursday on PennLive. It will be packed with plenty of memes bringing the latest, greatest Steelers debate to life – and to laughs.

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