Pittsburgh

Steelers

Rapoport made sure not to put it in stone that Fields is the starter, noting that Russell Wilson will test out his calf tomorrow before a final decision is made. However, he said Wilson would be held out “absent some sort of magic potion” that helps him make it through the Saturday morning workout. Fields got all of the starting reps and will undoubtedly get the first crack at the job despite the Steelers desperately wanting Wilson to be the starter throughout the offseason. Wilson dealt with the calf issue for most of camp. He appeared to be past the issue after getting some reps in the team’s final preseason game, but the injury flared up and now his status beyond Week 1 is up in the air. Fields’ elite rushing output alone puts him at the end of the QB1 ranks for his first start as a Steeler.

Warren closed the week with two full practices before being removed from the injury report. Given that he was already set up to be part of a committee, there shouldn’t be any need to further cap his touches. Though Warren isn’t going to erase Najee Harris from the picture, his big-play ability is undeniable and will allow him to get home from a fantasy perspective on a limited number of carries. He sits on the RB2/3 border to open the year.

Wilson was listed as limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. Russ told reporters he is “hopeful” to play but also said he has to be smart when managing the injury. His workload in Friday’s session was extremely light by all accounts. Even if he can take the field, the Steelers may feel Justin Fields is better prepared for Week 1. Fields needs to be added in all formats based on his elite rushing potential. Even if he hasn’t taken the next step as a passer, his output on the ground will carry him to low-end QB1 status. Wilson, on the other hand, is not a relevant fantasy option, healthy or not.

Wilson was limited all week in practice, and the Steelers won’t have their 2024 third-round pick available for the opener against Atlanta. The former Michigan star could make an impact for the Steelers in the later weeks, but he appears to be well behind the eight ball to begin the 2024 campaign.

“If I am ready to go, i will go,” Wilson told reporters, while also noting that he has to be smart and wants to play in “all 20 games” in the 2024 season. Wilson was limited again Friday in practice doing mostly individual work as he tries to work through the calf injury that also limited him during Thursday’s action. It sounds like it’s a 50/50 proposition as to whether Wilson plays, and Justin Fields would be the starter against Atlanta if Wilson is unable to go.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier that a new deal could soon be in place for Freiermuth, who is now under contract through the 2028 season. The fourth-year tight end hopes to rebound from an underwhelming 2023 campaign in which he caught 32 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns and could have a chance to with less competition for targets heading into this season. Target hog Diontae Johnson is now in Carolina, leaving George Pickens as the primary target earner for the Steelers, while Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin scrap for what’s left. It wouldn’t be surprising if Freiermuth, who went for 63-732-2 in 2022, finished with the second-most targets this season for the Steelers, who are expected to be a run-heavy team under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Freiermuth is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, but the Steelers hope to keep him around for the foreseeable future. After breaking out for 63-732-2 in 2022, injuries and bad quarterback play resulted in an underwhelming 32-308-2 line from Freiermuth last season. He’s reportedly developed good chemistry with Russell Wilson this offseason and could be second in the target pecking order in a Steelers offense that does not feature a WR2 of note at this time. Freiermuth is a fringe TE1/TE2 in Week 1 against the Falcons.

Wilson was added to Thursday’s injury report as “limited” after practicing in full with no designation on Wednesday. Coach Mike Tomlin named Wilson the starter over Justin Fields near the end of training camp, but Wilson’s calf issue has evidently continued to linger even after he played through it during the preseason. What a mess. Whereas Wilson has zero fantasy value, Fields’ dual-threat skill set would immediately put him in the low-end QB1 mix in fantasy. We should have a much better read on the situation 24 hours from now.

What little shot the third-round rookie had at making an immediate fantasy impact probably went out the door when he went down in the opening days of training camp. It’s possible he’s something of a “healthy scratch” this weekend in that he’s on the injury report, but probably would have played had he not already missed so much time.

It means that, barring a setback, Warren will officially be active for Sunday’s opener against the Falcons. We don’t love a committeeman coming off missing a big chunk of the summer with a soft-tissue injury, but Warren still offers upside FLEX appeal. There will just be a little more downside than usual. Provided he escapes Sunday unscathed, Warren should rise up the Week 2 ranks.