Riley Nowakowski

Pittsburgh Steelers
Running Back

Personal

Age	23
Birthdate	June 30, 2002
Height	6'1"
Weight	249 lb

Draft

College	Indiana
Year	2026
Pick	Round: 5, Overall: 169
Team	PIT

Fantasy Value

Week 1 Projections
Carries	Yards	Touchdowns
0.0	0.0	0.0

You can see where those projections compare to other RBs in our Running Back Rankings.

Player News

Riley Nowakowski: Steelers Select Riley Nowakowski at No. 169 Overall

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Indiana tight end prospect Riley Nowakowski with the 169th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Nowakowski caught 32 passes for 387 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the Hoosiers' national championship-winning offense last year. He also got involved as a fullback, scoring two rushing touchdowns. We could see him take on a similar hybrid fullback/tight end role in Pittsburgh, serving as the team's replacement for Connor Heyward, who signed with the Raiders this offseason. Assuming that's the case, Nowakowski doesn't have a clear path to fantasy relevance. He can be avoided in most fantasy football drafts.

Apr. 25, 2026 11:23 AM EST