Fantasy Football News

Steelers WR Michael Pittman is dealing with a "minor" hamstring injury, according to Penn Live's Nick Farabaugh. Pittman has been out for a week and a half but expects to be ready for Week 1, per Farabaugh.

Steelers WRs D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman will be "hard-pressed" to practice this week, HC Mike McCarthy said Saturday. Pittman went down with an apparent right leg injury a week ago, but we don't have any other details on his status. Metcalf's injury is a total mystery. We'll look for more info on both guys and let you know when they get back on the field. For now, we're not moving either in the WR rankings.

After getting drafted in the second round as the eighth wide receiver off the board, Germie Bernard caught four passes for 51 yards in his preseason debut. His performance included a 25-yard reception where he broke multiple tackles and had 22 yards after the catch.

Steelers QB Drew Allar shone in his preseason debut, completing 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and 2 TDs. He also ran for an additional TD. The rookie third-round pick was selected based on his physical traits and showcased a strong arm against the Packers last night. He will likely spend his rookie season as the No. 3 QB on the roster behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, but Allar could put together enough impressive moments to compete for the starting job in 2027.

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo calls Steelers WR Roman Wilson a camp riser. "Through camp, he’s firmly in the WR3 role in three-receiver sets," DeFabo adds.

Rico Dowdle is impressing in his first training camp with the Steelers. Mark Kaboly, Steelers Correspondent for the Pat McAfee Show, writes “Even though [Jaylen] Warren is very good, Dowdle will be the unquestioned RB1 when the season starts.”

The Steelers drafted WR Roman Wilson in Round 3 in 2024. Since then, he has tallied just 12 total receptions across two pro seasons. That made him a surprising target for praise Tuesday.

According to Steelers beat writer Mike DeFabo, rookie WR Germie Bernard “showed confident hands and good body control, especially near the sideline” this offseason. That's on brand for Bernard, who exited a four-year college career with a low 2.5% drop rate.

The Steelers have agreed to a four-year extension with TE Darnell Washington worth $42 million, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, with $21 million of that guaranteed. Washington’s heading into his fourth season after arriving as a third-round pick in 2023. It’ll be his first under a new coaching staff, however, headed by Mike McCarthy. The extension puts Washington under contract with Pittsburgh through 2030, which would be his age-29 season.

The Steelers and QB Aaron Rodgers have agreed to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports, with $22 million in guarantees and a max value of $25 million. Rodgers will now return for his second season in Pittsburgh and reunite with new HC Mike McCarthy for the first time since 2018. McCarthy served as Packers HC from 2006 -- the year after Green Bay drafted Rodgers -- until 2018, a span that included 11 seasons with Rodgers as the lead QB.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote Thursday that QB Aaron Rodgers “will likely” return to the Steelers next season. Rodgers is set to meet with the team Friday, and a new deal could follow shortly after.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Navy RB Eli Heidenreich in Round 7 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Heidenreich racked up 3,151 yards over the past three seasons while playing both RB and WR. He totaled 169 career carries for Navy’s option-centric attack and churned out a strong 6.8 yards per attempt. He drew 172 targets for his career and tallied a school-record 941 yards in 2025. Heidenreich could stick at RB or even play WR for his new team. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Heidenreich ranked 12th in yards after contact per attempt (3.17) and second in 2025 Explosive Run percentage (20.8%). He ranked first in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.30) and in receiving yards per route run (4.73). He is currently 22 years old.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski in Round 5 of the NFL Draft. Nowakowski was an in-line blocker and safety valve for QB Fernando Mendoza this season at Indiana. Among the 27 TEs who attended the NFL Combine, Nowakowski ranked 15th in receiving yard market share (13.7%) and 11th in yards per team pass attempt (1.25). He also ranked ninth in yards per route run (1.68).

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Iowa WR Kaden Wetjen in Round 4 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Wetjen opened his college career with two seasons at Iowa Western Community College before walking on at Iowa. He totaled just 23 catches over the past three seasons, with 22 of those coming last year. Wetjen was dynamic on special teams, though, averaging 27.5 yards per kick return, 17.7 yards per punt return, and scoring six total return TDs over the last three years. That figures to be his primary role as a pro. Wetjen is only on the radar in fantasy leagues that score for return production.

The Steelers added Penn State QB Drew Allar in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. A former five-star recruit, Allar arrived at Penn State with major expectations and became a three-year starter. He flashed early, even setting an FBS record with 311 straight pass attempts without an INT. His best season came in 2024, when he threw for 3,327 yards with 24 TDs and 8 INTs while helping Penn State reach the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. But Allar’s stock dipped in 2025. He returned to school despite NFL interest, then managed just 1,339 yards, 8 TDs, and 4 INTs before a season-ending ankle injury after six games. The underlying numbers don’t help much. Among 15 Combine QBs, Allar ranked 13th in adjusted completion rate, 10th in aDOT, and last in Big Time Throw rate. His rushing production ranked eighth when removing sacks.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Alabama WR Germie Bernard in Round 2 (No. 47 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bernard spent a quiet freshman year at Michigan State, a better sophomore year at Washington, and then a stronger finish at Alabama. He led the team in receptions two straight years after following HC Kalen DeBoer from Washington. Bernard sports NFL size and alignment flexibility. He’s a polished route runner who gets in and out of breaks with precision, making him especially effective on slants and digs. Alabama also leaned into his versatility, giving him 18 carries for 101 yards and 2 TDs in 2025. He forced 17 missed tackles, underscoring his run-after-catch ability. Bernard’s skill set should make him a high-floor fantasy contributor, but does he have a ceiling worth chasing?

The Steelers watched RB Kenneth Gainwell agree to a deal with Tampa Bay on Monday and will apparently fill his spot with Rico Dowdle. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the former Panther has reached agreement with Pittsburgh, though details are not yet available. Joining the Steelers will meet Dowdle back up with HC Mike McCarthy, who piloted the Cowboys for the entirety of Dowdle's time there.

WR Michael Pittman has been traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Pittsburgh Steelers. After signing Alec Pierce to a $28.5 million average annual salary, the Colts will move on from Pittman. The Steelers had little receiving depth behind WR D.K. Metcalf, so Pittman adds a No. 2 possession WR for HC Mike McCarthy's new offense. Unfortunately, the uncertainty around the Steelers QB position still makes Pittman a shaky fantasy asset, even if Aaron Rodgers returns.

ESPN's David Newton doesn't expect free agent RB Rico Dowdle to return to the Panthers. "Unless Dowdle wants to return at a bargain price, he appears headed to his third team in three seasons," Newton wrote via ESPN.

Steelers HC Mike McCarthy said at his introductory press conference that he'd "definitely" like to see QB Aaron Rodgers back for 2026. McCarthy took over the Packers' head job in 2006, Rodgers' second NFL season. The pair spent the next 13 years together, encompassing five of Rodgers' six best fantasy seasons. Rodgers was serviceable for Pittsburgh this past year, completing 65.7% of his passes at 6.7 yards per attempt. He ranked 21st among 36 qualifying QBs in Pro Football Focus passing grade. Rodgers is a net neutral at best at this point of his career, but he might be the best the Steelers can do at QB for 2026. Daniel Jones and Malik Willis lead the free-agent QB class, and the draft crop looks weak.