What We Saw: Week 11

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Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Final Score: Browns 13, Steelers 10

Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)

In what was a crucial game for the AFC North at this point this season, the low-scoring Steelers and the starting-quarterback less Browns battled it out in what became an offensive struggle. The Steelers’ offense was blanked in the first half before finally taking the lid off in the third quarter, but it as too little, too late- the Browns’ rookie quarterback led an eight-play, 48-yard drive to set up the game-winning field goal with two seconds left in regulation and ultimately take home the victory.

Three Up

Jaylen Warren – He was basically the entire Pittsburgh offense.
David Njoku – 15 targets is a lot.
Jerome Ford – Another game, another score. Plus 17 designed touches.

Three Down

Najee Harris – Lacked efficiency and was out-gained by Warren dramatically.
Diontae Johnson – Only securing 2 of 8 targets is not a great look.
Amari Cooper – The quarterback change for Cleveland looks like it’s going to hurt Cooper’s ceiling for the rest of the year.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterback

Kenny Pickett: 15/28, 106 yards, 3 sacks | 3 carries, 9 yards

When he wasn’t getting sacked or running for his life, Kenny Pickett wasn’t able to get much of anything going through the air against the staunch Browns defense. Referees saved Pickett from taking a safety on the opening drive and it didn’t get much better from there. Pickett had very little time to make his reads and very rarely was able to set his feet to make an accurate throw, which is reflected by his ~53% completion rate. While he didn’t turn the ball over, it’s tough to win a game with this type of production out of your quarterback.

Running Back

Jaylen Warren: 9 carries, 129 yards, touchdown | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 16 yards

Jaylen Warren quite simply was the entirety of the Steelers’ offense in this matchup. His 74-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the lone bright spot in this otherwise grim offense. Over the last three games, Warren has re-set his career best in rushing yards: 88 yards against the Titans, followed by 101 against the Packers, and now 129 against the Browns formidable defense. Add on his ability to catch the ball and Warren is trending in the right direction. The Steelers offense might stink, but Warren’s fantasy production sure doesn’t.

ALL ABOARD THE J-TRAIN 🚂 @Nunless2

📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSnfvVk pic.twitter.com/zbXbxnHM8V

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 19, 2023

Najee Harris: 12 carries, 35 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 1 yard

Even with the same amount of touches compared to his backfield counterpart Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris lacked efficiency as he managed only 2.9 yards per carry which was propped up by a 17-yard run. Without that carry the statline becomes an ugly 11 carries for 18 yards. With how badly the passing game is struggling, there is minimal space for Najee in the rushing game as he traditionally runs between the tackles. A very lackluster game for Najee.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

George Pickens: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 38 yards | 1 carry, -1 yard

With the aforementioned struggles of Kenny Pickett against the Browns’ defense, all of his pass-catchers suffered the repercussions. If your receiving leader ends the game with four receptions for 38 yards, you are in trouble. The Browns’ defense keyed on George Pickens and smothered him all game to keep the Steelers’ most explosive pass-catcher under wraps.

Diontae Johnson: 8 targets, 2 receptions, 16 yards

Three of his targets came when the team needed him the most (1:42 left in the 4th quarter, game tied at 10) and all three of those targets ended up on the ground. He also was called for offensive pass interference that wiped out a 9-yard gain with the drive ending in a punt. A couple of Diontae Johnson‘s targets weren’t really catchable, and on others, he was blanketed by the defender. Long story short the quality of all of his targets was questionable at best.

Allen Robinson II: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 20 yards

Reliable but underwhelming.

Darnell Washington: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards

He big.

Pat Freiermuth: 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards

First game back since the beginning of October, likely going to be eased back into the offense.

Cleveland Browns

Quarterback

Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 24/43, 165 yards, interception, sack | 3 carries, 20 yards

While statistically, this wasn’t a great game for Dorian Thompson-Robinson, he did accomplish two very important things: 1) Improved upon his previous start 2) Won. The one they call “DTR” managed the game well and didn’t look overwhelmed like he did in his first start against this same Steelers defense. The efficiency wasn’t great (although many catchable passes were dropped) and the turnover could’ve changed the outcome of the game, but this was a promising outing for the rookie 5th-round pick out of UCLA. He looked fantastic on the final drive as he went 4/4 for 39 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.

Running Back

Jerome Ford: 12 carries, 31 yards, touchdown | 5 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards

The Steelers’ defense is no joke and has kept them in games this year, and the Browns rushing game experienced the toughness in this matchup. As a team, the Browns averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. Jerome Ford managed only 2.6 yards per carry and was generally kept in check on the ground. His fantasy day was saved by a plunge into the endzone on the Browns’ second drive of the game. Ford was also targeted five times to bring his designed touch total to 17 which is great to see. Ford continued to split the backfield with Kareem Hunt, as they offer different skillsets.

Notes

The touchdown was originally ruled short but was overturned on a coach’s challenge.

.@JeromeFord broke the plane!#PITvsCLE on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/oF4GSI5D3m

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 19, 2023

Kareem Hunt: 12 carries, 36 yards| 3 targets, 3 receptions, 1 yard

A rather lackluster day, Kareem Hunt was used mostly between the tackles and short-yardage situations much like he has been used so far this season. Kareem had his best run of the game in the fourth quarter, as he rumbled for 16 yards and a first down including this nifty hurdle:

😱 @Kareemhunt7 😱#PITvsCLE on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/mvILrxMgbr

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 19, 2023

Pierre Strong Jr.: 1 carry, 1 yard | 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Elijah Moore: 7 targets, 6 receptions, 60 yards

With the quarterback change in Cleveland, the opportunities offered to the wide receivers have changed as well. DTR doesn’t have the same deep ball as Deshaun Watson and thus needs to find different ways to move the ball. Enter Elijah Moore, who has been doing most of his damage this season on shorter crossing routes – routes which DTR looked way more comfortable throwing to. While the production wasn’t anything to write home about, it was a promising outing as Moore led the team in receiving yards.

David Njoku: 15 targets, 7 receptions, 56 yards

The clearest beneficiary of the quarterback change looked to be David Njoku, who, with 15 targets, matched the total from his previous two games. Catching less than half of those targets isn’t great and left stats on the table, but it’s hard to ignore FIFTEEN targets. DTR clearly likes Njoku, and fifteen targets to your tight end position is fantasy football go. One observation is Njoku, who is 6’4″, and 250 lbs, is obsessed with leaving his feet.

Missed Opportunities

At least three bad drops. I mean bad.

leaving Chief that wide open?! interesting choice#PITvsCLE on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/9kWLt5ulvL

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 19, 2023

Amari Cooper: 8 targets, 4 receptions, 34 yards

Amari Cooper is unfortunately the victim of the quarterback change, as Deshaun Watson and Cooper had chemistry, especially on downfield throws. The change to DTR lowered the fantasy ceiling for Cooper as he no longer has the downfield opportunities he had before. This may look different against a less talented defense but was Coopers’ worst game over the last five weeks.

Cedric Tillman: 2 targets, 1 reception, 2 yards | 1 carry, 8 yards

The block against the Ravens has earned this man some extra playing time.