Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Rodgers→ his ranking

After signing with Pittsburgh in 2025, Rodgers brought veteran stability to the Steelers' offense, though his lone season in New York proved to be the worst of his career record-wise at 5-12. Despite the struggles, his Jets numbers nearly mirrored his 2022 season (3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions).

That 2022 campaign in Green Bay was already a down year, largely blamed on the departure of Davante Adams and a thin receiving corps that couldn't adequately replace him. Rodgers finished with a career-low 3,695 passing yards, a spike in turnovers (12 interceptions and four fumbles), and a notable dip in touchdowns to 26 after back-to-back elite seasons of 37 and 48. He ranked 13th in quarterback scoring (292.75 fantasy points in four-point TD leagues), topping two scores just once in 17 starts without a standout performance all season.

His New York year was marginally better in production but still far from inspiring. Rodgers eclipsed 300 passing yards only once, took 40 sacks (his most since 2018), and rarely used his legs (22 carries, 107 yards). He did show a notable home/away split, throwing 16 touchdowns and just three interceptions in New York. Rodgers finished 15th in quarterback scoring (308.75 fantasy points), averaging just 6.7 yards per attempt on roughly 34 passes per game, numbers that reflected a conservative, short-window passing approach throughout the season.

Rodgers finished drives in the red zone with passing touchdowns (24) in his first year with the Steelers, while minimizing the damage in interceptions (7), and adding two lost fumbles. He had to get the ball out quickly (6.7 yards per pass attempt), with a respectable completion rate (65.7%).

Pittsburgh's conservative approach to its offense led to Rodgers averaging only 29.2 passes per game and a low ranking in passing yards (3,322). Despite the appearance of weakness in his stats, he finished 17th in fantasy points (269.30) in four-point passing touchdown leagues, with only three playable games (244/4, 249/4, and 284/1 with a rushing score).

In the high-stakes fantasy market in June, Rodgers is the 27th quarterback drafted. He will land in the free agent pool in most 12-team redraft leagues over the summer until he produces better fantasy stats. At best, a league-average player with some matchup value.

Will Howard→ his ranking

Howard is another college quarterback who found his footing within a premier offensive system after an inconsistent start to his career. In four seasons at Kansas State, he posted a 15-12 record, throwing for 5,786 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions while also proving to be a capable runner, carrying 226 times for 921 yards and 19 scores.

His final college season at Ohio State was a breakout in every sense. Howard set personal bests across the board (309 completions on 423 attempts, 4,010 passing yards, 35 touchdown passes, and a 73.0% completion rate), while capping the year with a National Championship, a 14-2 record, and an MVP performance of 288 combined yards and two scores. He added 226 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 105 carries, and across the three college playoff games, Howard threw for 919 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions in the postseason.

Ohio State's supporting cast undeniably elevated his numbers, but winning a title at that level still demands talent and composure under pressure, qualities Howard showed in abundance throughout 2024.

As a prospect, he brings solid pocket awareness and the mobility to extend plays and pick up yards when the passing game stalls. His concerns are real: his arm strength is a legitimate question mark, and there are doubts about his ability to process defenses beyond his initial reads and work through third and fourth receiving options. Outside throws and drive passes will face scrutiny at the NFL level.

One telling detail is his sack numbers. Over 16 starts at Ohio State, Howard was brought down just 16 times (compared to 33 times across 34 games at Kansas State), a gap that speaks as much to the Buckeyes' offensive line as it does to his quick release and ability to buy time with his legs. That said, his tendency to rely on early reads was partly a product of his receivers winning so consistently. In the NFL, where that margin shrinks considerably, he'll need to show he can do more.

Howard didn’t take a snap in his rookie season.

Drew Allar

Allar guided Penn State to a 23-6 record across the 2023 and 2024 seasons before a broken left ankle in Week 6 last year cut his final college campaign short. In 2024, he led the Big Ten in completions (262), attempts (394), completion percentage (66.5%), and passing yards (3,327) while contributing as a runner with 96 carries for 302 yards and six scores. Across his two best seasons, he totaled 59 touchdowns over 29 starts, a strong foundation heading into the draft.

2025 was a different story. Over six starts, he averaged just 183 passing yards per game with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, and dropped all three of his final games by a combined eight points (24-30, 37-42, 21-22).

On paper, Allar checks a lot of boxes. He brings legitimate NFL size at 6'5" and 230 pounds, a strong arm, and a college resume built on winning. His skill set translates well in theory, and he has the mobility to extend plays and create scoring opportunities when the pocket breaks down. He operated primarily out of the shotgun at Penn State.

His questions center on his processing and decision-making. Allar’s pre- and post-snap reads need refinement, and he has a tendency to lock onto early targets, leading to late throws that invite pressure or turnovers. His pocket presence is adequate, but his overall field vision falls short of what NFL defenses will demand. Better mechanics and sharper decision-making should improve his timing and ball placement, but those are areas that will need consistent development at the next level.

Mason Rudolph

Through his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, Rudolph appeared in 17 games, compiling 2,477 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He averaged just 6.2 yards per attempt and offered little as a runner, carrying 33 times for 89 yards at 2.7 yards per carry.

His most encouraging stretch as a Steeler came late in 2023, when Pittsburgh handed him four starts, including a postseason appearance. He went 3-1, completing 68.2% of his passes at 8.6 yards per attempt, both strong numbers. The catch was his low volume of passing chances; Pittsburgh averaged only 27.5 pass attempts in his starts, capping his overall output at 969 yards and five touchdowns across those four games.

In 2024, Tennessee painted a weaker starting picture. Over five starts in his eight appearances, Rudolph went 1-4 with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. His completion rate of 64.0% was a career best, and he set a new personal high in rushing production with 25 carries for 106 yards and a score. His standout individual performance came in Week 8, when he posted 24.20 fantasy points, a bright spot in an otherwise difficult stretch.

Jaylen Warren→ his ranking

Warren entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after a strong final season at Oklahoma State, where he rushed for 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns on 256 carries while adding 25 catches for 225 yards.

His rookie year in Pittsburgh was a limited but promising introduction. He saw minimal early usage (17 touches, 77 combined yards, and seven catches over his first four games) before flashing in a spot role against Buffalo with 63 yards and four catches. Warren followed that with back-to-back 75-plus-yard efforts in Weeks 8 and 10, then closed the season with a heavier workload over the final four games (43 touches, 173 rushing yards, a touchdown, and eight catches for 47 yards). He was on the field for 29.4% of Pittsburgh's snaps, compared to 65.7% for Najee Harris.

His 2023 season was a clearer step forward. Warren carved out a genuine role in the passing game with 61 catches for 370 yards, but averaged only 6.1 yards per reception. He was more impactful on the ground, rushing 149 times for 784 yards and four scores at 5.3 yards per carry, including six rushes of 20-plus yards. His best fantasy outing came in Week 11 (nine carries for 129 yards, a touchdown, and three catches for 13 yards). He was also remarkably consistent in the passing game late in the year, recording at least four catches in each of his final five games. His snap share climbed to 48.1%.

Warren regressed in 2024, partly due to missing two early games with a knee injury, and managed just 158 touches on the year. He was largely a non-factor through Pittsburgh's first eight matchups, averaging only 3.7 yards per carry on 41 rushes with 12 catches for 67 yards. He found more of a rhythm down the stretch, scoring between 10.00 and 16.50 fantasy points in six of his last nine games and peaking at 17 touches in Week 16. Still, he has totaled only six touchdowns across 48 career games, a scoring rate that limits his fantasy ceiling considerably.

Surprisingly, Warren played second fiddle at running back for Pittsburgh last season behind Kenneth Gainwell (50.5% to 47.3% in snaps). He finished 18th in PPR fantasy points (222.40), with one impact game (14/143/2 with two catches for eight yards). Warren scored between 11.00 and 20.00 fantasy points in nine of his 16 games, giving him a consistency factor as an RB2. His season ended with 1,291 combined yards, eight touchdowns, and 40 catches on a career-best 251 touches. He missed one game with a knee issue while battling a minor ankle issue midseason.

Despite the Steelers’ back success last year, Warren comes off the board as the 28th running back in the early draft season in the National Fantasy Football Championship with an ADP of 78. His ceiling has the best chance of repeating and rising if Aaron Rodgers starts. My early thought is 50 catches with about five touches and 1,200 combined yards.

Rico Dowdle→ his ranking

Dowdle managed just 24 yards on seven carries in his rookie season, then missed the following two years entirely due to a broken hip and ankle injury.

He returned in 2023 to claim the RB2 role in Dallas, finishing with 505 combined yards, four touchdowns, and 17 catches on 106 touches. Dowdle twice reached 12 rushing attempts in a game and posted his best fantasy performances in Week 3 (46 combined yards, a touchdown, and three catches) and Week 18 (nine carries for 46 yards and three catches for 100 yards), though he did miss one game with an ankle issue.

2024 brought a full-featured opportunity, and Dowdle delivered. He handled 274 touches for 1,328 combined yards, five touchdowns, and 39 catches, missing only Week 8 due to illness. His year started quietly; he posted fantasy scores of 4.20, 9.90, and 8.60 in his first three games before breaking out in Week 5 with 87 rushing yards on 20 carries, two catches for 27 yards, and a score.

From there, Dallas leaned on him heavily down the stretch. Over the final 10 games, he saw 199 touches (176 carries, 833 rushing yards, two touchdowns, 23 catches, 118 receiving yards, and one receiving score), averaging 13.61 fantasy points per game. He topped 100 rushing yards four times and peaked in Weeks 9 and 13 with fantasy outputs of 21.70 and 21.30, respectively.

Carolina took notice, rewarding him with a one-year, $2.7 million deal last season. The Panthers gave Dowdle almost the same opportunity in 2025, leading to 1,373 combined yards with seven touchdowns and 39 catches on 275 touches. Unfortunately, much of his fantasy value came across three matchups (23/206/1 with three catches for 28 yards, 239 combined yards with one score and four catches, and 25/130/2 with two catches for 11 yards). The Panthers phased him out over their final seven matchups (73/252/1 with 17 catches for 106 yards) due to finding smaller running lanes (3.5 yards per rush and 6.2 yards per catch).

His ADP (90) in the NFFC ranks Dowdle 32nd at running back in June. Let’s go 200 touches for 850 combined yards with about seven touchdowns and 25 catches, painting him as a rotational RB3 in PPR formats.

Kaleb Johnson→ his ranking

Johnson burst onto the scene as a freshman with 779 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 151 carries, adding four catches for 21 yards. A 2023 ankle injury slowed his development, limiting him to a pedestrian 4.0 yards per carry across a shortened season. He rebounded emphatically in 2024, setting career highs across the board with 240 carries, 1,537 rushing yards, and 21 touchdowns at 6.0 yards per carry, while also showing more as a receiver with 22 catches for 188 yards and two scores.

At 6'1" and 225 pounds, Johnson has the frame of an early-down thumper, though his 4.57 forty time places him well behind the top backs in this class. He projects as a between-the-tackles option with limited utility on passing downs, and his pass protection isn't polished enough to handle a third-down role at the NFL level.

What makes him interesting is that he's less of a pure power back than his size suggests. Johnson is a patient, vision-based runner who reads his blocks well and capitalizes when given room to operate. He has a natural feel for the game and the physicality to thrive near the goal line and in short-yardage situations. The concern is his lack of top-end speed; once defenders have angles on him in the open field, he doesn't have the gear to pull away.

Pittsburgh only had Johnson on the field for 51 plays in his rookie season, resulting in 28 carries for 69 yards with one catch for nine yards.

DK Metcalf→ his ranking

Metcalf put together his best statistical season in 2022, setting career highs in catches (90) and targets (141) while surpassing 1,000 yards for the second time. Seattle deployed him closer to the line of scrimmage that year, which pulled his yards per catch down to 11.6 from 14.7 over his first three seasons. He was at his best in four standout games and maintained a floor of seven catches in seven of his 19 appearances.

Seattle pivoted back to using him as a deep threat in 2023, and the results were mixed. His yards per catch jumped back up to 16.9, but his catch rate dipped from 63.8% to 55.5%, and he received double-digit targets in only two games. He again cleared 1,000 yards and finished with eight touchdowns, but his workload was inconsistent. Metcalf averaged just 6.2 targets per game over the final five weeks. A rib injury cost him Week 7, and he battled hip, toe, and back problems down the stretch. He finished 21st among wide receivers in PPR scoring with 225.40 fantasy points.

His final season with Seattle was the most unsettling. A knee injury cost him two midseason games, and he played through a shoulder issue late in the year. After a quiet Week 1, Metcalf strung together three straight 100-yard performances (10/129/1, 4/104/1, and 7/104) before going relatively quiet the rest of the way, with only one other game of real fantasy value in Week 7 (4/99/1). Following his knee injury, he averaged just 10.68 PPR fantasy points per game over his final eight appearances, a disappointing close to an injury-hampered year.

His move to Pittsburgh suggested upside over his first five games (19/3565/4 on 31 targets – 15.72 fantasy points in PPR formats) despite averaging only 6.2 targets. Metcalf scored fewer than 10.00 fantasy points in seven of his final 11 matchups while flashing upside in only one other contest (7/148). He was suspended for the final two games due to an off-the-field incident.

I see value in his early price point as Metcalf was pacing as a mid-tier WR2 in 2025 if he played 17 games. Over the past couple of years, these types of wideouts have had bounce-back years, so keep an open mind. I’ll set his bar at 70 catches for 900 yards with five to seven touchdowns.

Michael Pittman→ his ranking

Pittman set new personal bests in catches (99) and targets (141) in 2022, but he averaged just 9.3 yards per catch. His two best outings (9/121/1 and 13/134) came over the first six weeks, and he recorded at least seven catches in seven starts. He finished 20th among wide receivers in PPR scoring with 217.50 fantasy points, a slight step back from 18th and 238.60 points the year prior.

He entered 2023 as an undervalued draft asset and rewarded those who took a shot on him. Pittman came out strong in Week 1 and never really cooled off, setting career highs for the third straight year in catches (109), targets (156), and receiving yards (1,152). He reached eight catches or more in 10 of his 17 starts, including a dominant six-game stretch (53/495/2 on 73 targets). Three of his four touchdowns came at home. A concussion cost him Week 16.

2024 was a sharp disappointment by comparison. Outside of a big Week 4 (six catches for 113 yards) and a strong Week 17 (nine catches, 109 yards, and a touchdown), Pittman offered little for fantasy managers who invested in him. He dealt with a lingering back issue for much of the year, finishing with just 46 catches for 550 yards and two touchdowns on 79 targets through his first 14 games.

Indianapolis did feed him more in the final stretch, giving him nine to 10 targets in three of his last four starts and yielding 23 catches for 258 yards and a score, but it was too little, too late for most fantasy rosters.

Pittman was trending higher over his first nine games last season (52 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets) with Daniel Jones behind center. He offered only two playable games (5/27/1 and 9/79) over his final eight contests (28/233/1 on 43 targets) due to separation issues (8.0 yards per catch).

Pittman signed a three-year deal for $59 million after arriving in Pittsburgh, which should show their trust in him. His ADP (77) in the NFFC in June paints him as a WR4, which requires him to average over 10.00 fantasy points per game in PPR formats to be a winning selection. A 60/700/6 year would pay the fantasy bills. Pittman has beaten that level of stats in five consecutive years.

Germie Bernard→ his ranking

Bernard's college career spanned three programs (Michigan State, Washington, and Alabama). Across his first 39 games, he scored just six touchdowns while compiling 91 catches for 1,341 yards. His final season with the Crimson Tide was his most productive, setting career highs in catches (64), receiving yards (862), and touchdowns (7) in 2025. His lone 100-yard game came in their opener (eight catches and 146 yards), and he found the end zone only twice over his final nine starts.

At the NFL level, Bernard projects as a middle-of-the-field option. Defenders should be able to contest him at the line and limit him in the deep passing game, but he does his best work in between, where his route running and hands (both graded as legitimate strengths) allow him to create separation and make plays.

Bernard has the versatility to line up across multiple spots in a receiver corps. At 6'1" and 205 pounds with a 4.48 forty, his size and speed are both near league average for the position. To push toward a higher fantasy ceiling, he'll need to add strength and become a more consistent threat over the first 20 yards of his routes.

Roman Wilson→ his ranking

Wilson is a speed wideout (sub-4.40), selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2024 Draft. He's a big-play threat with the straight-line quickness to stress defenses vertically, natural hands, and the agility to create after the catch in open space. His movements are fluid and purposeful, and Wilson shows the tools to develop into a reliable option at the next level.

His early limitations are also clear. His route running is still a work in progress, and his game is currently better suited to the intermediate and deep areas of the field than the short zones. Physical corners (particularly in press coverage) will give him trouble early in his career, and his opportunities underneath figure to be limited until that part of his game matures.

At Michigan, Wilson caught 107 passes for 1,707 yards and 20 touchdowns over four seasons, adding a glimpse of run-game utility with seven carries for 117 yards and two scores. His best year came in 2024 when he posted 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, an impressive stat line considering his offense averaged only 22 passing attempts per game. Wilson did cool off considerably down the stretch, managing just 12 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns over his final six games.

Wilson was only on the field for five plays in 2024 due to a bad hamstring injury. Pittsburgh gave him WR3 snaps (23.3%) last year, resulting in only 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets. Most of his value came in two matchups (4/74/1 and 2/35/1). He suited up only once over the Steelers' final six matchups due to coaching decisions.

Pat Freiermuth→ his ranking

Freiermuth had his best statistical season in 2022, setting career highs in catches (63), receiving yards (732), and targets (98) despite a missed game and zero-catch performances in Weeks 15 and 18. His yards per catch climbed to 11.6 (up 3.3 yards from 2021), and he recorded seven or more catches in four games. His inconsistency was still a theme, however, highlighted by six or fewer targets in eight matchups.

His 2023 season was largely a washout. He managed just eight catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets through his first four games before a hamstring injury sidelined him for six weeks. He returned with little fanfare before exploding for nine catches and 120 yards in Week 12, only to go quiet again over his final six regular-season games (14 catches for 128 yards on 22 targets). His second-best output of the entire year came in the playoffs with five catches for 76 yards.

Freiermuth scored below 10.00 PPR fantasy points in eight of his first 11 games in 2024 before Pittsburgh leaned on him more heavily down the stretch, giving him at least three catches and a touchdown in five of his final six contests. He set a new career high in catches (65) and ranked ninth among tight ends in PPR scoring with 170.30 fantasy points, a quietly solid finish despite averaging only 4.6 targets per game throughout the year.

Despite leading the Steelers in tight end production (41/486/4 on 54 targets), Pittsburgh only had Freiermuth on the field for 51.6% of their snaps last year. He had one impact game (Week 7 – 5/111/2) against the Bengals (worst tight end defense). In his remaining 16 games, Freiermuth gained over 35 yards in only three other matchups (3/45, 3/63, and 3/51) while adding two more scores in 2025.

Darnell Washington→ his ranking

Pittsburgh selected Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, adding a tight end with an imposing combination of size (6'7" and 265 pounds) and athleticism (4.64 forty at the combine). His blocking technique needed refinement, but his raw strength already gives him an edge as a run-game contributor. In the passing game, he's unlikely to see high volume, but his speed creates a legitimate deep threat, and his hands make him a natural target in red zone situations.

At Georgia, Washington saw limited action in his first two seasons with modest receiving totals before breaking out in his final year with 28 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns on 41 targets. His 17.2 yards per catch average in college underscores his ability to win down the field rather than underneath. At the NFL level, he figures to see the field primarily as a run-game presence, with his most meaningful offensive contributions coming on play-action shots near the goal line.

In his rookie season, Washington caught seven of his 10 targets for 61 yards. The Steelers gave him 25 targets last year, leading to 19 catches for 200 yards and one score.

In 2025. Pittsburgh showed more confidence in him as a receiver, highlighted by his career highs in catches (31), receiving yards (364), and targets (43). Washington worked closer to the line of scrimmage (11.7 yards per catch) with only one score. The Steelers had him on the field for 50.2% of their plays while missing almost all of their final three games with a forearm injury.

Chris Boswell

Across 11 NFL seasons, Boswell has hit at least 90% of his field goal attempts in eight of them. After his career-best mark of 41-for-44, he connected on 27 of 32 attempts in 2025 while remaining one of the league's more reliable options from 50-plus yards (43-for-51 over the past five seasons). He has also been nearly automatic on extra points, missing just four of his last 153 attempts.

From a fantasy perspective, Boswell ranked second among kickers in 2024 with 202.70 points, topping double digits in seven games with a high of 27.80. He slipped to ninth last season at 161.80 points, though he again reached double digits in seven matchups. Pittsburgh generated 45 touchdowns and 32 field goal attempts in 2025, giving him a reasonable volume of opportunities. Despite his consistent track record and strong leg, Boswell sits as the 19th-ranked kicker heading into mid-May.