Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 23, 2025, 1:00 PM ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Network: CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: START (in Superflex), Borderline QB1
Mason Rudolph: SIT, QB2 (Startable in Superflex)
After leaving Week 11 with what would turn out to be a fractured left wrist, it sounds like the chances of Aaron Rodgers playing are truly a coin flip. Thankfully, not on his throwing arm, but he has to be able to handle the snap. Should he miss, it’ll be up to Mason Rudolph to lead the sleigh tonight Steelers on Sunday. Chicago has bled points to quarterbacks this season, and even banged-up Rodgers would be a borderline QB1. If it happens to be Mason, he’s a risky Superflex start with a dash of upside.
Running Back
Jaylen Warren: START, RB1
Kenneth Gainwell: FLEX, RB3 | START, RB2 (If Warren OUT)
Jaylen Warren left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury, but Kenneth Gainwell was puh-lenty involved before his exit. Gainwell played more snaps and handled more carries in the first half, including 11 of 12 plays in the two-minute drill. Gainwell did his damage through the air, catching seven of eight targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns. He was the Steelers’ leading receiver and nearly scored a third touchdown late in the fourth, making a remarkable one-handed grab on a screen, cutting back, and running for about 20 yards before getting tackled inside the 10. Warren didn’t play badly by any means; he averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 10 attempts. He was reportedly cleared to return, but the Steelers kept him out as a precaution, and Gainwell was playing so well. Head Coach Mike Tomlin said he’s “optimistic” Warren will be able to play against the Bears. But were he to miss the game, Gainwell would instantly be an RB2.
Wide Receiver
Dk Metcalf: START, WR2 | WR3 (if Rodgers OUT)
Calvin Austin III: SIT
After a let’s say warm start to the season, DK Metcalf has scored over 10 fantasy points just once since Week 7. He’s by far the top target on the team, but the Steelers have a mere 307 passing attempts, the sixth fewest in the league. The matchup with Chicago is mouthwatering; the Bears allow the fifth most points to the position and seven passing touchdowns of 20+ yards (second only to Dallas). But with Rodgers banged up and status uncertain, DK could be dependent on *gulp* Mason Rudlolph. With Rodgers, he’s a volatile WR2. With Rudolph, he’s riding the WR3/FLEX fence.
Tight End
Darnell Washington: SIT
Pat Freiermuth: SIT
Jonnu Smith: SIT
Feel free to roll the dice on one of the Steelers’ TEs if you want, but I wouldn’t.
That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Darnell Washington sending a few Bengals to The Netherrealm.
DARNELL WASHINGTON OH MY GLORIOUS STIFF ARM.
CINvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/vpn6NVgaFU
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025
Editor’s note: Washington said on the St. Brown Brothers Podcast that he currently weighs 311 pounds. That is exactly twice as much as Machoke, a middle stage Fighting-type Pokémon from the Kanto region. I’m not exactly sure what you’re supposed to do with that information. But let’s just hope the Steelers don’t trade him at any point.
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers: START
The Steelers rank top five in sacks, turnovers forced, and held their last three opponents to an average of 19 points.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: START (in Superflex), Borderline QB1
Outside of a monster Week 9 against Cincy, Caleb Williams has been considerably meh. In the Bears’ five other games since the bye, Williams has thrown two touchdowns, two interceptions, and thrown 250(ish) or fewer yards in four. The Steelers allow the eighth most points to the position, but have played better as of late, allowing three total passing touchdowns in the past three games after allowing Joe Flacco and Jordan Love to throw three each in back-to-back weeks. He’s a must-start in Superflex, but too much of a risk for me to lock him in as an auto-start in 1QB leagues.
Running Back
D’Andre Swift: START, RB2
Kyle Monangai: FLEX, RB3
D’Andre Swift has held firm as the Bears’ lead back, but Kyle Monangai is here to stay. Swift’s outcarried Monangai 34-19 over the past two weeks, but the rookie has carved out a goal-line role, outtouching Swift inside the 10 and scoring a touchdown in back-to-back games. The Steelers have held up against running backs this season, allowing just one 100-yard rusher and two rushing touchdowns to backs since Week 3. Swift slots in as a borderline RB2 and Monangai as a touchdown-dependent FLEX.
Wide Receiver
Rome Odunze: START, WR1
DJ Moore: FLEX, WR4
Luther Burden III: SIT
After a blistering start to the season, Rome Odunze‘s production has been erratic over his last six games. But he’s stayed the top option for Caleb Williams and Chicago’s top target earner, including a 20.3% target share since Week 8. The Steelers set up as a get-right game for Odunze, allowing the third-most points to the position and allowing seven different wide receivers to surpass the century mark. DJ Moore has been one of the biggest disappointments of the season, and even in a fantastic matchup, I can’t slot him in as anything more than a FLEX. It looks like Luther Burden finally commandeered the WR3 role from Olamide Zaccheaus, running a route on 61.1% of Chicago’s dropbacks compared to 19.4% for Zaccheaus. We need to see him do something with the extra field time before putting him in lineups, but he should be rostered in practically all leagues.
Tight End
Cole Kmet: SIT
Colston Loveland: SIT
My concern with Coleston Loveland‘s mini-breakout against the Bengals was that most of the production came after Cole Kmet left the game. In the two games since, Kmet’s been active, and Loveland has a total of seven catches for 95 yards. Few can match the upside that Loveland offers, but as long as Kmet is active, he does just enough to keep the rookie unstartable.
Defense/Special Teams
Chicago Bears: START
The Bears lead the league in turnovers forced and could face Mason Rudolph. Either way, fire ’em up.