Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday, October 16, 2025, 8:15 PM ET
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Network: AMZN
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: SIT, QB2 (Startable in Superflex)
The Steelers take on the Bengals, who are top five in passing yards allowed, yards per pass attempt against, and passing touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 10 touchdowns in five games and just two interceptions on the season. While there’s always the risk of him leaving mid-game to go eat some clay or take a darkness retreat, Rodgers is a decent Superflex play and desperation streamer this week.
Running Back
Jaylen Warren: START, RB2
Kenneth Gainwell: FLEX, RB3
After Kenneth Gainwell‘s impressive performance before the bye, there were questions as to what the usage would look like in the Steelers’ backfield moving forward.
Warren/Gainwell usage Weeks 1-3 (Per FantasyPoints Data)
Warren/Gainwell usage in Week 6 (Per FantasyPoints Data)
While Gainwell’s snap and rushing attempt percentage did slightly drop, his target percentage nearly doubled from 11.4% to 20%. The game script likely works in Jaylen Warren‘s favor; however, facing a Bengals defense allowing over 30 points per game, Thursday night could get out of hand quickly. Both are startable considering Cincy allows the most fantasy points per game to the position, but Warren gets the slight edge this week based on guaranteed touches.
Wide Receiver
DK Metcalf: START, WR2
Calvin Austin III: SIT (Not Practicing)
DK Metcalf came down with a touchdown in his fourth straight game, the longest streak of his career, and had a season-high 9 targets. Metcalf is still a highly volatile start, but his scoring upside is undeniable. He’s a solid WR2 with nice ceiling as Rodgers’ favorite target. As poor as the Bengals are against the run, the Steelers may not have to pass much. But considering Calvin Austin III is shaping up to miss yet again, Metcalf should have a decent volume-based floor.
Tight End
There’s like 4 of them but Arthur Smith is the OC so good luck guessing: SIT
The answer to the offseason quandary of Jonnu Smith or Pat Freiermuth may actually be Darnell Washington? It was at least for Week 6, where Washington outtageted and outproduced both Smith and Muth for the first time this season. Even with the Bengals allowing the most fantasy points to the tight end position, you can’t consider any Steelers tight end a start, given that this has turned into an Arthur Smith three-headed tight end nightmare. One of them probably winds up in the end zone. Be my guest if you’d like to try to guess which one.
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers: START
Pittsburgh has 5 or more sacks in three straight games, facing the Bengals’ swish cheese o-line, allowing the third fastest time to pressure this season. Now I want a Reuben.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Flacco: SIT
Yeah, yeah, I know. I ranked Joe Flacco dead last week, and he had a solid game. But, did he? He had 45 pass attempts for the third time this season, but has yet to break 300 yards. Flacco’s 64.4% completion percentage in his first Bengals start boosted his 58.1% coming into the game to just under 60% on the season. Pittsburgh has been pretty friendly to opposing quarterbacks for fantasy, allowing the seventh most fantasy points to the position. But star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is expected to play for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1. Safety DeShon Elliott was injured in that same game but returned in Week 4. The Steelers’ secondary is shaping up to be nearly fully intact for the first time since Week 1. As long as Flacco has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal, he has a chance at fantasy viability. But I’m not overly confident in Flacco, even after last week’s passable performance.
Running Back
Chase Brown: FLEX, RB3
Samaje Perine: SIT
After giving up back-to-back 100-yard games and a rushing touchdown in each of the first two games, the Steelers’ rush defense has clamped down. Since then, they’ve yet to allow a running back to rush for over 57 yards in a game or allow a rushing touchdown. While Chase Brown rushed for a season high 4.7 yards per carry, it equated to a whopping 42 yards on nine carries. Brown has yet to rush for 50 yards in a single game this season and is shaping up as one of the biggest busts in fantasy. Bengals backup running back Samaje Perine saw a season high in rush attempts and targets, which could signal the team’s efforts to get other backs involved, considering the Browns’ inefficiency. With all the injuries to running backs, you may not have a choice but to start Brown. But don’t expect much.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: START, WR1
Tee Higgins: START, WR3
Andrei Iosivas: SIT
For the second straight week, Ja’Marr Chase scored over 25 fantasy points, and Tee Higgins scored over 11. Joe Flacco certainly looked better than Jake Browning starting for the Bengals, but did he really do much for the fantasy values of their dynamic duo? I’d argue he didn’t do a whole lot for their ceiling, but certainly raised their floor. Their completion percentages were nearly identical (Browning Weeks 3-5, Flacco Week 6) at 64-ish, but the difference in their adjusted completion percentage (which takes into account drops, spikes, throwaways, hit as thrown, and batted passes) was significant. Flacco’s adjusted completion percentage was 84.2% in his first start as a Bengal, with Brownings sitting nearly 15% lower at 70.6%. The one thing Browning had over Flacco was deep throw percentage (12% to 2.2%) and average depth of target (7.2 to 5.2). I do expect the deep throw numbers to increase for Flacco closer to his season-long averages of 6.6 aDot and 7.8% deep throw rate, both of which are still below Brown’s pace. Flacco offers more consistency and, in turn, a higher floor, but the ceilings of Chase and Higgins are trimmed just a bit compared to Browning. Chase should be comfortably considered an every-week start regardless of matchup, and Higgins a high-floor WR3.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki PLACED ON IR
Noah Fant: DESPERATION STREAMER
You can’t start Noah Fant yet, but this is certainly on the upswing for him. Joe Flacco‘s penchant to target tight ends is well-documented, but his role should be expanding as well. His competition for touches, Mike Gesicki, was placed on IR and will be out at least the next four games. If you’re truly desperate at tight end, Fant is a decent dart throw streamer considering the increase in opportunity and matchup, with the Steelers allowing the third most fantasy points to tight ends.
Defense/Special Teams
Cincinnati Bengals: SIT
The Bengals are one of three remaining teams allowing over 30 points per game.