The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2, top of the AFC North and fresh off a bye week. After watching two of their North rivals hammer each other on Thursday, the Steelers’ Week 10 game versus Washington is something of a litmus test for both teams.
Pittsburgh will be looking to hold on to the top spot in the North and will be hoping their rejuvenated passing offense under Russell Wilson can get the job done in Washington. Let’s take a look at the Steelers’ weapons in Week 10:
Steelers’ Week 10 Fantasy Outlooks
QB: Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson was seen as a potential mistake by many when being slotted into the QB1 role over Justin Fields. Wilson has looked very good and his deep-threat ability has opened up not just the passing game but made space for Pittsburgh running backs too.
Wilson is a very interesting prospect in Week 10, but the Commanders have looked good defensively in recent weeks. Washington concedes an average of 21 points per game and is bang in the middle against QBs in fantasy, ranking at No. 16 against the position (conceding an average of 16.10 points per game to QBs).
The decision to start Wilson depends on two things – how desperate you are at QB and how high-scoring you think this game will be. If you think the Steelers can continue to put up 25+ points under Wilson (as they have in both his starts thus far), he is a good start, but if you don’t, fading him makes sense.
Wilson has a solid floor in Week 10 and could have a high ceiling if it does become a shootout.
Russell Wilson’s points range: 12-26; Prediction: 15
RBs: Najee Harris & Jaylen Warren
Najee Harris is on a bit of a tear at the moment, and with a competent passing game is benefiting from fewer players jamming the box whenever he gets the ball. Harris has broken 100 rushing yards in three straight games and has TDs in two of those too. He is a very solid RB2/flex every week and Week 10 is no different.
The Commanders are conceding an average of 21.18 fantasy points to RBs per game, and you’d expect Najee Harris to get at least 11 in Week 10.
Meanwhile, Jaylen Warren is back after an injury-hit start to the season and offers a more explosive dynamic to the powerful running style of Najee Harris. Warren offered good fantasy value as the Steelers’ RB2 in 2023 and could well do the same for the rest of the season.
That said, this feels like a game to fade Warren as he has yet to really get going just yet in 2024, and you should only start him if you are desperate at RB.
Najee Harris’ points range: 6-20; Prediction: 13
Jaylen Warren’s points range: 4-16; Prediction: 7
WRs: George Pickens, Mike Williams & Calvin Austin
WR has gotten a bit more interesting in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers traded for Mike Williams. Williams is a deep-threat option for Russell Wilson and could spell the end of Calvin Austin’s rise to fantasy relevance this season.
Williams might not play a huge role in Week 10 and the Steelers were quite elusive with reporters about this on Thursday:
“He didn’t have a real offseason,” OC Arthur Smith told reporters (via Steelers.com). “He got hurt in September of last year. A lot of times, guys coming off a knee injury … you could see it. It will get better week to week. You have to be mindful of that. We just have to make sure he’s ready to go and help us if he is (active).”
So with this in mind, fade Williams this week. He could get a huge role, but the risk of a low snap count or target volume is real against Washington.
His arrival does make Calvin Austin a fade candidate too, which may seem bizarre given his breakout Week 8 performance. Austin has 3 TDs on the year, with two coming last week, including a return TD. The issue is that Austin’s floor is low (three 1-point outings) and he now has more competition for targets.
The main focus of the Steelers passing game is undoubtedly George Pickens. The WR1 has cut a frustrated figure in recent times, but since Russell Wilson took over under center Pickens is breaking out in fine form.
Pickens went for 111 yards and a TD against the New York Jets (19.60 points in HPPR leagues), and hit 74 yards against the Giants. He would have put up a much higher score in Week 8, however, he couldn’t quite get his foot down for the TD. Start George Pickens for the remainder of the season.
George Pickens’ points range: 9-25; Prediction: 17
Also read: Giants’ Week 10 Fantasy Outlooks ft. Daniel Jones, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Malik Nabers & more
TEs: Pat Freiermuth & Darnell Washington
Pittsburgh has two very interesting tight end options and we’ve seen Darnell Washington really show what he can do in 2024, with a TD and a stiff arm + hurdle highlight. However, he doesn’t get the volume to be a safe start in fantasy football, and Pat Freiermuth is the better option generally.
Freiermuth, however, has not been targeted enough to start in fantasy either and had only two targets for two receptions (2.90 HPPR points) in Week 8. This could be the week where he gets back into the endzone, but it is quite a gamble to take.
Pat Freiermuth’s points range: 2-17; Prediction: 5
Also read: Week 10 Defense Rankings, Streamers & Traps ft. Chargers, Giants & Broncos