Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 8, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Network: CBS
Writer: Chris Helle (@ChrisHelleQBL on Twitter)
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Jameis Winston: Streaming Option, QB2
What a game we got from Jameis Winston against the Broncos — almost 500 yards and 4 TDs, he was the QB1 on the week. Denver was seen as a difficult matchup, so there was cause for concern in starting him last week. He may have overcome those obstacles in primetime, but the reasons for him being a risky start were also validated. He threw 3 interceptions and was sacked 3 times. Winston can be seen as very similar to Kyler Murray at this point: both are just as likely to bust with a sub-15-point week as they are to go for over 25 points. He was able to salvage a 13-point game via a rushing touchdown in the snow game against Pittsburgh two weeks ago, but don’t blame the mere 220 yards and 1 TD on the snow because he still threw the ball 27 times that game. This week may not be primetime, but it is a divisional game so Jameis should be as motivated as ever. He may not be as reliable as many other high-end QBs so don’t try to catch lightning in a bottle twice, but he could be a high-end pivot if your starter is injured or on BYE.
Running Back
Nick Chubb: FLEX Option, RB4
Jerome Ford: Sit
We’ve been hoping to see signs from Nick Chubb that he’s returned to the level of his reputation, but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. Since his return, he’s only led Cleveland’s backfield in snaps in 2 of his 6 games and has yet to break 60 yards. He’s also hardly used in the passing game averaging barely over 1 target per game, and the Browns have found recent success through the air. They’ll likely be forced to continue relying on the passing game given how stout of a front 7 the Steelers have, but the lone hope for Chubb is his red zone usage. He’s the only RB in Cleveland’s backfield to get a carry inside the 20 since his return in Week 7. He’s the definition of a TD-dependent asset, so you’ll need to hope he finds the paydirt if you need to throw him in your FLEX — but this backfield should generally be avoided in this matchup.
Wide Receiver
Jerry Jeudy: FLEX Option, WR3
Cedric Tillman: FLEX Option, WR4
Elijah Moore: Sit
Jerry Jeudy is coming off a career game that must be mentioned: 9 receptions for 235 yards and 1 TD. It brings joy to the fantasy realm that Winston has breathed some life into the Browns WRs, but this is a somewhat nebulous room when looking at target shares over the recent weeks of the season. Since that point in Week 8, Elijah Moore led the team in targets in Week 8, Jeudy and Cedric Tillman tied in Week 9, Jeudy led Weeks 11 and 12, and David Njoku had the most targets this past weekend. The hype around Tillman was due to his red zone usage as he scored 3 TDs in two weeks, but he only caught 3 of his 8 targets the following game before suffering a concussion in Week 12. If there’s a WR to prefer from this group, Jerry Jeudy is the hot hand to ride. He’s accounted for 32% of the team’s targeted air yards on the season, well ahead of Moore and Tillaman’s 18% and 15% respectively.
Tight End
David Njoku: Start, TE1
Given how much work went around last week, Njoku too is coming off his best game of the season. He was targeted an insane 17 times and caught 2 TDs. The last time Cleveland played Pittsburgh was one of his worst games, only catching 1 of his 5 targets and we all remember the easy TD pass he dropped. He’s the TE8 since Jameis took the helm in week 8 and he has the 5th highest targets per game of any TE this season. This game should fall right into Njoku’s lap given how strong the Steelers’ run defense is and their pass rush will likely force Jameis to take his quick outlet option.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Russell Wilson: Streaming Option, QB2
Wilson was on fire against the Bengals, but they’re a known pass funnel. The two weeks prior were against the Browns and Ravens, who both rank in the top-10 in rate of forced scrambles. The Steelers are a team that likes to pound the rushing attack and then beat the defense over the top – but this doesn’t work against defenses with strong pass rushes. Russ averaged only 10 fantasy points in those two weeks against his division rivals and has now thrown an interception in 3 of his last 4 games. Russ could be considered a safe start in 2-QB formats, but there may be better options ahead of him in standard leagues.
Running Back
Najee Harris: Start, RB2
Jaylen Warren: FLEX Option, RB3
There’s no debate this is Najee Harris’s backfield as he’s led the snap share in every week of the season, and he’s now gone 6 straight games with at least 16 carries despite the timeshare. Jaylen Warren has been labeled as the pass-catcher of the two, but Najee outpaced him in targets too last week. The good thing for this backfield is the guaranteed volume — the Steelers run the ball at the second-highest rate in the NFL behind only Philly. The Browns’ run defense is middle of the pack in EPA/rush, so this matchup shouldn’t be one to avoid.
Wide Receiver
George Pickens: Start, WR2
Calvin Austin: Sit
Van Jefferson: Sit
We were hoping to see more of George Pickens last week, but he only brought in 3 of his 6 targets – his saving grace was finding the endzone. He’s still one of the best contested-ball receivers in the league and has led the team in targets in every single game this season. As stated in Russ’s discussion, Cleveland’s pass rush, led by Myles Garrett, could be a thorn in getting Pickens the ball. We’ve also seen Russ take some of those deep shots to either Calvin Austin or Van Jefferson these past few weeks, so he’s not totally alone in providing the team with a spark. Pickens is still a must-start given his target share, and that very reason is why Austin and Jefferson are best left out of your starting lineup.
Tight End
Pat Freiermuth: Streaming Option, TE2
The Penn State alum found the endzone for the fourth time this season last week and also matched his season-high in targets. He too is left in the wake of how much volume George Pickens attracts, but there are some parallels that might make this a better matchup for him that align with the TE on the other side of the ball. Like Njoku, the opposing pass rush will likely force the ball out quickly to the short-release valves and Cleveland’s LBs are a more inviting matchup than their secondary. This isn’t enough to propel Freiermuth into TE1 territory, but he could be a good substitute to grab off waivers if he’s available and you’re in need.