Fantasy Football Player Notes

Last season, Jaylen Warren had arguably his most productive season for fantasy purposes as the RB18 in fantasy points per game. He was his usual incredibly efficient self on a per-touch basis. In 2025, Warren ranked sixth in missed tackle rate, ninth in yards after contact per attempt, 12th in rushing success rate, third in yards per route run, and seventh in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). He set career highs in carries (211), rushing yards (958), and total touchdowns (eight). Kenneth Gainwell moved on from Pittsburgh in the offseason, but Mike McCarthy brought in his favorite son, Rico Dowdle. Warren's role for Pittsburgh has evolved over the years from preferred passing down back to lead back, but his role could be in flux in 2026 with the arrival of a new head coach and backfield mate. Warren could still return RB2 value this season, but there's more risk in his 2026 projection than many will be able to admit.

DK Metcalf's first season in Pittsburgh largely reinforced what fantasy managers have seen over the last several years — good, not great, fantasy consistency (WR26 overall and WR24 in PPG). The Steelers receiver once again finished outside the top tier at the position, and now faces even more target competition in a new-look offense entering 2026. His role has increasingly trended toward volatile WR3 territory rather than true fantasy alpha production. With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and additional mouths to feed, his ceiling appears lower than his reputation might suggest.

Rico Dowdle did it again last season. Dowdle fought to get to the top of the Carolina running back depth chart as he wrestled the starting job away from Chuba Hubbard. In Weeks 5-18, Dowdle averaged 18.6 touches and 87.7 total yards as the RB10 in fantasy points per game. Dowdle also excelled last season on the ground and in the receiving game. He ranked 23rd in explosive run rate, 17th in missed tackle rate, tenth in yards after contact per attempt, 17th in yards per route run, and 16th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). After that strong season, Dowdle now finds himself reunited with Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh as a backfield complement to Jaylen Warren. The division of the Steelers' running back workload is up in the air for the 2026 season, but I won't count against Dowdle's ability to rise to the competition for RB1 duties. We'll likely see a committee approach for Pittsburgh this season, but Dowdle could easily return RB2 value if not strong flex value this season.

Michael Pittman Jr. quietly remained productive in 2025 despite losing ground to Alec Pierce in the Colts offense and dealing with declining efficiency. Now in Pittsburgh, Pittman projects as a reliable possession receiver who could quickly become Aaron Rodgers' preferred underneath target. His fantasy ceiling may be limited compared to DK Metcalf's splash-play upside, but Pittman's volume and red-zone involvement should keep him firmly in the WR3 mix in a pass-happier offense led by HC MIke McCarthy. If the Steelers lean heavily on quick-game concepts, Pittman could easily lead the team in receptions/targets.

Week 1? Home versus the Atlanta Falcons. That in itself justifies selecting the Steelers DST. They also come in at No. 4 in the projections - but this unit has seen a fall-off over the last 2 seasons (4 to 9). The Steelers' secondary was shredded at times last season, allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game and ranking third in total missed tackles. FA acquisitions Jaquan Brisker and Jamel Dean should help bolster the back-end, but this defense STILL projects as one of the oldest in the league. But the third-easiest schedule through the first eight games suggests they start the year strongly.

Pat Freiermuth was the Steelers' best pass-catching tight end last season, but that didn't mean much, as Freiermuth finished with 41 catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns. He finished TE24 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring. The Steelers' offensive coordinator last season, Arthur Smith, rotated his tight ends, and Freiermuth had a career-low 51% snap share last year. Freiermuth has topped 60 catches in three of his five NFL seasons, and he's squarely in his prime at age 27. If new Steelers head coach Mike McCathy and new offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio make Freiermuth a bigger part of the Pittsburgh offense than he was under Smith last year, the veteran tight end could surprise.

Germie Bernard profiles as a better real-life fit than fantasy target entering the NFL, landing behind established veterans DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in Pittsburgh. The former Alabama receiver offers versatility, toughness, and strong YAC ability, which should help him earn snaps early, particularly from the slot. However, Year 1 fantasy expectations should remain modest given the crowded depth chart and uncertainty surrounding Pittsburgh's quarterback situation. The second-round pick feels more like a long-term depth stash than an immediate-impact rookie, although his well-rounded skill set gives him a relatively safe floor.

Chris Boswell finished ninth in kicker fantasy scoring last year, even though he wasn't quite as accurate on field goals as usual. Boswell has posted a field goal conversion rate of better than 90% in five of the last seven years, but he was only at 84.4% last year, making 27-of-34 FG tries. Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium, formerly known as Heinz Field, has long been regarded as a tough place to kick, but Boswell has been reliable enough to stick with the Steelers for 11 seasons. The Pittsburgh offense might not be especially potent this season with 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, but new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has been accused in the past of being too willing to settle for field goals - potentially good news for Boswell stakeholders.

Aaron Rodgers is coming back for what he says will be his final NFL season. But the 42-year-old Rodgers appears to be little more than a depth option in superflex leagues and deep 1QB leagues. Rodgers averaged 14.6 fantasy points per game last season. He threw for 3,322 yards and 23 touchdowns - not bad numbers - but he averaged only 6.7 yards per pass attempt, and his average depth of throw was just 6.0 yards. This senior version of Rodgers is something of a check-down machine, and that's not a great profile for fantasy. Rodgers appears anxious to get the ball out quickly to avoid hits, so he probably isn't going to have many deep completions this season. The future Hall-of-Famer is little more than a fantasy depth option at this point.