Pittsburgh Steelers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

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).

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder) did not participate in practice on Wednesday. While any sort of injury is concerning, especially with the fantasy playoffs in full swing, it should be noted that Wednesday absences are sometimes precautionary. The Seahawks could be giving Metcalf a little extra time to recover from last Sunday's contest before getting him prepped for Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings. If he upgrades to a limited or full participant on Thursday, he has a good chance to play against Minnesota this weekend. In such a scenario, he'd rank as a mid-to-high WR3/FLEX in fantasy football.

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.

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan confirmed Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, but he is not naming him the starter for the rest of the season and will take it week by week. The veteran and former Pittsburgh Steelers backup is set to take over for Will Levis after another turnover-heavy game from the 2023 second-round pick out of Kentucky. Although the Colts have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, Rudolph is not worth rolling the dice on in the fantasy football playoffs. However, he has a small shot at upside for those counting on him in two-QB and Superflex leagues. If he posts a disastrous performance in Week 16, the Titans could go back to Levis in Week 17.

The Tennessee Titans are expected to start Mason Rudolph at quarterback against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. This means 2023 second-round pick Will Levis is headed to the bench. Levis has committed 14 turnovers in just 11 games this season and has thrown for just 12 touchdowns. Rudolph has played in five games for Tennessee this year, completing 63% of his passes for 1,015 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. The quarterback change does not dramatically affect the fantasy football outlooks for Tennessee's offensive weapons, but the offense could sustain more drives with the veteran under center.