Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 30 at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Betting Odds: PIT +10.5, 43 Total on Oddshark
Network: CBS
Writer: Drew DeLuca (@DrewDeLaware on Twitter)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterbacks
Kenny Pickett (Sit), Mitchell Trubisky (Sit)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has had his work cut out for him as a rookie playing behind an inferior offensive line. However, he has made a few highlight-reel throws in his brief tenure as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, and in his second NFL start, Pickett threw for 327 yards against the vaunted Buffalo Bills defense. Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Panthers product was knocked out of the following game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 with a concussion. H returned last week to throw for 257 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
Growing pains are a part of the process for a young quarterback, and we expect Pickett to experience several of them in Philadelphia against an Eagles defense that ranks fifth in fewest points allowed (17.5), fifth in fewest passing yards allowed per game (188.0), second in lowest completion percentage allowed (56.77%), and eighth in most sacks per game (2.8). The Eagles also allow a lower passer rating (66.0) and have notched more takeaways per game (2.3) than any other team in the league.
Add it all up, and Pickett may rack up just enough garbage time points to finish as a low-end QB2 this week. He’s more likely to offer up his worst career performance than his best. He should be riding the bench in just about all fantasy football formats in Week 8.
Running Backs
Najee Harris (Start, RB2), Jaylen Warren (Sit), Benny Snell (Sit)
If it weren’t for Kyle Pitts, Elijah Moore, and Russell Wilson, Najee Harris‘ lack of production would be the biggest disappointment in fantasy football through the season’s first seven weeks. Harris, who was selected in the first round in many redraft leagues, has yet to surpass 90 total yards in a game this season and has logged only one rushing touchdown thus far.
However, rumors of Jaylen Warren‘s ascension to a role in a committee backfield have been greatly exaggerated. Harris has seen his snap share rise each game over the past three weeks (49 percent to 69 percent to 77 percent) while Warren’s has declined in turn (51 percent to 31 percent to 23 percent). Harris commanded over 83 percent of the backfield touches in Week 7, a welcomed sign that comes not a moment too soon for those concerned about his reduced volume. Harris is therefore still worth starting this week, despite a tough matchup. Don’t count on RB1 numbers, however.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Diontae Johnson (Start, WR2), George Pickens (Sit), Chase Claypool (Sit, Flex), Pat Freiermuth (Start, TE1), Zach Gentry (Sit)
Najee Harris hasn’t been the only disappointment in Pittsburgh so far this season. Diontae Johnson has also fallen short of expectations, even as he continues to see substantial volume. Last week, Johnson led the team in targets (10) but caught only half of those thrown his way. Ryan Radel pointed out in QB List’s Week 7 What We Saw review that two of Pickett’s three interceptions were intended for Johnson. An abysmal 4.2 yards per target mark inspires no confidence in a turnaround from the only one of the Steeler’s primary receivers to fail to haul in a touchdown over the last three weeks.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool has been inconsistent and unimpressive in his own right, save for a nice showing against the Buccaneers (104 total yards and a touchdown). Georgia’s George Pickens, on the other hand, seems to be improving every week. Pickens hauled in all six of his targets last week for 61 yards and a touchdown. Pickens is the only one of these three Steelers receivers to snag five or more catches in each of the team’s last three contests. Unfortunately, he and Johnson will likely be locked up by James Bradberry and Darius Slay, two Philadelphia Eagles cornerbacks who are playing at an elite level.
Claypool has the most favorable matchup of Pittsburgh’s “Big Three,” as he’ll line up against slot corner Avonte Maddox more often than not, where the Steelers will look to exploit a major size advantage. Nonetheless, he’s still only a flex option at best. The only other Steeler pass catcher we’re excited about is tight end Pat Freiermuth, a sure-fire TE1 this week.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts (Start, QB1)
Remember when Jalen Hurts was a walking question mark? A guy who was roundly panned for lacking sufficient arm strength to get the ball downfield has blossomed into the leader of the league’s only undefeated team. Only Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have averaged more fantasy points per game at the quarterback position, with Hurts only 0.31 points behind the latter.
The Steelers’ pass defense is far from foreboding, especially while T.J. Watt continues to be sidelined. Given the soft matchup and his cheat code status as a dual-threat weapon, Hurts is my overall QB1 this week, a ranking that reflects both his high floor and stratospheric ceiling. Hurts will continue to compile rushing yardage ad nauseam and won’t hesitate to call his own number inside the five-yard line; he has twice as many rushing touchdowns as any other quarterback in the league this season. Benching Hurts for any reason would be fantasy malpractice.
Running Back
Miles Sanders (Start, RB2), Kenny Gainwell (Sit), Boston Scott (Sit)
As mentioned in this space weeks ago, Miles Sanders‘ elite fantasy ceiling is capped by a prolific rushing quarterback who vultures touchdowns and eats up yards between the 20s. Some speculate that the Eagles could make a move to acquire a running back such as Kareem Hunt, who is rumored to be available in trade. Such a move would eliminate any hope of emerging fantasy value from Kenny Gainwell and Boston Scott. As things stand, Sanders makes a nice mid-range RB2 in Week 8, while Gainwell and Scott serve no purpose presently in the fantasy football realm.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
A.J. Brown (Start, WR1), DeVonta Smith (Start, WR2), Quez Watkins (Sit), Zach Pascal (Sit), Dallas Goedert (Start, TE1), Jack Stoll (Sit), Grant Calcaterra (Sit)
The Eagles’ offense has produced at least one wide receiver with 15 or more fantasy points every week, except for the rain-soaked slop fest against the Jaguars on October 2. Expect that trend to continue this week, as A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will enjoy juicy matchups against Arthur Maulet when lined up in the slot, and plus matchups against Levi Wallace, Cameron Sutton, and James Pierre when lined up outside. Both Brown and Smith should be in starting lineups in just about every conceivable fantasy football format.
The speedy Quez Watkins offers game-breaking ability and underrated hands, but he simply doesn’t draw enough targets to warrant fantasy consideration. Watkins is a great cheap DFS GPP dart throw, but his volume is too insufficient to trust in season-long leagues. Zach Pascal is not someone anyone should roster, much less start.
However, Dallas Goedert is on the cusp of becoming a set-it-and-forget-it top-five tight end, and Week 8 is no exception. With Mark Andrews injured and Travis Kelce on bye, Goedert could reasonably finish as the overall TE1 this week. We can’t say the same for Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra, who offer no stand-alone value whatsoever.