Pittsburgh Steelers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III caught four of his five targets for 65 yards during Saturday's Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. With George Pickens (hamstring) sidelined, the Steelers called upon Austin to be one of their primary pass-catchers for the second week in a row. Over his last two games combined, he now has nine catches for 130 yards through the air. Austin's big-play upside gives him decent fantasy appeal, but Pickens' potential return on Christmas Day would knock Austin off the fantasy radar once again. Fantasy managers hoping to plug in Austin as a WR3/FLEX play in Week 17 should continue to monitor the Steelers' injury reports.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was an effective option in the 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, during which he compiled 92 total yards and caught a season-high five passes. The third-year back ran for a team-high 48 yards on 12 carries, but was more efficient as a pass catcher, catching all five of his targets for 44 yards. Warren tied for the team lead in targets on a day in which Pittsburgh played without its top receiver, George Pickens (hamstring). He'll face a tough matchup as a runner against Kansas City on Christmas Day, but could have some receiving value, especially if Pickens misses more time.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) has returned to action for Saturday's game against the Baltimore Ravens. Skowronek exited in the second quarter due to a hip issue, but was able to get back on the field shortly after halftime. He hauled in both his targets for 25 yards before exiting the contest. He's mainly a special teams player, but is seeing more chances as a wideout with George Pickens (hamstring) still out. However, Skowronek remains behind Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, and Mike Williams in the pecking order.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell should not be started in any formats this weekend when he faces the Washington Commanders. Throughout the season, Gainwell has continued to be deployed as the clear No.2 option behind Saquon Barkley. However, with Saquon Barkley operating in a workhorse role, Gainwell has averaged just 4.5 attempts per game over the past eight weeks. While he has had limited opportunities he has posted a solid 4.7 yards per carry during this span and found the back of the end zone once. While Barkley will dominate the touches throughout the game, if the Eagles begin have a significant lead, they may opt to let Gainwell close out the afternoon to protect Barkley for the postseason. Given his minimal role on the offense, fantasy managers should continue to view him as a pure handcuff that holds very little standalone value.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder) draws an excellent matchup against the Vikings in Week 16. However, Metcalf has been borderline unplayable in recent weeks. He has been bothered by a shoulder injury that has limited his practice reps but it has not stopped him from playing in any games. Metcalf has not caught more than four passes or exceeded 59 receiving yards since Week 11. He seems to have been overtaken as the No. 1 wide receiver by Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With Metcalf flailing recently, it isn't easy to consider playing him this week. In Metcalf's defense, he has faced solid to great defenses over the last several weeks. If there were ever a game for Metcalf to get back to normal, this would be the game. However, Metcalf should be treated as a flex option with upside. He has not delivered WR2 numbers since Week 11 so you will need to temper expectations if you deploy him in your lineup. He is always a candidate to catch a long touchdown, and he is due for a touchdown at this point. He has always been one of the better bets to find the end zone but he has not scored since Week 7.