Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Steelers LB Kwon Alexander tore his left Achilles' tendon in Sunday's win over the Packers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. That marks the second straight week Pittsburgh has lost a starting LB to a season-ending injury. It's the second career Achilles' tear for Alexander, who suffered the injury to his right leg back in December 2020. The veteran's on a one-year contract and will be 30 when next season begins. So this injury has a chance to end his career. We'll keep an eye on Alexander's comeback. But, unfortunately, he won't be worth keeping even in dynasty formats. Elandon Roberts should now emerge as the position's playing-time leader for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers have ruled S Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) out for the second straight game Sunday against the Browns. That'll mean another start for Keanu Neal, who played 97% and 89% of defensive snaps the past two weeks. He has managed a just-OK 7 total tackles in each game. Neal sits in DB3 territory of our Week 10 rankings.

Bears QB Justin Fields (thumb) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Panthers. He remained limited in practice all week. We’ll see if he can make it back for the Week 11 meeting with the Lions. QB Tyson Bagent makes his fourth straight start tonight. He’s finished QB20, QB23, and QB7 the past three weeks.

Bears QB Justin Fields is doubtful for Thursday night's game against the Panthers with his right thumb injury. He continued limited practice participation this week after returning to that level last Friday. We'll see whether he can take the next step and return to game action in Week 11. QB Tyson Bagent will get his fourth straight start against Carolina. His presence has meant shorter passing than what the Bears have done with Fields this year. But the rookie has also completed passes at a higher rate (67.3% vs. 61.7%). The switch has lowered the fantasy ceiling for WR D.J. Moore and produced a lower passing-TD rate. But it otherwise doesn't seem to be negatively impacting the Chicago passing game.

Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson hurt his ankle in the first half of Sunday's game vs. the Vikings and is questionable to return. We'll update his status when we know more.

Update: Patterson returned to the game.

Bears QB Justin Fields (thumb) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Saints. He returned a limited practice on Friday and reportedly has a chance to start Thursday night’s game against the Panthers. QB Tyson Bagent gets another start today.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says the Bears are "hopeful" QB Justin Fields (thumb) can start Thursday night's game vs. the Panthers. Fields returned to a limited practice on Friday. He "still has issues" with that hand, Garafolo adds, "so he's gonna have to make some progress in a short period of time to be ready for Carolina." We'll track Fields' progress this coming week. QB Tyson Bagent gets another start vs. the Saints today.

As feared, Steelers LB Cole Holcomb will miss the rest of the season with the left knee injury that knocked him out of Thursday night's win over the Titans. Details of the injury have yet to surface, but multiple reports say he'll need surgery and has been discharged from the hospital after staying over night. Holcomb's injury removes the team's lead LB and should mean more playing time for both Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts. It shouldn't mean much difference for the defense's overall performance. Pro Football Focus grades Roberts -- No. 3 in playing time among the trio to date -- slightly better than Holcomb in run defense. PFF also rates both Roberts and Alexander better in coverage and pass rushing. Holcomb has two more years on his contract, but the Steelers could dump him ahead of the 2024 season at a roughly $3.3 million hit in dead cap space.

Bears QB Justin Fields (thumb) is listed as doubtful for this weekend’s game vs. the Saints. He returned a limited practice on Friday. QB Tyson Bagent will start in New Orleans, but this sets Fields up to potentially return for Week 10’s game against the Vikings.

Steelers RB Najee Harris turned in a solid Week 9, totaling 76 yards and a score in Thursday night's win over the Titans. RB Jaylen Warren was the more explosive player (as usual), but Harris ran tough, scored a 10-yard TD, and even broke off a 25-yard run in the third quarter. This was his third straight useful fantasy outing, following RB13 and RB22 PPR finishes the previous two weeks. Harris continues to lose significant work to Warren but has tallied 12+ opportunities in seven straight games, averaging 13.4 carries and 2.7 targets per game over that span. That's enough to at least make Harris a solid RB3 play. Week 10 brings a plus matchup vs. the Packers' 25th-ranked RB defense.

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren totaled 113 yards on 14 touches in Thursday night's win over the Titans. Four of his 14 touches went for 13+ yards, highlighted by a 22-yard near-TD in the fourth quarter. Warren's foot landed out of bounds just before he got the ball over the goal line. It was still a nice fantasy performance against a tough Titans run defense. Warren's 11 carries and 88 rushing yards were both season highs, but his 3 catches give him 3+ grabs in seven of eight games this season. He remains the 1B in this backfield behind Najee Harris, but Warren is getting enough work to be a RB3 or flex play, especially in PPR leagues. He gets a plus Week 10 matchup vs. the Packers before a tough draw against the Browns in Week 11.

Steelers WR George Pickens finished Thursday night's game vs. the Titans with negative-one yard. He caught two of his five targets -- the first for two yards and the other for a loss of three. Pickens failed to get his second foot in bounds for what should have been a relatively easy 12-yard TD in the third quarter. In his defense, one of the other misconnections was a sailed pass from QB Kenny Pickett on a crossing route for what could have gone for a big gain. But Pickens wasn't good in this one. And, more importantly, he was out-targeted nine to five by WR Diontae Johnson. That gives Johnson 23 targets over the last two weeks to Pickens' 10. So we're right back where we started, with Pickens as the No. 2 WR in a bad passing game. Consider him a risk/reward WR3 going forward.

Steelers LB Cole Holcomb left in the first half of Thursday night's game against the Titans with a left knee injury. He needed to be carted off. Afterward, play-by-play man Al Michaels called it an injury that didn't need to be shown again. Pittsburgh quickly ruled Holcomb out for the game, and this seems likely to be a season-ender. We'll watch for more details. Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts would lead the position if Holcomb is out. Roberts has topped 44% playing time just once through seven games. Alexander has played more, with five games of 54% snap share or more. But he has yet to reach 70% in a game. Alexander looks like the better bet for more playing time while Holcomb is out.

The Steelers have activated DL Cameron Heyward from IR. The veteran has been out since suffering a groin injury in Week 1 that required surgery. His return should boost a Pittsburgh run defense that has slipped to 14th in DVOA this season after ranking fifth in that category last year. Heyward, of course, is also a pass-rush asset at full strength. He tallied 20.5 sacks over the past two seasons and tied his career high with 23 QB hits at age 33 last year. It's tough to recommend playing Heyward in Week 9 IDP lineups after an eight-week layoff. We wouldn't be surprised if Pittsburgh brings him back at less than full playing time. But Heyward is worth stashing now in plenty of leagues for whenever he does get back to full use.

Bears HC Matt Eberflus said in a Monday radio appearance that QB Tyson Bagent will start this weekend's game vs. the Saints. QB Justin Fields remains "week-to-week" with his thumb injury, Eberflus said. The fact that Fields is being ruled out on a Monday doesn't bode particularly well for his chances of returning in Week 10. We'll continue to track his recovery.

The Steelers have already ruled S Minkah Fitzpatrick out for Thursday night's game against the Titans, in the wake of his Sunday hamstring injury. Safeties Keanu Neal (97%) and Damontae Kazee (94%) each played season-high snap shares against the Jaguars and figure to be the top two against Tennessee. Neal -- who logged 7 solo tackles in the game -- is the better fantasy bet between them. Neither approaches Fitzpatrick's upside.

Steelers WR George Pickens managed just 1 reception among 5 targets in Sunday's loss to the Jaguars. He did, at least, turn that catch into a 22-yard TD. Pickens saw just 1 target from Kenny Pickett before the QB left with a rib injury. That was eight fewer than WR Diontae Johnson's target total with Pickett. Mitchell Trubisky threw Pickens' way four times, though, just one fewer than he threw at Johnson. We wouldn't panic over Pickens' target count just yet. But we'll certainly be watching to see whether Johnson reclaims his role as clear top target.

Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick injured his right hamstring in the first quarter against the Jaguars. The team quickly labeled him doubtful to return, which doesn't bode well for Fitzpatrick's Week 9 status. We'll certainly be watching for more updates.

Update: Pittsburgh downgraded him to out before the end of the first half.

Bears QB Justin Fields (thumb) has a chance to practice next week, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. How that goes figures to impact whether Fields is able to play vs. the Saints. We'll continue to keep you updated on his progress.

Steelers DL Cameron Heyward returned to practice this week after being out since Week 1 with a core injury. He close out the week with a full Friday practice. Pittsburgh hasn't yet activated him from IR, though. Steelers Depot says he won't play against the Jaguars in Week 8. But the veteran appears to be trending toward a return by Week 9. Heyward's return could alter a Pittsburgh run defense that has played soft this season. We'll watch for further developments in his status.