Team Profile
Pittsburgh Steelers
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-2.1% 17thOff DVOA
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20.3% 15thPassing DVOA
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-8.8% 17thRushing DVOA
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-6.8% 7thDef DVOA
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-2.4% 8thDef Passing DVOA
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-12.7% 12thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For24.9 12th
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Points Against20.4 7th
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Yards Per Game326.0 18th
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Yards Allowed Per Game317.0 8th
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins will go on the road to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the NFL playoffs. The 25-year-old saw heavy usage against the New York Giants last week, with DeVonta Smith missing the game due to an ankle injury and A.J. Brown (knee) exiting early. Watkins now has the chance to suit up as the No. 2 option behind Smith in the Eagles most important game of the season if Brown is ruled out for Monday night. Tampa Bay is a great matchup, as the Buccaneers allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2023. Watkins will be a great value pick in DFS if Brown is inactive, but he has been incredibly boom or bust in the past, so tread carefully.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (knee) was upgraded to a full practice participant on Thursday after not practicing with the team on Wednesday. The Steelers have been holding Harris out early in the week while he manages a knee injury, but the 25-year-old will be active for Sunday's big playoff tilt in Buffalo against the Bills. Bad weather is expected in Buffalo this weekend, which shouldn't come as a big surprise, meaning the Steelers could lean even more heavily on the ground game with Harris and Jaylen Warren. The Bills defense was a middle-of-the-pack matchup for running backs mostly all year, but they've been much tougher in the last five weeks, yielding the fourth-fewest half-PPR fantasy points per game to the position. Regardless, Harris could be a solid DFS value play at his $5,400 price tag in snowy conditions with a heavy workload.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (knee) was listed as a non-participant in practice on Wednesday. Harris has been rested early in the week since Week 14 due to a knee injury, but he hasn't missed any time and has looked the best he has all year heading into the postseason. In the last three games, Harris has 72 rushing attempts for 312 yards (4.33 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, adding five catches for an additional 21 yards. He'll be facing a Buffalo Bills defense on the road that has allowed the fourth-fewest half-PPR points to opposing RBs in the last five weeks, though, and backfield mate Jaylen Warren will continue to take valuable touches away from Harris. It's why he's listed at only $5,400 at DraftKings, which ranks 14th at his position.
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson bounced back from a disastrous 2022 season in 2023. The veteran completed over 66% of his passes for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 15 starts. However, the Broncos still benched him for the team's final two games, marking what looked to be the end of his time in Denver. However, head coach Sean Payton said Wilson has a chance to return in 2024, "That final decision has not been made," Payton said. Ultimately, this report should be taken with a grain of salt, as things have seemingly gotten ugly between the QB and the head coach. It would be surprising if Wilson is back in Denver next year, but Payton has not closed the door on it happening.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Johnson had four receptions on five targets for a team-high 88 receiving yards in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in the Week 18 regular season finale. Johnson was utilized more in the final few weeks of the year with Courtland Sutton suffering a concussion in Week 16 and with the Broncos benching quarterback Russell Wilson for the final two games due to financial reasons. The 25-year-old pass-catcher concludes his second year in the NFL with 19 catches on 30 targets for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games played. Unless the Broncos decide to trade one of Sutton or Jerry Jeudy this offseason, Johnson will most likely enter his third NFL season as valuable receiving depth for Denver and off the fantasy radar. The Broncos will also have a big question mark under center if they cut ties with Russell Wilson in March, as expected.