What’s the Best Fantasy Outlook for the Steelers This Season?
As we get closer and closer to the 2025 NFL season, it’s that time of year to load up fantasy apps and gear up for the next season of fantasy football. The Steelers are one of the most interesting teams in the league, particularly concerning the projected fantasy outcomes for all the players on Pittsburgh’s roster. They’ve replaced their starting quarterback, running back, and wide receiver from last season. With this new-look offense of D.K. Metcalf, the duo of Jaylen Warren and rookie Kaleb Johnson, and veteran free agent signing Aaron Rodgers, fantasy football players will have a lot of question marks on their draft boards wherever Steelers players are concerned.
The focal point is deep-threat receiver D.K. Metcalf, recently acquired via trade. After missing three games, Metcalf recorded 191.2 fantasy points last season, finishing 32nd of all WRs in fantasy football. Also, at only 27 years old, D.K. still has a lot of juice and is hoping to provide a big spark in this offense. Rodgers' joining the team helps Metcalf’s situation a lot. Although the aging QB is 41 years old, he still has one of the best deep balls in the game and tends to focus on feeding his number-one receiver. Expect to see a lot of bombs thrown in Metcalf’s direction this season once Rodgers settles into the offense.
The running back position is the most questionable of Pittsburgh’s offense from a fantasy football perspective. On one hand, they have Jaylen Warren, who missed two games and finished as the RB39 last season. On the other hand, they have Kaleb Johnson, the third-round pick who has shined early through OTAs and minicamps, already surpassing expectations. However, with his limited experience in pass-catching and protection, the Steelers could look to lean on Warren for these roles, making him an asset in PPR leagues. Look out for a split of carries, and Johnson to eventually take over the starting role.
While the Steelers have many things to be excited about as we gear up for the season, their offensive production, quite frankly, depends on which version of Aaron Rodgers we see. The worst-case scenario is if NYJ Aaron Rodgers shows up, and shows that he is struggling physically, and unable to hit throws in the intermediate level of the field. The best-case scenario is if 2021 Aaron Rodgers returns, the connection between him and D.K. clicks, Johnson strides into the starting halfback role, and the Steelers find themselves with a contending season, and many players on the roster producing heavily in fantasy football. If this is the case, we could very well see a top-15 fantasy season for Rodgers, Metcalf, and Johnson.
