Jaylen Warren led the Steelers’ backfield in their 16-10 win in Paris, turning 18 carries into 101 yards and catching all 3 of his targets for 36 more. He handled 67% of the RB rush attempts, 69% of third-down snaps and all three short-yardage carries. Rico Dowdle played through a knee injury that limited him in practice all week and still carved out a real role. He caught all 6 of his targets for 45 yards, tying DK Metcalf for the team lead in targets, and added 9 carries for 41 yards. Dowdle also ran more routes than Warren (19 to 17) and took the only goal-line carry. Warren finished as RB17 for the week, with Dowdle right behind him at RB18.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
The snap splits have shifted throughout the season. Warren played just 37% of snaps in Week 1 with Dowdle as the lead back, then jumped to 92% over the next three weeks after Dowdle’s toe injury. Dowdle’s return last week produced a 75/25 split in Warren’s favor. This week was closer at 40 snaps to 28, partly because the Steelers ran 7 plays with both backs on the field, often with Dowdle in the slot. Warren has been efficient all year, with 561 rushing yards on 102 carries (5.5 per carry), five runs of 20+ yards, and 24 catches for 294 more. But he has just 1 rushing TD, and Dowdle’s goal-line role is a big reason why. Dowdle has played only four games, totaling 118 yards on 31 carries and 13 catches for 82 yards without a score.
The Steelers host Cleveland in Week 8 before their Week 9 bye, then visit Cincinnati in Week 10. That’s a tough stretch for the backfield. Heading into Week 7, the Browns had allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to RBs (16.15), and the Bengals ranked 26th (18.62). Warren’s early-down and third-down work keep him a must-start, high-end RB2, but expect a lower ceiling in these matchups. Dowdle’s receiving role and goal-line work make him more than a handcuff. Still, against two stingy run defenses, he’s a risky flex only in a pinch.
