Who Should I Start? Riley Nowakowski or Seth McGowan

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Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
1.2 0.0 0.0 0.6 5.3 0.0

Riley Nowakowski News

Steelers Select Riley Nowakowski at No. 169 Overall

Saturday, April 25, 11:23 AM

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.

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Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
1.4 6.5 0.1 0.3 1.9 0.0

Seth McGowan News

Seth McGowan Poised to Claim RB2 Role in Indianapolis

Saturday, August 22, 7:30 PM

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan appears to be the favorite for the backup role behind star Jonathan Taylor. McGowan had eight carries for 27 yards and added five yards on one catch in the 34-6 preseason loss to the Atlanta Falcons. With quarterback Riley Leonard and the backups, McGowan played 27 of 27 snaps and has done a good job in training camp. With second-year back DJ Giddens (hamstring) struggling at camp and expected to miss time, McGowan appears locked into the handcuff role behind Taylor, who has missed 16 games over the last four seasons. Currently ranked as the RB63 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, McGowan could be in a great situation behind an elite offensive line if Taylor is banged up during the season.

Riley Nowakowski vs. Seth McGowan

Still trying to decide between Nowakowski and McGowan? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Riley Nowakowski is projected to score 1.2 points this week while Seth McGowan is projected to score 1.4 points.