Pittsburgh Steelers

Per the NFL's Tom Pelissero, the Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled out wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) for this Saturday's divisional clash with the Baltimore Ravens. Pickens has been shelved since popping up as a late-week addition on the team's Week 14 injury report and will miss his third straight contest. It comes as no surprise, considering he put together another week's worth of DNPs ahead of the outing. With the 23-year-old inactive again, wideouts Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III will work as Pittsburgh's top two options at the position. Mike Williams, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek will rotate in behind them. In Week 15, Williams led that trio by five snaps (15).

When asked if he would like to run it back with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, quarterback Russell Wilson said, "Hopefully, I love it here. It's cool. Hopefully we're going to win a Super Bowl." Wilson is playing for a league-minimum salary of $1.2 million with the Steelers in 2024 after the Denver Broncos guaranteed him $39 million this year. He'll become a free agent after the 2024 season, though, and has proven this year in Pittsburgh that he still has what it takes to win in the NFL as a starter. The 36-year-old veteran got a late start to the year due to a lingering calf issue, but he replaced Justin Fields when he was fully healthy and hasn't looked back, completing 64.7% of his passes for 1,912 yards, 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions in eight games. The eight-time Pro Bowler ranks as the QB15 in average fantasy points per game. With his top wideout George Pickens (hamstring) potentially missing a third straight game, Wilson is shaping up as a low-end QB2 despite a good matchup versus Baltimore this week.

According to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (abdomen) did not participate in practice for the second straight day on Wednesday. Fields sustained this injury last weekend during their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. If Fields cannot return to practice on Thursday, he could face an uphill battle to suit up on Saturday to face the Baltimore Ravens. While operating as the No.2 option on the depth chart, Fields has occasionally been deployed in rushing situations. Since Week 11, Fields has tallied 58 yards on seven attempts. If Fields cannot suit up, Kyle Allen should be expected to move up to the backup position on the depth chart.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is missing another practice on Wednesday but was able to do positional drills off to the side. Pickens has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and is up in the air to return on a short week in a big divisional clash on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens. A return to the practice field on Thursday, however, would be a good sign that Pickens is trending in the right direction. Despite missing the last two games due to injury, the 23-year-old would be an enticing fantasy play against the Ravens secondary if he's able to return to the field this weekend. The last time these two teams met on Nov. 17, Pickens had season-highs in catches (eight) and targets (12) for 89 yards. If he misses a third straight contest, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson would continue to see a boost snaps and targets in a great matchup.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is not taking part in Tuesday's practice, but he is on the side field getting a workout in. The rising star has missed each of the last two games with a hamstring injury. Since Russell Wilson took over for Justin Fields in Week 7, Pickens has posted at least 12.9 half-PPR fantasy points in four of six games. The third-year pro out of Georgia will be set up for a big game if he can return in Week 16. The Steelers are set to face a Baltimore Ravens defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to wideouts. If he cannot play, Calvin Austin III and Mike Williams are the next up on the depth chart, but neither is a safe option in the fantasy football playoffs. Fantasy managers should monitor Pickens' status throughout the rest of the week.