Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Network: CBS
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow: START, QB1
Joe Burrow hasn’t played terribly, but certainly hasn’t done anything to earn his “Joe Brr” persona in 2026. The Steelers have held opposing quarterbacks under 200 passing yards per game and the fewest fantasy points per game to the position, albeit in just two weeks against Cooper Rush and a struggling Drake Maye. Burrow and co. are too talented a bunch to consider sitting him, but Burrow’s more of a back end QB1 versus his standard top five-ish standing.
Running Back
Chase Brown: START, RB1
Samaje Perine: SIT
Tahj Brooks: SIT
Chase Brown sees elite volume and has a top-10 fantasy matchup for running backs on deck. The Steelers allow 128 rushing yards per game and the seventh most points to the position, setting Brown up as an easy RB1 for Week 3.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: START, WR1
Tee Higgins: START, WR2
Andrei Iosivas: SIT
Ja’Marr Chase is a weekly must-start, and if he were a Disney ride, he’d obviously be TRON: Blazing fast, effortlessly cool, and somehow always winds up ending just when you’re starting to have some fun. Even with Burrow not playing at the top of his game, Tee Higgins also remains startable as a high-end WR2 facing a Steelers defense allowing 8.8 yards per target. With Higgins averaging 8 targets per game, he’s set up well for another productive afternoon, although he’s still searching for his first end zone trip this season.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki: SIT
The Steelers are allowing the second fewest points to the position. That, and it’s Mike Gesicki.
Defense/Special Teams
Cincinnati Bengals: START
Don’t look now, but the Bengals defense is startable in fantasy! They are tied with Minnesota and Las Vegas in sacks per game with four, are forcing two turnovers per game, and are holding their opponents under 17 points per game. They should feast against the rotting corpse of Rodgers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: SIT
Mason Rudolph: SIT
I’m of the mindset that Aaron Rodgers is a shoo-in first-ballot Hall of Famer. He’s a bit odd off the field, but the multiple-time MVP has done it all on the field. But how much longer can Mike McCarthy continue to trot him out under center and not lose the locker room? Rodgers is averaging nearly 40 passing attempts per game, and has a TOTAL of 408 passing yards and one passing touchdown to account for it. I’d rather start a kicker in my Superflex spot than Rodgers at this point. If you’re considering starting Mason Rudolph, I’m sorry.
Running Back
Jaylen Warren: START, RB2
Rico Dowdle: SIT (Likely Out)
Rico Dowdle left Week 2 early with a toe injury and is sporting a walking boot at the time of writing. Jaylen Warren wasn’t practicing at the time of writing, but it appeared to be a veteran’s rest day versus a new unreported injury. But keep an eye on his status for Sunday. With Dowdle likely out, Warren bumps to a volume-based RB2 who could find it difficult to find running room against a Bengals defense allowing under 80 rushing yards per game. His passing game involvement should at least provide a stable floor in PPR formats.
Wide Receiver
DK Metcalf: START, WR3
Michael Pittman Jr: SIT
Germie Bernard: SIT
DK Metcalf is averaging more targets per game (9.5) than fantasy points per game (7.35). Explosiveness and volume keep Metcalf startable in a pinch, but as poorly as Rodgers is playing, considering Metcalf a WR3 is generous. I have him ranked behind the likes of Jalen Coker and Matthew Golden this week. Meanwhile, Michael Pittman missed Week 2 with a foot injury, and his status for Week 3 is still in question. Germie Bernard saw eight targets in his absence, but with the poor state of this passing offense, neither is startable regardless of who’s active.
Tight End
Pat Freiermuth: tHe gLoB
Darnell Washington: SIT
It’s a sad state of affairs in Pittsburgh where the lone bright spot in the offense is the human incarnation of tHe gLoB. For you newcomers, that’s the massive crowd of “theoretically streamable tight ends who will likely only return value if they find the end zone” available on your waiver wire every single week. Five targets per game is nice, but with ‘Muth, you’re praying for a touchdown.
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers: START
Tied for third in the league with four forced turnovers and just one sack behind league-leading Bengals, Vikings, and Raiders with seven.