Cordarrelle Patterson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

It's highly probable that the Pittsburgh Steelers will label Cordarrelle Patterson as the Joker in his first year with the team. "Running back, kick returner, tackle, tight end I can do it all. Whatever they need me to do," Patterson said last month. The 33-year-old veteran floated from the RB room to the receiver room last year with the Atlanta Falcons under head coach Arthur Smith, who is now Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator. Patterson fully embraced the role in 2023 and was signed by the Steelers just hours after the NFL passed a new kickoff rule. He has returned 273 kicks in his career with an NFL-record nine touchdowns. Patterson was primarily a RB last year in Atlanta but had just 181 rushing yards and no TDs on 50 carries after posting a career-high 695 rushing yards in 2022. Pittsburgh hasn't offered clues on how they plan to use Patterson, but he'll most likely be used on kickoffs and as a depth option for the backfield.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back/wide receiver/return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson signed a two-year, $6 million contract this offseason to join the team, almost immediately after the new kickoff rules were announced. Patterson, the NFL's all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns (nine), was surely signed to help in that area, but Mark Kaboly of the Athletic believes he is likely to have a role on offense, too. "It's hard to imagine the Steelers gave him $6 million over two years to be only a kick returner," Kaboly wrote. "An accomplished receiver and running back over his career, Patterson will likely have a bigger role than being a specialist." The 33-year-old enjoyed his best season under current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith when the two were in Atlanta in 2021. Patterson rushed 153 times for 618 yards and caught 52 passes for 548 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns. Pittsburgh has a strong running back duo in Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, but its wide receiver group behind George Pickens looks weak on paper. That said, don't be surprised if Patterson is mixed in along with Van Jefferson and third-round rookie Roman Wilson. It'd be a surprise the 2013 first-round pick is a weekly fantasy contributor, but he might be a bargain-bin DFS play with upside in 2024.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Patterson enjoyed the best season of his career under current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Atlanta, so the move gives the veteran a smidge of fantasy relevance in 2024. In 2021, Patterson rushed 153 times for 618 yards and six touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 548 yards and five scores. He finished that campaign as the RB9 in PPR leagues. However, he posted just 219 yards of offense last season and turned 33 years old on March 17. In all likelihood, he will primarily be used on special teams and as a gadget player in the new-look Pittsburgh offense. Patterson holds the NFL record for kick return touchdowns (nine), and this move was made on the same day the league approved a revised kickoff.