These are the top fantasy football players of the Pittsburgh Steelers as ranked by Average Draft Position (ADP) in PPR-format mock drafts.
Data as of September 10, 2025.
| # | Name | Pos | Team | ADP | Bye |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DK Metcalf | WR | PIT | 4.02 | 5 |
| 2 | Jaylen Warren | RB | PIT | 7.04 | 5 |
| 3 | Kaleb Johnson | RB | PIT | 7.04 | 5 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Defense | DEF | PIT | 10.03 | 5 |
DK Metcalf's current ADP is 4.02, which is the 2nd pick of the 4th round, and 38th selection overall.
Jaylen Warren's current ADP is 7.04, which is the 4th pick of the 7th round, and 76th selection overall.
Kaleb Johnson's current ADP is 7.04, which is the 4th pick of the 7th round, and 76th selection overall.
Pittsburgh Defense's current ADP is 10.03, which is the 3rd pick of the 10th round, and 111th selection overall.
| Week | Home/Away | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Home | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1 | Away | New York Jets |
| 2 | Home | Seattle Seahawks |
| 3 | Away | New England Patriots |
| 6 | Home | Cleveland Browns |
| 7 | Away | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 8 | Home | Green Bay Packers |
| 9 | Home | Indianapolis Colts |
| 10 | Away | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 11 | Home | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 12 | Away | Chicago Bears |
| 13 | Home | Buffalo Bills |
| 14 | Away | Baltimore Ravens |
| 15 | Home | Miami Dolphins |
| 16 | Away | Detroit Lions |
| 17 | Away | Cleveland Browns |
| 18 | Home | Baltimore Ravens |
The Athletic's Saad Yousuf, Dianna Russini, and Mike DeFabo believe that with the addition of new running back Rico Dowdle in free agency, "there's a good shot" that Dowdle will be in the 1A role, and Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren will be the "change-of-pace" back. The 5-foot-8 Warren has been "at his best in a third-down role and out of the shotgun." It means that the 27-year-old will likely take over the pass-catching duties that Kenneth Gainwell had in 2025, when he caught a career-high 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Warren was the RB17 in half-PPR scoring last year, going for a career-high 958 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground on 211 carries in 16 games, adding 40 catches for 333 yards and two TDs as a pass-catcher. The addition of Dowdle is definitely a big hit to Warren's overall fantasy value going into 2026, but his role as a pass-catcher shouldn't be taken lightly in PPR formats, especially if veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns.
March 10, 2026 10:19 AM EST
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo believes that newly acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., a player with good size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds), physicality, and pedigree, will be a good fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Steelers re-sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer "seems to prefer veterans who understand the nuances of route running, how to read coverages and what it takes to prepare for an opponent." Pittman, who should slot in as the No. 2 behind DK Metcalf, "checks a lot of those boxes." The 28-year-old will receive a new three-year, $59 million contract with the Steelers after being acquired from the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. Pittman did lead the Colts with 80 catches last year and had a career-best seven touchdowns, but his yardage total (784) was down for a second straight season. His 2026 fantasy value hinges on whether Rodgers returns for another season in Pittsburgh.
Michael Pittman Jr. player page.
March 10, 2026 7:19 AM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Dowdle was never expected to return to Carolina in his search for an RB1 role after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old carried the Panthers' backfield last year when Chuba Hubbard missed time due to injury, and he finished with 1,076 rushing yards and a career-high six rushing scores on 236 carries over 17 regular-season games (11 starts). Dowdle's production trailed off late last year, though, as Hubbard was kept in the fold out of the backfield. In Pittsburgh, he may have a similar problem. Pass-catching back Kenneth Gainwell signed with the Bucs, but Jaylen Watson remains and could be a serious threat to Dowdle's fantasy upside as he heads into his sixth NFL season. Dowdle finished 2025 as the RB16 in half-PPR scoring.
March 9, 2026 3:31 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers are acquiring wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts on Monday in exchange for a late-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The Colts deemed Pittman expendable after re-signing Alec Pierce to a four-year deal on Monday. The 28-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 out of USC took another step back in 2025 in his sixth year in the NFL with an 80-784-7 line on 111 targets over 17 games played. Pittman does have two 1,000-yard seasons in his career, but expecting a third in 2026 in Pittsburgh probably isn't wise for fantasy managers, especially when considering the unknown quarterback situation in the Steel City. It's the second straight year Pittsburgh has traded for a wideout -- last year, they landed DK Metcalf from Seattle. In his new digs, Pittman will most likely operate as the WR2 behind Metcalf.
Michael Pittman Jr. player page.
March 9, 2026 8:57 AM EST
Carolina Panthers impending free-agent power back Rico Dowdle "has been linked" to the Washington Commanders by some people around the NFL, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Dowdle should do quite well for himself on the open market this offseason after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Panthers. In 17 regular-season games last year with Carolina, the 27-year-old South Carolina product had a career-high 236 rushing attempts for 1,076 yards (4.6 yards per carry), and six rushing touchdowns, adding 39 receptions for a career-best 297 yards and another score on 50 targets. Dowdle would become Washington's favorite for RB1 duties next season if they were to sign him, giving them a more experienced and established lead back over Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Panthers are probably unlikely to re-sign Dowdle since he wants to pursue a lead-back role, which he won't get in Carolina alongside Chuba Hubbard.
March 8, 2026 8:23 PM EST
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