Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the organization on Tuesday. Warren signed as a restricted free agent as he enters his final year before free agency. Warren figures to be the lead back for the first time in his professional career this upcoming season. Najee Harris has departed via free agency, which opens a door for Warren to be the No. 1 back in this offense. It's possibly that the Steelers do draft a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft. Nonetheless, Warren should get the first chance to be the lead back in 2025. Last season, Warren finished with 511 rushing yards and 310 receiving yards in 15 games as the primary backup in Pittsburgh. The assumption is that his fantasy value is going to rise with a move to the lead back spot.

ESPN's Brooke Pryor writes that Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan shut down speculation that the team could trade wide receiver George Pickens, who is eligible for a contract extension this summer, to add a second-rounder in this week's NFL draft. "We're glad we have George and DK here," Khan said. "I think they're going to be exciting for everyone to watch." The Steelers have six picks in this week's draft, but they are without a second-rounder after using the No. 52 overall pick as part of the trade to land receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. The 24-year-old Pickens fell short of 1,000 yards -- he had 900 yards and three touchdowns on 59 receptions -- and could be more volatile of a fantasy asset in 2025 with Metcalf now in the picture. That's especially true with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson as the only quarterbacks currently on their roster.

Though there is good value in a deep running back class in this year's NFL draft, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he believes Jaylen Warren can be the team's top running back after the departure of 2021 first-rounder Najee Harris in free agency to the Los Angeles Chargers. "I certainly feel comfortable with his ability to do so," Tomlin said of Warren. "He got hampered by injury some in 2024. He appears to be ready to answer that. I know he's really excited about his opportunity. I don't think myself or anyone within the organization question his talents in regards to managing the ability to manage potentially that role." The 26-year-old signed his one-year, $5.35 million restricted free-agent tender on Tuesday, but that doesn't mean the two sides won't work out a long-term extension. Warren's 2025 fantasy value will depend on whether the Steelers add a RB in this week's NFL draft.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) said that his back injury from the 2024 season is in the past and he didn't require surgery on his back. He said he was cleared to play last month and thinks he's done the work necessary to get past the fractured back that he played through last year. In addition to shaky quarterback play and Anthony Richardson eventually being benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco, Pittman battled a busted back to finish with only 69 receptions, 808 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 16 games, which were all the lowest marks of his five-year NFL career since his rookie campaign in 2020 in which he played in only 13 games. The 27-year-old might be better off from a fantasy perspective if Daniel Jones wins the quarterback competition over Anthony Richardson this offseason, but either way, fantasy managers are going to be more skeptical of Pittman as a WR2 in 2025.