Najee Harris would probably rather get stuffed at the goalline by J.J. Watt than ever again touch a recreational explosive, as the Chargers RB suffered an eye injury due to a fireworks mishap in July, an admittedly foolish decision that kept him out of practice for weeks.
Harris isn’t the first NFL player to get burned in a fireworks accident — Jason Pierre-Paul lost his right index finger while messing around on July 4th, 2016.
Harris and the Bolts travel to Brazil on Friday to face the division rival Kansas City Chiefs. Will the Alabama product be healthy enough to give the Chargers' backfield an extra boost?
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Is Najee Harris Playing in Week 1?
Harris said Monday that he expects to play in Friday's season opener.
"I think it's probably my fifth day at practice, just trying to get back in that football shape," he said. "But I am feeling good though, and we'll just see where it leads."
Harris has been cleared for full-contact practice for the first time since signing with the Chargers. However, Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh has been noncommittal about the rookie's potential snap count.
“There's a possibility [he'll see significant time]," he said. "He's looked really good in practice.”
Will Najee Harris or Omarion Hampton Start for the Chargers?
Much like Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s offense in San Francisco, the Chargers will probably roll with a run-heavy philosophy, likely a factor in why the Chargers grabbed RB Omarion Hampton with their first pick (22nd overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While the former North Carolina Tar Heel is expected to handle the bulk of the workload as the Chargers' No. 1 back, Harris should still see meaningful touches, as Roman has a history of keeping his top RBs fresh for a theoretical postseason push.
For instance, when Roman was the OC for the 49ers, RB Frank Gore never saw 300 total touches in a single season as the bell cow back. Roman also isn’t known for utilizing his RBs in the passing game — Gore’s target share dropped from 9.7% to 6.5% with Roman calling the plays — which could ding both Hampton's and Harris' fantasy value.
Omarion Hampton Projections vs. Chiefs for Week 1
- 0.5 Rush+Rec TDs
- 48.5 Rush Yards
- 11.5 Receiving Yards
- 3.5 Receptions
- 12 Rush Attempts
- 14.5 Longest Rush
- 3.5 Quarters With 5+ Rush Yards
- 8.5 Longest Reception
- 18.5 Rush Yards in First 5 Attempts
While Hampton is is expected to be the featured RB, fantasy owners should temper expectations for his NFL debut.
The Chiefs ranked in the top-ten in run defense in 2024, allowing just 101.8 rushing yards per game and 13 rushing TDs. That being the case, Hampton's coming out party may need to wait until the Chargers’ Week 2 matchup in Sin City against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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