Pittsburgh Steelers News

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth saw his numbers decline across the board in 2025, as he finished the season with 41 catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns on 54 targets across 17 games (eight starts). After finishing as the TE13 by per-game PPR scoring in 2024, Freiermuth slipped down to TE32 by the same measure in 2025. Freiermuth could see a target boost in 2026 following the departure of former Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith in free agency. However, Pittsburgh signed tight end Darnell Washington to a lucrative contract extension and also brought in a high-volume target earner in wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. In dynasty formats, Freiermuth profiles as a sell candidate ahead of what could be another year of production decline.

In his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed more than 65% of his passes for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns to only seven interceptions; respectable numbers that earned him a QB18 finish, but a far cry from the MVP form that saw him finish as the QB7 or better in 10 of his first 13 seasons as a starter. Seven different times he finished a year as either the fantasy QB1 or QB2, and while those days are comfortably behind him, the 42-year-old 21st-year veteran should not be completely written off for 2026. With Mike McCarthy assuming the head coaching job in Pittsburgh, an offense that already threw the ball at the league's seventh-highest rate with Rodgers in 2025 could see even more volume when the two reunite. The Cowboys were one of the league's pass-heaviest teams in the final years of McCarthy's tenure, while the Packers led the league with a 67.5% pass rate the last time Rodgers led his offense. With Rodgers average depth of target ranking dead last in the NFL in 2025, his fantasy ceiling has fallen significantly in recent years, but with the Steelers actively surrounding him with capable pass-catching running backs and short area targets like Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard, an elevated floor should keep him in the streaming conversation throughout the 2026 season. At RotoBaller's QB29, Rodgers can still be a safe and consistent second quarterback in superflex leagues, providing value at ADP and allowing drafters to chase riskier upside from their QB1 slot.

Veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been an underneath target hog for most of his six-year career, and with the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for him this offseason, the 2020 second-round pick lands in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense seemingly primed to take advantage of his skill set. In his first season with the Steelers, Rodgers finished last in the league in intended air yards per attempt, and heading into his 22nd season at age 42, there's little to suggest a drastic change of approach for 2026. While the Steelers lost running back Kenneth Gainwell to free agency and released tight end Jonnu Smith, two of Rodgers' favorite short-area targets from 2025 have been replaced by Pittman and second-round rookie Germie Bernard. Given the temperamental quarterback's longstanding distrust of rookies, Pittman could be in line for a massive target share. Two-time Pro Bowler DK Metcalf will still man the outside, but with his downfield skill set aligning closer to those of prime Rodgers than the quick-release check-down maestro of later years, he could become more of a secondary read behind Pittman. Ranked as RotoBaller's WR38, four receiver spots behind Metcalf, Pittman could ultimately prove to be the higher-scoring Steelers receiver, and in full-PPR leagues, he represents one of the better values in the later rounds of drafts.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf has seen his yards per reception and total receiving yards drop in each of the past two seasons. His 850 yards in 2025 marked a career low, while his 59 catches were the fewest since his 2019 rookie season. Once one of the most feared vertical threats in the game, Metcalf's strengths did not look necessarily aligned with those of a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers in their first season together, and changes coming to Pittsburgh's offense could further amplify that disconnect. Rodgers finished 33rd of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in intended air yards per attempt in 2025, and ahead of his second season with the Steelers, the team traded for Michael Pittman Jr. and spent a second-round pick on Germie Bernard, two receivers that will allow him to continue working in the short to intermediate areas of the field. Metcalf led the team with 99 targets in 2025, but the rest of the receiver room was made up of Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scott Wilson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Ben Skowronek, and Adam Thielen, six players who combined for only 127 targets. For context, Pittman has averaged 126 targets of his own over the past five seasons. At RotoBaller's WR38, Metcalf will not destroy teams in 2026 if he's unable to live up to ADP, but as he approaches 29 years old, he finds himself in an offense ill-equipped to take advantage of his unique skill set with a new surrounding cast that will reduce the need to do so.

Across 16 games (13 starts) in 2025, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington recorded 31 catches for 364 yards and a touchdown on 43 targets. While Washington's numbers won't jump off the page for fantasy managers, he's slowly become more involved in the Steelers' passing game in each season since being drafted in the third round by the team in 2024. Pittsburgh also made a significant commitment to the 24-year-old this offseason, signing him to a four-year, $42 million contract extension. Pat Freiermuth still profiles as the top receiving tight end in Pittsburgh entering 2026, but the team let tight ends Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward walk in free agency. In deeper dynasty leagues, Washington could be a buy-low target with some untapped upside for fantasy managers.

Former Navy star Eli Heidenreich is listed as an RB/WR with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was assigned a RB number (No. 29) and has been working with the RBs during individual drills and "overwhelmingly lined up" in the backfield during team drills during offseason workouts, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. RBs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. called Heidenreich the "Swiss Navy Knife," but how much the Steelers open up their playbook in 2026 under new head coach Mike McCarthy might ultimately determine whether the 22-year-old will have a shot to make the 53-man roster for the regular season. How well he performs in pass protection, something Heidenreich wasn't asked to do much in college, could determine his fate early in his rookie season. DeFabo thinks Heidenreich will need to play his way onto Pittsburgh's roster during training camp, and it might take an injury for that to happen. Most likely, the former Midshipman will start his NFL career on the Steelers' practice squad.

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard showed off an intriguing fantasy skill set in his final collegiate season in 2025. Across 14 games for the University of Alabama, Bernard recorded 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 101 yards and two scores on 18 carries. Entering 2026, Bernard may be competing with fellow rookie wideout Kaden Wetjen to be Pittsburgh's primary slot receiver. The Steelers have two veteran wideouts in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. who will likely command the majority of the team's targets, which may limit Bernard's short-term fantasy upside. Still, Bernard's ability to affect the game as both a rusher and a receiver gives him plenty of long-term upside. For rebuilding dynasty managers, Bernard profiles as a logical target in rookie drafts.

Veteran running back Rico Dowdle has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, playing for two different teams, and he looks to keep that streak alive after signing a two-year, $12.3 million deal this offseason to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Dallas, Dowdle shared the backfield with three-time Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott, while last year in Carolina, he joined a room with Chuba Hubbard, who was fresh off an RB15 finish and a four-year contract extension. While he was able to ultimately wrestle primary duties from both, Elliott was well past his prime, while Hubbard spent much of the year slowed by a calf injury. In Pittsburgh, even as he reunites with former head coach Mike McCarthy, Dowdle could face notably stiffer competition for playing time from jack-of-all-trades Jaylen Warren, who himself finished as the RB16 in 2025 while splitting work with one of the league's most proficient pass catchers, Kenneth Gainwell. However, in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense unlikely to push the ball downfield, both backs are likely to see heavy involvement, and with neither currently being drafted inside the top 30 of the position, both stand a strong chance to outperform ADP. Dowdle is RotoBaller's RB33 for 2026, but with multiple paths to fantasy relevance, he could prove to be one of the year's better mid-round values.

Despite two top 25 finishes in the past three seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has never seen a preseason ADP inside the top 30 running backs, and that continues to be the case heading into 2026. Warren is currently the consensus RB30 following his RB16 finish in 2025. With the Steelers committing $5 million in guaranteed money to free agent Rico Dowdle, Warren's weekly ceiling appears capped in what could be close to a 50/50 workload split, though he is no stranger to sharing the Pittsburgh backfield. His career-best season came with teammate Kenneth Gainwell trailing only Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyr Gibbs in running back receptions, while his RB25 finish in 2023 saw him end the year more than 100 carries behind Najee Harris. Dowdle perhaps represents his most well-rounded running mate to date, but nothing the fourth-year player can do should be enough to keep Warren off the field and away from his own fantasy-relevant touches. Capable of matching ADP expectations in a true committee split, Warren's upside far exceeds that of other backs taken in his range when considering the full backfield takeover that could befall him in the event of an injury to Dowdle, and he represents some of the best value from the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson was expected to have a breakout campaign this past season. The assumption was that Wilson was going to get a ton of chances after George Pickens was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys. Instead, Wilson finished with 12 receptions for 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. It's not going to get easier for Wilson to find opportunities with Michael Pittman Jr. joining the offense this offseason. Also, the Steelers selected Germie Bernard in the second-round of this year's draft. Now, Wilson might fall to fourth or fifth on the depth chart after these moves this offseason. He's only 25 years old, but dynasty managers likely missed their chance to get value for him when he was hyped last year. Wilson will probably play a depth role going forward.

A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson was unable to carve out a meaningful role in his team's offense as a rookie. Johnson spent the season stuck behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell on the Steelers' running back depth chart and finished the year with just 28 carries across 10 games played. While Gainwell departed Pittsburgh in free agency, the team replaced him with former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle. As a result, Johnson once again appears likely to be limited to RB3 duties for the Steelers in 2026. However, he'll get a chance to work with a new coaching staff in his second NFL season, which could be the clean slate that Johnson needs to revitalize his pro career. The 22-year-old recorded over 1,500 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns across 12 games in his final collegiate season at Iowa, so he has some untapped rushing potential. For dynasty managers in the midst of a rebuild, Johnson could be worth targeting as a buy-low trade candidate.

Entering his rookie season, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar is buried on his team's depth chart behind veteran signal-callers Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. However, Allar could be well-positioned for the long term in Pittsburgh, as Rodgers has said he plans to retire following the 2026 season and Rudolph profiles as a career backup. Allar had his senior season at Penn State in 2025 cut short by an ankle injury, but he threw for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 302 yards and six scores across 16 games as a junior in 2024. The injury and concerns about his throwing mechanics caused Allar to fall to the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but he won't be pressed into immediate service with the Steelers and will be given time to develop. In deeper dynasty formats, Allar profiles as a worthy stash candidate for his potential starting upside in Pittsburgh in 2027 and beyond.

Across 17 (eight starts) games in 2025, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth recorded 41 catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns on 54 targets. The 27-year-old's final line represented a production decline from his 2024 performance, when he hauled in 65 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 targets. His drop-off was partially due to the Steelers addition of tight end Jonnu Smith, who is no longer on the Pittsburgh roster heading into 2026. However, Freiermuth also lost playing time to Steelers blocking tight end Darnell Washington. Pittsburgh signed Washington to a four-year, $42 million extension in early June, which could be a sign that the team is planning to expand his role. The Steelers also traded for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this spring, who could soak up most of Freiermuth's targets in the intermediate area of the field. Even though Freiermuth is coming off an underwhelming season, dynasty managers may want to consider selling him ahead of what could be another decline in performance in 2026.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is entering what he himself has said will be the final year of his legendary NFL career in 2026. As he enters his age-43 campaign, Rodgers is clearly not the same player he once was at his peak. Still, he put together a solid year in his first season with the Steelers in 2025. Across 16 games, Rodgers completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Entering 2026, the veteran quarterback should have an improved cast of pass-catchers around him following Pittsburgh's offseason trade acquisition of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The Steelers also invested in the wide receiver position in the 2026 NFL Draft, using a second-round pick on Germie Bernard and a fourth-round pick on Kaden Wetjen. Fantasy managers should not expect Rodgers to provide top-12 quarterback production. Still, dynasty managers with win-now rosters in two-quarterback league formats may be able to squeeze one last productive season out of Rodgers in 2026.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson was a third-round pick in a 2025 NFL Draft billed for its running back talent, and while several players from his class were able to deliver promising rookie campaigns, Johnson's was one to forget. The most memorable moment of his first season was arguably a kickoff return blunder early in the year that gifted the Seahawks a touchdown and landed Johnson in Mike Tomlin's doghouse. With an entirely new coaching staff in Pittsburgh for 2026, Johnson will look to put a disappointing rookie season, in which he touched the ball fewer than 30 times on offense and averaged only 2.5 yards per carry, squarely behind him. However, the Steelers also replaced leading pass-catching back Kenneth Gainwell with the more well-rounded Rico Dowdle, forming a formidable pair of do-everything backs with fifth-year veteran Jaylen Warren and further obscuring Johnson's path to playing time. Still yet to turn 23 years old, Johnson remains a hold at least throughout training camp, but barring an injury ahead of him or an unexpected new home, RotoBaller's dynasty RB57 will need to be seriously looked at as a cut candidate only one year after coming off the board in the first round of many rookie drafts.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected former five-star quarterback prospect Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and with the team agreeing shortly thereafter on a one-year deal to bring back the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers for his 21st and final season, the Penn State prospect will have the opportunity to learn behind the scenes while competing for primary backup responsibilities. Allar has prototypical NFL size, but head coach Mike McCarthy and the Steelers are reportedly undertaking a comprehensive mechanical rewiring to remove some of the bad habits he picked up along the way that caused him to drop from the number one recruit out of high school to the fourth quarterback selected in a weak draft class. His raw tools alone are enough to get excited about in the second round of superflex rookie drafts, but with the Day 2 investment and only Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard standing in the way of a potential starting job when Rodgers does eventually retire, Allar becomes a high-upside stash, who should see his value rise in the coming years.

After spending the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. Across 17 games with the Colts in 2025, Pittman Jr. recorded 80 receptions for 784 yards and seven touchdowns on 111 targets. While the 28-year-old has never been the most explosive downfield threat, he's made his bones as a possession receiver who can consistently win in the short and intermediate areas of the field. That may make him a perfect fit with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who prefers to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible at this stage of his career. Still, Pittman Jr.'s production has generally been declining since his highest-usage year in 2023, when he hauled in 109 catches for 1,152 yards on 156 targets. He also faces target competition in Pittsburgh from veteran wideout DK Metcalf and rookie wide receivers Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen. In dynasty formats, managers may want to look to sell high on Pittman Jr.

A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard did not see the field as a rookie and spent a chunk of the year on Injured Reserve after breaking his hand in training camp. While the 24-year-old was never expected to contribute as a rookie, there was a thought at the time he was drafted that he might have an outside chance to emerge as Pittsburgh's quarterback of the future. Entering 2026, that possibility looks extremely remote. Aaron Rodgers is back for one final season as the Steelers' starter in 2026, and veteran Mason Rudolph is firmly in place as the team's backup. Perhaps most importantly for Howard's long-term future in Pittsburgh, the team used a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. As a result, Howard could find himself without a roster spot in Pittsburgh as soon as this fall. In dynasty formats, managers should feel comfortable moving on from Howard.

Across 15 games in his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, wide receiver DK Metcalf recorded 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns on 99 targets. Despite being the obvious number one option in the Pittsburgh passing game, Metcalf set career lows in both targets and receiving yards. Entering 2026, Metcalf may be in an even worse position to produce in Pittsburgh. The Steelers acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason, who has seen at least 111 targets in each of the last five seasons while playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Pittsburgh also used second and fourth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on wideouts Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen. As Metcalf enters his age-29 season, his dynasty stock is at an all-time low.

The Pittsburgh Steelers recently gave edge rusher Nick Herbig a four-year, $100 million contract extension, which has led to more speculation that the Steelers could trade one of linebackers T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith, this offseason. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that Watt "isn't going anywhere this year, and he's going to play for the Steelers." Rapoport also doesn't "get the sense" that Highsmith is going anywhere either. Watt, 31, signed a three-year, $123 million contract with Pittsburgh in July of last year. It doesn't sound like he's a realistic trade candidate this offseason, but that could be a different story come next year, when the Steelers will have a decision to make either way. The eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro can still be a difference-maker on defense when he's healthy, but he's not getting any younger, and durability is becoming a bit more of a concern for the Steelers and fantasy managers in IDP formats. Watt played in 14 regular-season games in 2025 and had just seven sacks, the second-fewest total of his nine-year NFL career.