Pittsburgh Steelers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth finished with three receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown on three targets in a Week 14 win over the Cleveland Browns. In the absence of George Pickens (hamstring), Freiermuth didn't see a significant uptick in opportunities, but he still capitalized on his looks and continued to build rapport with quarterback Russell Wilson. His 20-yard score in the third quarter was his fifth of the campaign and gave Pittsburgh a 27-7 lead. While he isn't getting the volume needed to be considered a must-start for fantasy purposes, Freiermuth has proven to be a capable TE1 option with touchdown upside over the past three weeks. That said, he'll need to overcome a difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles next week to keep up this positive trend.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. He had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday, and while the expectation all along was that he would be able to play, it ultimately appears that's not the case. The 23-year-old has been the Steelers' best receiver all season long, and he has been particularly excellent since Week 7, catching 29 passes for 487 yards and three touchdowns during that span. With Pickens sidelined, Calvin Austin III should step up as the Steelers' No. 1 receiver, ranking as a respectable WR3/FLEX play in fantasy football. Van Jefferson and Mike Williams could also be in line for additional opportunities.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (concussion) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 14 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Austin has been cleared of concussion symptoms and will suit up on Sunday. Over the last two games, Austin has five receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The 25-year-old has been a boom-or-bust option throughout the season, and that will remain true for Week 14. George Pickens was a surprise inactive on Sunday, making Austin Pittsburgh's top wide receiver option this week. With six teams on the bye and Austin set to see an increase in targets, fantasy managers can stream Austin as a FLEX option in most leagues against the Browns.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Cordarrelle Patterson saw six touches during last week's win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran back rushed three times for 16 yards while hauling in all three of his targets for an additional 37 yards through the air. The Steelers have found a way to get Patterson involved in the offense, but his role is unlikely to expand with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren healthy right now. The expectation is that Patterson will few a handful of touches, but it's unlikely to be enough to warrant streaming him in any fantasy formats.

According to ESPN'S Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Browns. However, Schefter added that "the team wants to test him pre-game to make sure he's good to go." The wideout popped up on the injury report unexpectedly and was limited during Friday's practice, resulting in a questionable designation. But assuming all goes well before the opening kick, Pickens will be on the field. He began the year by failing to find the end zone in Pittsburgh's first six contests. Since then, the 23-year-old has three touchdowns. There is potential for more in Week 14, considering the Browns defense has surrendered 14 touchdowns to opposing wideouts during the 2024-25 campaign, one of the worst marks in the National Football League. Of course, assuming Pickens is active, that should mean less work for Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, and Pat Freiermuth.