Fantasy Football News, Advice, Stats, Projections & Draft Kit

Posted 7/26/2024 9:31 pm GMT

Updating a previous report, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) said there is no timetable for his return but indicated that he is feeling better than he did earlier in the week.

SOURCE: NFL.com

Huddle Up: The Steelers are being cautious with Wilson so he can return to practice in the near future. He likely is still the leading candidate for the starting job and will be a No. 2 fantasy quarterback if he starts Week 1.

Posted 7/26/2024 5:51 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) was held out of practice again on Friday, July 26, but head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters afterward that Wilson did not practice so he could "keep a minor thing from becoming major."

Huddle Up: All indications are that Wilson is dealing with nothing more than a sore calf. If that is the case, he should return to practice sometime next week. Wilson may not be what he once was, but there is a distinct possibility he could have his best season since leaving the Seattle Seahawks if offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is more willing to live with the 35-year-old's improvisation and support him with play-action passing more than the Denver Broncos were during his two-year stay there. He has a chance to be a solid QB2 in fantasy.

SOURCE: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

Posted 7/25/2024 4:46 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) is considered day-to-day with a calf injury, according to sources Thursday, July 25. In Wilson's absence, Justin Fields took first-team reps at quarterback.

Huddle Up: This will be something to monitor for the Steelers wide receivers. Wilson is most likely a mid-QB2 with limited upside in Arthur Smith's offnse.

Posted 7/17/2024 3:06 am GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth was the only qualified tight end in the league who did not record a drop during the 2023 season.

Huddle Up: Part of the reason Freiermuth was so trustworthy was because he only had 47 targets last season - less than half of his total from 2022 (98). With that said, the highest drop rate of Freiermuth's NFL career was 4.1 percent two seasons ago, so he will generally catch just about everything thrown to him. Freiermuth should push for fantasy TE1 status again since he should be - at worst - the second-best option for Russell Wilson in the passing game.

Posted 7/11/2024 8:09 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson - then with the Denver Broncos - finished with the fourth-lowest bad throw percentage in the league among qualified passers at 13.2%, according to Pro Football Reference.

Huddle Up: Wilson may not have been a fit in head coach Sean Payton's offense - or Denver, for that matter - but the bad-throw percentage and number of bad throws (55) were at their lowest since at least 2018. Now in Pittsburgh and in a run-based offense that will likely allow him to improvise more than he could under Payton, it should surprise no one if Wilson bounces back to be a quality QB2 option in 2024.

Jaylen Warren - RB

Posted 7/05/2024 5:47 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren averaged a broken tackle once every 5.5 carries last season, which was easily the best mark among qualified runners in the league, according to Pro Football Reference. The next closest player was James Conner at 7.7.

Huddle Up: While a small part of Warren's success was likely a product of how little he was used in between the tackles, he deserves a ton of credit for being a highly explosive player in a body that is hard for defenders to square up (5-foot-8, 215 pounds). His advanced metrics show he is highly productive just about everywhere, and that should remain the case with Arthur Smith now calling the plays in Pittsburgh. Despite sharing a backfield with Najee Harris, Warren should be a strong consideration for fantasy managers as a back-end RB2.

Posted 7/04/2024 8:14 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris led all players with 618 yards after contact last season, according to Pro Football Reference.

Huddle Up: Unlike teammate Jaylen Warren (2.7), Harris did not get much help from the play-calling or his line, as his 1.6 yards before contact per carry was tied with Miles Sanders for the second-worst mark in the league among qualified runners. Interestingly, Harris and were tied for third in the league with 2.4 yards after contact per carry. Running behind what should be the best offensive line of his pro career in 2024, Harris should easily beat his current RB22 ranking as a player going in the eighth round.

Roman Wilson - WR

Posted 7/01/2024 3:17 am GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Roman Wilson's performance during training camp could determine whether the Steelers add a veteran wide receiver before the start of the year, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.

Huddle Up: The departure of Diontae Johnson leaves a void at receiver, and Wilson is certainly in the mix to fill it. Still, he will likely be a big-play dependent option as a rookie and no more than a flex play in deeper formats, even if he wins a starting role.

Calvin Austin - WR

Posted 6/29/2024 1:13 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Calvin Austin is expected to see a larger role in the team's offense in 2024, following the decision to trade WR Diontae Johnson and release WR Allen Robinson during the offseason, in the opinion of Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.

Huddle Up: Austin was on the field for just 35% of the team's offensive snaps last season and only had 17 receptions but should see an uptick in fantasy production this year because of less competition. He is expected to be used primarily as a slot receiver, although the same could also be said of rookie Roman Wilson. On the other hand, Austin's role on special teams could diminish because Cordarrelle Patterson is now the leading candidate to return punts. He's worthy of consideration as a late-round flier in deeper fantasy leagues.

Posted 6/24/2024 7:35 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is lining up to be the No. 2 target in the offense after a strong spring, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "The Steelers don't have a solid WR2 option, but that might not matter as much if Freiermuth continues on the kind of upward trajectory he established this offseason," Pryor said.

Huddle Up: Freiermuth is a solid breakout candidate with a low cost in fantasy. He's a back-end TE1, but there's some value if he winds up becoming the second target in the offense.

SOURCE: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo

Posted 6/23/2024 1:13 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson was "clearly the better quarterback" during minicamps and organized team activities, in the opinion of Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. He took the overwhelming majority of meaningful reps, including on the final day of mandatory minicamp, when most other veterans took off. In addition, DeFabo wrote that QB Justin Fields "doesn't often shine in seven-on-seven situations."

Huddle Up: Barring an injury during training camp, it appears as though Wilson will be Pittsburgh's No. 1 quarterback to begin the 2024 season. He's an upgrade over last year's starter (Kenny Pickett) but should only be viewed as a starting option in deeper two-quarterback fantasy leagues.

Posted 6/17/2024 2:44 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris could still land a long-term extension, according to general manager Omar Khan.

SOURCE: 93.7 The Fan

Huddle Up: Harris was the RB23 in PPR leagues because he added very little in the aerial attack. He's not a flashy fantasy back, but he's a dependable RB2.

George Pickens - WR

Posted 6/15/2024 2:37 am GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens has spent time in the slot during minicamp. "It is great," Pickens said. "I'm a total receiver, so I like working in the slot just as much as I like working at outside receiver."

Huddle Up: Pickens managed to deliver 1,140 receiving yards last year despite a shaky quarterback situation in Pittsburgh. If Russell Wilson can just provide competent play under center, Pickens could be headed for a career year. Consider him a WR3 with upside.

Posted 6/13/2024 7:34 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris was present for two of the three days of the team's minicamp this week, but he did not participate in any of the sessions. Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters after practice on Wednesday, June 12, that Harris had no health issues and downplayed his lack of participation by pointing out minicamp is more about learning about the players he is less familiar with.

Huddle Up: While it is not an ideal situation, Harris' lack of offseason work should not be considered a major issue. The Steelers decided against exercising his fifth-year team option this spring, so this is likely his response to that. Harris is primed to carry a heavy workload behind a much-improved offensive line in what is largely expected to be a run-heavy offense this season, making him a very nice target in the middle rounds for drafters who decide to wait at running back this summer.

Posted 6/10/2024 1:28 am GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth "looked like a legitimate playmaker" in the offense during OTAs, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.

SOURCE: SteelersWire - Curt Popejoy

Huddle Up: Freiermuth is coming off a disappointing season, but history says new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will have the tight ends more involved. With Smith's offense and Russell Wilson now under center, Freiermuth should rebound from his 2023 numbers. It isn't out of the question that he finishes as a low-end TE1.

Jaylen Warren - RB

Posted 6/07/2024 9:57 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren said he is not worried about his contract situation and is focused on winning a championship this upcoming season. Warren is scheduled to be a restricted free agent next offseason.

Huddle Up: Warren likely will continue to share playing time with Najee Harris this upcoming season and both will have fantasy value. Warren can be considered at least a flex option most weeks.

SOURCE: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jason Mackey

Posted 5/29/2024 7:20 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth said he is excited about the scheme offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is bringing to the team because the tight ends will be very involved in the passing game.

Huddle Up: Freiermuth is coming off a disappointing 2023 season but likely will see a good amount of targets this upcoming season if he can stay healthy. He could be considered a low-end No. 1 tight end in deeper leagues.

Posted 5/24/2024 12:38 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth has developed a connection with QB Russell Wilson early on in OTAs, according to beat writer Mark Kaboly.

Huddle Up: Freiermuth had a down year while dealing with injuries and a quarterback carousel. Wilson has always used tight ends well, and at this stage of his career, he'll need them. Freiermuth will be a TE2 that gets overlooked but could have upside.

Posted 5/21/2024 10:00 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields said he expects to compete with QB Russell Wilson for the starting quarterback job during training camp.

SOURCE: NFL.com

Huddle Up: Wilson will open camp as the leading candidate for the job, but the team said Fields will have the chance to earn the job. Both should be upgrades over Kenny Pickett, but neither will be more than No. 2 fantasy quarterbacks to start the season.

SOURCE: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Brian Batko

Posted 5/17/2024 2:07 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris has been "obsessively clean" with his diet in the offseason and has dropped around 7 pounds, according to his trainer Josh Scott. "One of the main things he's done, personally, was make some big changes to his eating habits," Scott said. "A lot of fish, a lot of vegetables, no processed foods has been the dietary goal."

Huddle Up: Harris was the RB23 in PPR leagues despite playing in 17 games last year. In a contract year, he'll have some upside as a midrange RB2.

SOURCE: NFL.com - Nick Shook

Posted 5/02/2024 10:21 pm GMT

Updating a previous report, Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris had his fifth-year option declined because the team wants to see how he performs in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's scheme but are open to signing him to a long-term deal in the future, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Huddle Up: The Steelers likely will run the ball often under Smith, so Harris could earn himself a long-term contract if he performs well this upcoming season. He can be considered a No. 2 or No. 3 running back in fantasy leagues and probably will be a starting option most weeks.

Roman Wilson - WR

Posted 4/27/2024 2:30 am GMT

Michigan WR Roman Wilson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with 84th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

SOURCE: NFL.com

Huddle Up: The Steelers moved on from Diontae Johnson this offseason, so Wilson likely will have a role in the passing game as a rookie. He could be a late-round pick in deeper leagues but probably can stay on the bench most weeks.

Posted 4/22/2024 10:38 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris' fifth-year option will be decided on after the 2024 NFL Draft, according to general manager Omar Khan.

Huddle Up: Harris played well at the end of the season and will continue to share playing time with Jaylen Warren for at least one more season. He can be considered a No. 2 running back in most fantasy leagues.

Posted 3/24/2024 9:12 pm GMT

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson is first in the pecking order, followed by QB Justin Fields, head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed on Sunday, March 24. "We've been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start," Tomlin said. "I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved. Russell is a veteran man. He's got a proven process of readiness. He's been in this league a long time."

Huddle Up: Wilson will enter the 2024 campaign after finishing as QB14 overall in 2023. However, Fields definitely has the higher upside of the two thanks to his ability to run and would be a borderline QB1, at worst, if he sees the field. Fantasy managers investing in Wilson would be wise to grab Fields, also.