RB Jaylen Warren took a step back in Week 6 with Rico Dowdle returning from a three-week absence. He ran 14 times for 50 yards and caught 2 of 4 targets for 28 yards, good for 9.8 PPR points and an RB19 finish. Tampa Bay entered the week second in our run defense power rankings, and Pittsburgh leaned on the pass. Aaron Rodgers threw 49 times after attempting just 31 passes in Week 5. Dowdle added 7 carries for 40 yards and 3 catches.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
It was a big drop from Week 5, when Warren finished as the RB2 with 36.8 PPR points. He ran 15 times for 101 yards and a TD and caught all 6 targets for 87 yards and another score. His snap rate fell from 92% during Dowdle’s absence to 75% this week. He still took all 13 third-down snaps, 3 of 4 goal-line snaps and 31 of 37 snaps in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The early-down split was closer than the final snap count. Over the first three quarters, Warren took 19 early-down snaps to Dowdle’s 14, much like the 55%-42% interchangeable split from Weeks 1 and 2. Dowdle was more efficient, averaging 5.7 yards per carry to Warren’s 3.6. Warren still ran 31 routes to Dowdle’s 11 and handled 5 of 8 two-minute snaps. His share of the snaps going forward will decide whether he’s a top-10 back or a borderline starter.
Week 7 is a strong spot. The Saints allow the most adjusted PPR points to RBs (28.5), and they ranked 31st in run defense power heading into Week 6 (14.0 rush DVOA). Cleveland allows the fourth-fewest PPR points to RBs (17.6), but it ranked just 23rd in run defense power. Warren is a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside against New Orleans.
