Russell Wilson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has looked on point during organized team activities this week with his new team, and the 35-year-old still appears to have plenty of arm strength. Wilson's accuracy was spot on this week, whether in warmups, drills or competition periods, including a 70-yard pass in stride to receiver Quez Watkins on Thursday. His ability to sell play-action fakes was also noticeably better than the other QBs this week. Wilson is in pole position to open the 2024 season as Pittsburgh's starter under center for Week 1, but Justin Fields, a former first-rounder, is competing to make starts for the Steelers at some point in 2024 as well in what is a contract year for him. Fields' presence and dual-threat abilities will be a threat to Wilson's value as a QB2 in fantasy in his first year in the Steel City.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields said he's "definitely competing... Russell Wilson knows that. We're competing against each other every day." I definitely don't have the mindset of me just sitting all year." Head coach Mike Tomlin said the veteran Wilson will be in pole position to start under center in Week 1 this fall. However, Fields could certainly find himself starting for the Steelers sooner than later in 2024 if Wilson looks more like he did in a disastrous first year for the Denver Broncos in 2022. Because of the fact that Fields is fully expected to be holding a clipboard on the sidelines to begin the season, it will be hard to recommend him as anything more than a QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues with high-end upside if he ends up winning the starting job eventually. The 25-year-old former Bears QB will be a free agent after the 2024 season after having his fifth-year option declined.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reiterated that quarterback Russell Wilson "has pole position" to be the team's starting QB in 2024. And "when it's time to compete, Justin Fields will be given an opportunity to show his capabilities," Tomlin said. The head coach also said that Fields "oozes talent." The Steelers are going to run with the more experienced 35-year-old Wilson over Fields to open the 2024 campaign after signing Wilson to a one-year deal this offseason. Wilson had a nice bounce-back campaign in 2023 with the Denver Broncos, throwing 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 15 games, but he'll be looking over his shoulder in the Steel City and doesn't exactly have a ton of receiving options to work with in what's expected to be a run-first offense under Arthur Smith. Although Fields is set to start as the backup, he has way more QB1 upside in fantasy.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reached out to quarterback Russell Wilson on Saturday night when the team was trading for Justin Fields to let him know that he was still considered the team's starter going into the 2024 season. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that while that is Tomlin's plan, Fields is going to compete, regardless. The 35-year-old Wilson will open the regular season as Pittsburgh's starter after a bounce-back campaign in 2023 in his final season with the Denver Broncos, but the aging signal-caller is going to need to play well to hold off Fields, who has more fantasy upside because of his elite rushing abilities. With George Pickens, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III currently the team's top-three receivers, Wilson will be a high-end QB2, at best, in fantasy for what will likely be a run-first offense.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they have officially signed quarterback Russell Wilson to an undisclosed one-year deal. As was fully expected this offseason, the Denver Broncos released Wilson with a post-June 1 designation, and he quickly latched on with the Steelers for the 2024 season. The 35-year-old will be in a competition with former first-rounder Kenny Pickett in training camp this summer, but the expectation is that Wilson will win the job, especially when considering how bad Pickett was as the starter last year before getting hurt. As of right now, the Steelers' top two wideouts are George Pickens and Calvin Austin III after the team traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, so Wilson doesn't exactly have a standout group of offensive weapons to work with. After a bounce-back year in Denver in 2023, he should be considered a midrange QB2, at best, heading into his first year in the Steel City.