Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) was back in individual drills during Monday's practice after he missed the Week 4 win in Dublin, Ireland, over the Minnesota Vikings, according to Brian Batko. Warren was a surprise inactive in Week 4, leading the way for backup Kenneth Gainwell to be featured heavily in Pittsburgh's offense as both a rusher and receiver. The Steelers had a well-timed bye in Week 5, giving the 26-year-old Warren a good chance to make it back in Week 6 against the division-rival Cleveland Browns after missing only one game. We'll have a better idea of Warren's Week 6 status once the Steelers start officially practicing on Wednesday. Warren has been a must-start in fantasy through three games, rushing for 132 yards on 43 carries while also catching 11 passes for 142 yards and a score. However, Warren will be a fade candidate in DFS against a tough Browns defense this weekend if he returns.
Oct 6, 2025 11:07 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) was a surprise inactive before Week 4's win over the Minnesota Vikings. In his absence, Kenneth Gainwell exploded for 134 total yards and two touchdowns. Though Gainwell's performance could earn him more volume in the coming weeks, Warren was very effective as a pass-catcher through his first three games with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and should reclaim RB1 duties when he returns. The utilization of Darnell Washington in Pittsburgh's offense seemed to open up running lanes last week, so fantasy managers should be optimistic about Warren's potential going forward. The 26-year-old will now have the bye in Week 5 to get healthy ahead of a divisional bout with the stingy Cleveland Browns defense.
Sep 30, 2025 7:04 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) has been ruled out for the Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Warren tested out his knee pregame and wasn't feeling good enough to give it a go. This absence is a troubling situation for the Steelers who don't have a viable backup right now. Kenneth Gainwell figures to see increased snaps while Kaleb Johnson and Trey Sermon should be in the mix as well. Between the three, Gainwell offers the most fantasy upside for desperate managers heading into Week 4. Gainwell could offer some low-end flex appeal for this tough Sunday morning matchup in Dublin.
Sep 28, 2025 8:17 AM EST
According to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) is expected to play on Sunday despite carrying a questionable designation. Warren was listed as a limited participant throughout the week due to veteran rest and a knee injury. However, Warren was unable to progress enough to avoid a designation following Friday's final practice. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status leading up to kickoff in case he faces a setback, but it appears he is trending in the right direction. Throughout the opening month of the season, Warren has been able to emerge as the top option in the Pittsburgh backfield. Warren has been given 14.3 rushing attempts per game and seen 4.0 targets per game. Given his role as a pass-catcher, Warren carries high-floor RB2 value in PPR formats despite facing a tough Minnesota defense that has allowed the 10th fewest PR points to opposing RBs this season. If he is unable to play, Kenneth Gainwell will likely operate as the primary option with Trey Sermon and Kaleb Johnson slotting behind him.
Sep 26, 2025 4:23 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers added running back Jaylen Warren (knee) to the Week 4 injury report, and he's now questionable to play on Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Warren was on the injury report this week and was listed with a knee, but also as veteran rest when he was limited in Thursday's practice. The 26-year-old's status is obviously worth keeping an eye on going into Sunday's international game, but we'd be surprised if he were ruled inactive. But if he doesn't play, Kenneth Gainwell would be a popular waiver-wire pickup and flex plug-and-play this weekend. Rookie Kaleb Johnson, who was a healthy scratch last week, would likely be active as a change-of-pace option alongside Trey Sermon. Warren has been very productive through three weeks and is a must-start RB if he plays.
Sep 26, 2025 1:19 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren gained 81 total yards on 23 touches in a Week 3 win over the New England Patriots. Perhaps most importantly, the 26-year-old took the field for a career-high 80% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps. He did cede a few opportunities to Kenneth Gainwell, who punched in a one-yard score after Warren was stopped twice inside the five-yard line. Still, Warren's usage in the passing game helped him outscore Gainwell in half-PPR fantasy leagues. He paced the Steelers in targets, drawing six looks from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Although Warren has a difficult matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on tap for Week 4, he has established himself as a quality RB2 and is a borderline must-start option going forward.
Sep 23, 2025 4:26 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren will look to build on his hot start to the campaign in a Week 3 road matchup against the New England Patriots. After struggling against the run in 2024, the Patriots have clamped down through the first two weeks of 2025, allowing just 2.5 yards per carry. They have been vulnerable against running backs in the passing attack, however, and that is an area in which Warren thrives. So far this season, he's hauled in all six of his targets for 108 receiving yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers even hinted earlier this week that Warren could see more opportunities through the air, and added that "every time he touches it, something good happens." He hasn't been seeing a workload that puts him in must-start territory, but fantasy managers should view Warren as a quality RB2 with upside heading into Sunday.
Sep 19, 2025 7:02 PM EST
On the heels of a dynamic receiving performance, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is a top-12 fantasy option at his position through the first two weeks of the season. The fourth-year pro hauled in all four of his targets for 86 yards in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. While his efficiency on the ground leaves room for improvement, Warren currently leads Pittsburgh in both rushing and receiving heading into a Week 3 duel against the New England Patriots. The inconsistencies we've seen from the Steelers' offense are likely to continue throughout the year, but Warren appears locked in as a focal point. Rookie Kaleb Johnson made a costly mistake on special teams and will need to earn the trust of the coaching staff before carving out an offensive role, while veteran Kenneth Gainwell has been ineffective with his touches to this point. All things considered, Warren is shaping up to be one of the best values in fantasy drafts and can be reliably started as an RB2 moving forward.
Sep 16, 2025 11:32 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren found the end zone in the season opener and will look to build on that success in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle's run defense was middle-of-the-pack in 2024 and surrendered a big fantasy performance to Christian McCaffrey in Week 1. Warren may not be the offensive threat that McCaffrey is, but he has proven to be effective both on the ground and through the air as the clear leader of the Steelers' backfield. Rookie Kaleb Johnson has seemingly yet to carve out a role in OC Arthur Smith's system, and while Kenneth Gainwell handled 10 touches last week, he was largely inefficient with them. Though this matchup isn't expected to be high-scoring, Pittsburgh is coming off an impressive 34-point showing led by a motivated Aaron Rodgers and will look to stay hot in its home opener. Warren projects as a low-end RB2 or strong flex option for Sunday's contest.
Sep 12, 2025 10:09 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren will begin his first campaign as the team's featured ballcarrier in a road bout with the New York Jets. Warren thrived in a complementary role through his first three seasons, averaging 4.8 yards per tote while adding 127 receptions. Although he is expected to lead Pittsburgh's backfield ahead of rookie Kaleb Johnson, Warren will be tested by a solid New York defense. The Jets shut down running backs in the passing game and held the position to the fifth-fewest yards per carry in 2024. This is expected to be a low-scoring affair, so while Warren doesn't offer extreme upside, he can be started as a volume-based RB2 or flex option in Week 1.
Sep 5, 2025 6:11 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that running back Jaylen Warren will "be our featured runner," according to Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "His progress has been very evident and he's to be congratulated ... Certainly he'll be our featured runner. Certainly you'll see [Kaleb Johnson/Kenneth Gainwell], but at what time and at what degree [will depend week-to-week]," Tomlin said. The Steelers signed Warren to a two-year extension worth $12 million guaranteed this week, so this news shouldn't really come as a surprise. It's obviously good news for those that have the 26-year-old in fantasy and bad news for rookie Kalen Johnson, who is the RB3 on the unofficial Week 1 depth chart. The Steelers are expected to be more of a ground-and-pound team on offense this year, making Warren a viable RB3/flex play in fantasy lineups in Week 1 against the Jets.
Sep 2, 2025 1:04 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in agreement with running back Jaylen Warren on a two-year extension, per The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov. The 26-year-old has spent the first three seasons of his career in Pittsburgh and is now tied to the team through 2027. Warren enters 2025 as the RB1 in Pittsburgh for the first time in his career, although veteran Kenneth Gainwell and rookie Kaleb Johnson are both expected to play roles in the team's backfield as well. Warren has amassed 2,568 yards from scrimmage on 473 total touches in 48 career games, and he profiles as a high-end RB3/flex option in fantasy. For dynasty managers, Johnson's stock takes a hit with this news, as he is now sure to be splitting touches to some degree with Warren over the next few seasons.
Sep 1, 2025 11:17 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren handled two carries for three yards and secured both of his targets for 12 yards in a 19-10 preseason victory against the Carolina Panthers. Warren, who was held out of the team's first two preseason contests, had a nice gain through the air on his first touch, but unfortunately fumbled the ball on his way to the ground. Although he had three additional opportunities on Pittsburgh's first two drives, he didn't manage to make much out of them. The 26-year-old is expected to lead the Steelers' rushing attack to begin the regular season, but could cede snaps to promising rookie Kaleb Johnson and veteran Kenneth Gainwell if he struggles early on. Warren will still likely be a value in most fantasy drafts as a flex or RB3 target in the later rounds.
Aug 22, 2025 11:01 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was listed as the top running back on the team's initial preseason depth chart. Veteran Kenneth Gainwell is listed behind only Warren, while rookie Kaleb Johnson is the third back on the depth chart. Johnson has been struggling with pass coverage, according to reports, which could limit his role early in the season and give Warren and Gainwell a chance to dominate the workload. Warren has always been excellent in pass coverage and could benefit from Aaron Rodgers' tendency to check down to running backs. Johnson could still earn short-yardage and goal-line work as the preseason continues, but for now, Warren looks to be the clear frontrunner for work in the Steelers' backfield.
Aug 5, 2025 10:13 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was going through first-team reps during the beginning of Thursday's practice. It would make sense that Warren would get the first chance at the starting job in Pittsburgh. He has earned that opportunity after putting in solid work as the backup over the last few seasons. Most notably, Warren rushed for 784 yards with four touchdowns while earning a 5.26 yards per carry during the 2023 season. The departure of Najee Harris will give Warren a chance to earn full-time reps this upcoming season. However, third-round pick Kaleb Johnson figures to be breathing down his neck. The Iowa product should immediately be in the mix in what many believe will be a co-starter role. It's hard to imagine either back running away with the job, so a co-starter type of situation seems likely.
Jul 25, 2025 8:20 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren recently noted via the team's website that he adjusted his training this offseason in anticipation of handling a larger workload in 2025. "I approached this offseason differently," said Warren. "I did a lot more things for longevity-wise...like they say, the best ability is availability." The Oklahoma State product enters his fourth season with the team and projects as the lead back for the first time in his career with former teammate Najee Harris' departure to the Los Angeles Chargers. However, he isn't the only show in town. Warren should play a substantial role in the backfield regarding touches, but rookie Kaleb Johnson projects to eventually fill the role vacated by Harris due to his similar frame. That isn't to say he'll overtake Warren, but it could mean he handles goal-line touches in time. Expect Warren to see an uptick in carries from previous seasons and play a significant role on third downs and passing situations.
Jun 16, 2025 3:13 PM EST
Though there is good value in a deep running back class in this year's NFL draft, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he believes Jaylen Warren can be the team's top running back after the departure of 2021 first-rounder Najee Harris in free agency to the Los Angeles Chargers. "I certainly feel comfortable with his ability to do so," Tomlin said of Warren. "He got hampered by injury some in 2024. He appears to be ready to answer that. I know he's really excited about his opportunity. I don't think myself or anyone within the organization question his talents in regards to managing the ability to manage potentially that role." The 26-year-old signed his one-year, $5.35 million restricted free-agent tender on Tuesday, but that doesn't mean the two sides won't work out a long-term extension. Warren's 2025 fantasy value will depend on whether the Steelers add a RB in this week's NFL draft.
Apr 22, 2025 11:47 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the organization on Tuesday. Warren signed as a restricted free agent as he enters his final year before free agency. Warren figures to be the lead back for the first time in his professional career this upcoming season. Najee Harris has departed via free agency, which opens a door for Warren to be the No. 1 back in this offense. It's possibly that the Steelers do draft a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft. Nonetheless, Warren should get the first chance to be the lead back in 2025. Last season, Warren finished with 511 rushing yards and 310 receiving yards in 15 games as the primary backup in Pittsburgh. The assumption is that his fantasy value is going to rise with a move to the lead back spot.
Apr 22, 2025 8:28 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers placed the second-round restricted tender on restricted free-agent running back Jaylen Warren on Monday, according to his agents. The tender is worth $5.346 million. Although technically not official yet, placing the second-round tender pretty much guarantees that the 26-year-old will be back in Pittsburgh in 2025. Fellow backfield mate Najee Harris is an unrestricted free agent this week and has a good chance of not returning, which would make Warren much more attractive in fantasy next season, depending on what other moves the Steelers make at the position in free agency or the draft. Any team that wants to sign Warren now would have to offer up second-round draft compensation. Although Harris had another 1,000-yard season in 2024, Warren has looked better than him at times the last two years and has averaged a healthy 4.8 yards per carry in his three NFL seasons.
Mar 10, 2025 12:06 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said on Tuesday at the NFL Combine that the team will tender an offer to impending restricted free-agent running back Jaylen Warren. The second-round tender will be worth $5.2 million, while an original-round tender for Warren would be for $3.19 million. If the Steelers give him the original-round tender and he signs with another team, they wouldn't receive draft-pick compensation because he wasn't drafted in 2022. Meanwhile, Najee Harris will be an unrestricted free agent after the Steelers declined his fifth-year option. The 26-year-old Warren's fantasy value in 2025 will all depend on if he stays in Pittsburgh and also whether Harris is re-signed. Warren looked ready to break out after going for 784 rushing yards in 2023, but he took a step back in 2024 with 120 carries, 511 yards and just one rushing score in 15 regular-season games.
Feb 25, 2025 10:38 PM EST
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