Pittsburgh Steelers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) suffered a new injury in practice this week and was listed as limited on Friday. As a result, the Steelers designated him as questionable to play in a divisional battle this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. This one came out of nowhere, so fantasy managers may have to adjust last minute with the 23-year-old wideout, who has become much more interesting in fantasy since quarterback Russell Wilson took over the offense from Justin Fields. Since Week 10, Pickens has caught 20 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns on 32 targets, but fantasy managers may be forced to move him to their bench this weekend. If Pickens doesn't get cleared to play on Sunday, Calvin Austin III would likely operate as Pittsburgh's WR1, with Van Jefferson and tight end Pat Freiermuth also seeing increased roles in the passing game.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (concussion) is good to go for Sunday's divisional tilt against the Cleveland Browns, according to Chris Adamski of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Austin entered concussion protocol following their Week 13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Austin opened the week as a limited participant but quickly upgraded to full participation on Thursday. Austin has found the back of the end zone in each of his past two contests after tallying just 19 yards during Weeks 10 and 11. Overall, the sophomore wideout has averaged 36.0 receiving yards per game since Week 6 and should be viewed as a risky flex option in deeper formats facing a Cleveland secondary that has allowed the ninth-most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (concussion) logged a full practice on Thursday afternoon. This is a great sign for the 25-year-old as he was a limited participant on Wednesday. However, fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress on Friday as he will need to pass the league's concussion protocol before returning to action. The sophomore wideout sustained this concussion during their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend. Austin found the back of the end zone for the second straight contest in this game. Over his previous five games, Austin has averaged 36.0 yards per game with 9.4 PPR points per game. If he can suit up to face the Cleveland Browns this weekend, he should be viewed as a risky flex option in deeper 14+ team formats.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams has played in four games since being dealt from the New York Jets around the trade deadline, but he has caught just one pass for 32 yards and a touchdown. The 30-year-old has played 70 snaps for the Steelers, but he could see more opportunities with Calvin Austin III (concussion) in the concussion protocol. "It's a matter of time," head coach Mike Tomlin said on Williams getting more involved in the Pittsburgh offense. That said, it would be surprising if Williams became a consistent fantasy football contributor down the stretch, though he could have a spike week during the fantasy football playoffs. Fantasy managers in leagues of 12 teams or fewer can likely ignore Williams, but deep leaguers should monitor his usage in Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a concussion in the Week 13 win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Austin is now up in the air to be available to play in Week 14 when the team takes on the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The 25-year-old scored for the second straight week on Sunday against the Bengals before suffering his head injury, finishing with two catches for 29 yards. The previous week, he caught all three of his targets for 78 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Cleveland. If he's cleared by an independent neurologist later this week to play on Sunday, Austin will be a boom/bust WR4/flex, at best, for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. If Austin is out in Week 14, it will open up more snaps for Van Jefferson as the WR2 behind George Pickens in Pittsburgh.