Steelers @ Broncos
Final Score: Steelers 13 – Broncos 6
Writer: Christian Otteman (@COttemanPL on Twitter/X)
In an afternoon slate featuring only three games, two of which were marquee matchups, it’s not likely that many had this tilt between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos circled as a must-watch. Unfortunately, for the most part, this game was just as advertised. The Steelers got out to an early lead and used their elite defense to make things miserable for Bo Nix and the rest of the Broncos offense, shutting them out until the fourth quarter. Both teams struggled to move the ball, but Pittsburgh did just enough to maintain a lead and hold on for the victory to move to 2-0. The Steelers will host the 2-0 Chargers at home next week, while the Broncos will look to get their first win against an impressive Buccaneers squad on the road.
Three Up
- Justin Fields – Fields didn’t do anything spectacular in this one but didn’t make many mistakes. His hold on the starting role in Pittsburgh seems more secure, and his day could have been better if it hadn’t been for a couple of ill-timed penalties.
- Jaylen Warren – Warren saw increased usage compared to Week 1, suggesting he is over the hamstring injury that bothered him at the beginning of the season. He’s trending back to FLEX consideration.
- Chris Boswell – Boswell is now a perfect 8/8 on field goals this season, including 3/3 from 50+ yards. He’s worth an add if you don’t already have one of the top few kickers.
Three Down
- Broncos Backfield – Neither Javonte Williams nor Jaleel McLaughlin was able to do much in this one, and the latter wasn’t involved in the passing game whatsoever. Williams is an iffy FLEX option moving forward, even as the lead back in this offense.
- Courtland Sutton – Sutton was out-targeted and out-gained by the likes of Josh Reynolds and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Sutton is at his best when he is drawing deep targets and acting as a big-bodied red zone threat, and his starting QB appears unable to play to those strengths for the time being.
- Greg Dulcich – Dulcich’s stock was low entering this game to begin with, but he only produced 18 yards on Sunday while leading the team with 8 targets. He dropped a couple of easy passes and showed little to no playmaking ability.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Justin Fields: 13/20, 117 yards, 1 TD | 8 carries, 27 yards
When you’re starting Justin Fields, you’re expecting to get most of his fantasy production via scrambles and chunk plays on the ground. However, Fields got it done in a different way to start this game, making precise throws to move the ball and get the Steelers off to an early lead. Fields made a perfect throw to Darnell Washington to open up the scoring at the end of the first and managed the game the rest of the way to bring the Steelers to 2-0. Fields could have had a better day in the box score if a couple of big plays to George Pickens, including a touchdown, were not called back due to a penalty.
There is a ton of inherent risk in starting Fields in fantasy due to the sluggish pace of this offense and the man at the helm of it all (that’s fan-favorite Arthur Smith, remember), but he should maintain the starting job after his performance to begin the season. He has potential as a matchup-based streamer in Superflex leagues but isn’t an advisable starter in 1QB leagues.
Running Back
Najee Harris: 17 carries, 69 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
Najee Harris isn’t the most graceful of runners but found ways to pick up chunk yards against a weak Broncos front seven all afternoon, especially in the first half. To quote a close friend of mine, he looked like a 2003 Ford F-150 approaching half a million miles every time he carried the football. Najee’s value is tied to the volume he receives in this run-heavy offense, and his success as a weekly fantasy start will likely depend on his ability to fall into the end zone in a given matchup.
Jaylen Warren: 9 carries, 42 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 19 yards
Jaylen Warren began the season limited due to a nagging hamstring injury but saw slightly increased involvement in this one. Najee still led the backfield in carries, but Warren closed the gap in Week 2 and was also more efficient with his targets. Warren muffed a squib kick on special teams, but he also recovered a crucial fumble when his quarterback bobbled the football. Warren spent most of last season looking like the more explosive and dynamic member of this backfield, and while the same appears true in 2024, it’s unlikely we will see greater than a 60-40 backfield split.
Cordarrelle Patterson: 2 carries, 3 yards
This ship has sailed.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
George Pickens: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 29 yards
The box score leaves much to be desired, but this line is not at all indicative of George Pickens’ afternoon. Pickens had both a long gain and touchdown called back due to penalties. Brutal. Pickens looks the part of a team WR1 and should be Fields’ primary target moving forward. Pickens also drew a pass interference on another deep ball from Fields to keep the chains moving for the Steelers. Pickens will have up-and-down weeks in this inefficient offense, but he is a skilled playmaker who should have some big fantasy weeks in the future. If you need any more proof of his ability, check out his catch that deep ball that was called back:
https://twitter.com/PickensBurgh/status/1835427456007688527
Pat Freiermuth: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 39 yards
Freiermuth was technically the leading receiver for the Steelers on the afternoon, but he didn’t do anything eye-popping with his targets and has just 66 yards through two games this season. He’s a low-upside TE2 in a low-volume passing offense.
Van Jefferson: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards
Outside of Pickens, it would be ill-advised to start (or even roster) any of the other Steelers wideouts in fantasy. Jefferson’s Week 2 stat line is just one example of what will be a typical performance for these ancillary pieces in a run-first offense.
Darnell Washington: 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards, 1 TD
Washington’s touchdown catch to open the scoring was the first of his career. Per the broadcast, Washington only had seven catches all of last season, and Sunday’s performance brought him up to eight catches in his career. He’s firmly behind Freiermuth in the pecking order for receptions at TE and is at his best as a big body making blocks. He should be left on waivers.
Calvin Austin III: 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
See Jefferson, Van.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Bo Nix: 20/35, 246 yards, 2 INT | 4 carries, 25 yards
The rookie QB had his work cut out for him once again with a matchup against the elite Steelers’ defense. For the first half, Nix wasn’t able to get much going beyond the line of scrimmage, accruing just 39 yards through the air before the break. Nix’s best pass of the day came on a trick play, setting the Broncos up in the red zone. Unfortunately, he would throw an interception just a couple of plays later to prevent Denver from getting on the board.
https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/1835443479348203727
Overall, Nix was able to rack up some yardage in the second half out of necessity as the Broncos attempted a comeback, but he had a tough time reading the defense and finding his receivers. Being a rookie quarterback is arguably the most difficult job in the NFL, and when your first two games come in an extremely difficult road environment in Seattle and against one of the toughest defenses in Pittsburgh, it’s hard to get your career off to a good start. Nix has talent, but few good tools around him. Even in Superflex leagues, he should not be near your starting lineups.
Running Back
Javonte Williams: 11 carries, 17 yards | 5 targets, 5 receptions, 48 yards
Faced with the task of running against one of the best defensive lines in football, Williams unsurprisingly found little room to run and was inefficient carrying the football. He managed to partially salvage his day through involvement in the passing game, as his quarterback lived around the line of scrimmage on several of his pass attempts. Williams should remain a low-upside FLEX option as long as he functions as the lead back in this offense, and hopefully, he can muster a more productive day on the ground against softer defenses in the future.
Jaleel McLaughlin: 3 carries, 6 yards
McLaughlin found his way onto a few fantasy rosters this week after leading the Broncos’ backfield in carries and garnering five targets in Week 1, but all of that upside evaporated in Week 2. McLaughlin did not register a single target in the passing game. He should be left on waivers unless an injury were to befall Williams, and even then, the upside would be limited in this offense.
Tyler Badie: 1 carry, 16 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
Badie was called up from the practice squad and had precisely one impressive, angry carry. He also caught the only target he received. It seems unlikely he will get many more opportunities moving forward, however.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Josh Reynolds: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 93 yards
Reynolds caught the deep ball from Nix on the trick play and also added a few more chunk plays over the middle of the field while the Broncos were playing catch-up in the second half. Reynolds has displayed real-life NFL value as a WR3 for the Rams and Lions and would be an interesting player to monitor if he can develop a connection with his rookie QB as a security blanket. If you have huge benches or play in a mega-deep league, he could be worth a speculative add to see if this connection continues to develop.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 50 yards
Humphrey was mostly a non-factor until the very end of the game when he ripped off a couple of chunk plays as the Broncos desperately tried to move the ball down the field to score. Buried on the depth chart in an inept offense, Humphrey can safely be left on waivers.
Courtland Sutton: 4 targets, 1 reception, 26 yards
Sutton is arguably the biggest casualty of the 2024 Broncos offense thus far. Sutton’s fantasy value in 2023 came from his touchdown ability, leading the Broncos with 10 touchdown receptions in the last year of the Russell Wilson era. With a rookie QB who struggles to push the ball downfield or find receivers in the end zone, Sutton’s biggest draw as a fantasy asset has evaporated. He’s not a drop quite yet, but he shouldn’t be in your starting lineups right now.
Greg Dulcich: 8 targets, 3 receptions, 18 yards
Dulcich didn’t find a way to make things work today and dropped at least two easy passes that came his way. He shouldn’t be rostered in any leagues right now, despite leading the team in targets.
Marvin Mims Jr.: 2 targets, 1 reception, 10 yards
Sean Payton seems motivated to find any possible way to avoid scheming Mims Jr. into the offense. He should not be on fantasy rosters at this point.
Michael Burton: 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard
The rare triple 1’s. We call this the JJ Watt receiving line, minus the touchdown, of course.
Nate Adkins: 1 target
Troy Franklin: 1 target