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    Howard needs to prove to staff he can be competent

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    PIT Quarterback #18
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    The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo believes Will Howard may only need to prove to the coaching staff that “he can be a competent backup quarterback worth developing” to win a roster spot.

    Oh, is that all? Howard and Mason Rudolph appear to be in a roster battle for one spot with third-round pick Drew Allar the likely QB3 behind Aaron Rodgers. DeFabo seems to be saying that Howard has an upper hand in this competition by virtue of not needing to directly compete with what Rudolph is doing in training camp or in preseason action. It’s not exactly great news for Howard that the question needs to be asked in the first place.
Maye is costing Patriots 'opportunities to win'
Devin McCourty, Jason Garrett and Jac Collinsworth break down the Patriots' struggles to start and season and evaluate Drake Maye's poor performance through three games in 2026.

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  • PIT Quarterback #18
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    The Steelers will head into the regular season with Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar, who shined in training camp and during preseason outings in Mike McCarthy’s offense. If the 2026 season goes south for Pittsburgh, look for McCarthy to see what he has in Allar and perhaps Howard. Rudolph will likely back up Rodgers to start the regular season.
  • PIT Quarterback #18
    The only QB who truly felt like he was on the roster bubble this offseason was Will Howard. The former sixth-round pick immediately found himself in competition for a roster spot after the Steelers used the No. 76 pick in this year’s draft to select Penn State’s Drew Allar, but it would appear that Howard’s spot on the roster is safe for now. Speaking after the team’s preseason finale against the Bills, McCarthy said that he feels good about the team’s quarterback room and suggested that we can expect both players, along with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, to all be on the roster after cutdown day. Howard threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions this preseason, while Allar threw for 351-2-0 but completed just 55.6 percent of his passes. We wouldn’t expect either QB to see the field in the regular season.
  • PIT Quarterback #16
    Allar struggled more in his second taste of preseason action, taking three sacks while completing only 47.8 percent of his passes, but were it not for three dropped passes and some garbage-time heaves on the game’s final drive, his box score would have looked a little better. Allar’s most impressive throw came on his second drive of the game, when he evaded pressure and ran left to throw a 38-yard ball down the sideline that was placed neatly between two defenders to receiver Lake McRee for a big gain. In the fourth quarter, he would connect with Isaiah Winstead on a 17-yard gain, again on a tight pass near the sideline for his second-longest completion of the night. Allar fared better than second-year QB Will Howard, who completed 10-of-15 passes for 74 yards but was picked off twice in the first half. We would expect both quarterbacks to get extended opportunities in next week’s preseason finale against the Bills on Thursday. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, the Steelers are planning on keeping both Howard and Allar on the roster, but Mason Rudolph will serve as the team’s QB2 behind Aaron Rodgers.
  • PIT Quarterback #18
    Howard is set to compete with veteran Mason Rudolph for backup duties to begin the season. Rudolph and Howard were splitting reps in the team’s offseason program last month. NFL Network reported in January that Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy “likes Will Howard a lot” and sees potential in his offensive system. “I’m not saying the Steelers believe Will Howard will be the quarterback for ten years after Aaron Rodgers is gone,” Breer said. “But I do think Mike McCarthy sees a little something there and wanted to take a closer look.” Howard, going into his age-25 season, threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions during his final collegiate season at Ohio State in 2024. He ranked fourth among all CFB quarterbacks in adjusted yards per attempt that season.
  • PIT Quarterback #18
    Howard and Rudolph have split reps so far in Pittsburgh’s offseason program. With Aaron Rodger still on radio silence, the Steelers are making do with their current quarterback room. Howard is a sixth-round pick from last year while Rudolph is a veteran backup who has started for the Steelers before. They are splitting reps, indicating Howard is getting developmental opportunities while the Steelers are keeping Rudolph ready with the offense in case the veteran needs to step in. Of course, all this could be moot if Rodgers returns, but for now Howard and Rudolph are getting equal starting opportunities early in the offseason program.
  • PIT Quarterback #18
    McCarthy also said he hopes to develop 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, mentioning making tweaks to the 24-year-old’s footwork to help him “win from the pocket.” While Steelers owner Art Rooney II said he hopes to have Aaron Rodgers’ return decision by draft weekend, the team will need long-term plans at the quarterback position. In his first year as Steelers head coach, McCarthy will aim to develop Howard and also add his own selection from the 2026 rookie class. DeFabo reports the Steelers have met with Miami’s Carson Beck at the NFL Combine and at the team’s facility. Drew Allar, Ty Simpson, Cole Payton, and Taylen Green are also mentioned as options by DeFabo. As the Steelers await Aaron Rodgers for a second straight offseason, evaluation for a younger quarterback room will be underway.
  • PIT Quarterback #18
    McCarthy has continually pumped Howard up since being named Steelers head coach. He did also note today that he’d carry five quarterbacks if he could. We expect Howard to be Pittsburgh’s No. 2 quarterback unless they add someone high in the draft. Considering how frail Aaron Rodgers is at this point, Howard probably has a reasonable chance to play football at some point in 2026 if he remains the No. 2 quarterback. That said, this isn’t a “make sure he’s rostered” in dynasty-caliber endorsement.
  • PIT Head Coach
    In his article, Dulac writes that the Steelers “have little if no intention of taking a quarterback with their top pick,” while adding “it’s more than likely it wouldn’t be until the third round” when they would consider drafting a QB. He also added that they would only take a QB if they believed he had a higher ceiling than Will Howard, who they selected in the sixth-round of last year’s draft. The Steelers met with Penn State’s Drew Allar, Miami’s Carson Beck, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson at last week’s combine, with Simpson being the only QB who is believed to have a chance at going in the first round. Whether or not Aaron Rodgers opts to return for another season will likely also factor into the team’s decision on if/when they should draft a QB, but regardless, it doesn’t sound like we should expect the Steelers to reach into the first-round to draft their quarterback of the future.
  • PIT Quarterback #8
    Pryor believes that the Steelers would like to know Rodgers’ intentions “sooner rather than later,” ideally before the NFL Combine for scouting purposes. During new head coach Mike McCarthy’s interview process, McCarthy reportedly laid out a plan to develop 2025 sixth-round pick, QB Will Howard, who missed most of last season due to a “freak” pinky finger injury. McCarthy is a “big fan” of Howard, though one wonders how big a fan he is, given Pryor’s comments about Rodgers’ decision-making timing regarding the NFL Combine.
  • PIT Quarterback #18
    It’s hard to know how seriously to take these nuggets in January, especially when Howard is one of only two quarterbacks currently under contract with the Steelers. Howard was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of last year’s draft and threw for 4,010-35-10 in his final college season with Ohio State on his way to winning a national championship. Given the current state of the Steelers’ quarterback room and the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers, it’s possible Howard gets a chance to compete for the starting job in camp, but the Steelers are all but certain to add another quarterback or two to their room this offseason, whether it’s via the draft or free agency.

Rotoworld

  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
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    Jaylen Waddle caught 2-of-7 targets for 10 yards in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams, adding 14 yards on one carry.

    Waddle would also add a successful two-point reception in the third quarter to give him a slight boost in counting stats, although the 6.4-point effort left fantasy managers in desperate need of better production from their fourth-round selection in fantasy drafts. Waddle has now sandwiched poor fantasy outings with one usable game through three weeks. Fantasy managers are likely left to ride out the struggles of the Denver offense in hopes of greener pastures, which could come in a Week 4 showdown with the 49ers. Treat Waddle as an upside WR3, at present.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #13
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    Pat Bryant caught both targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams.

    Bryant also added a successful two-point reception in the third quarter to give him a usable fantasy week for the first time in 2026. He continues to play well behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle in an offense that has yet to find its footing with a new offensive play caller. He’ll be a difficult start in Week 4 against the 49ers.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #14
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    Courtland Sutton caught 3-of-7 targets for 46 yards in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams.

    Sutton tied for the team lead in targets while pacing the offense in yards, which highlights the struggles that persist in Davis Webb’s offense through three games. He will be off the FLEX radar ahead of a Week 4 showdown against the 49ers.
  • DEN Running Back #27
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    J.K. Dobbins rushed 17 times for 49 yards in the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams, adding four yards on one reception.

    Dobbins and the rest of the Denver offense have been subject to poor situational tendencies from first-time play caller Davis Webb’s offense through three weeks. Dobbins is the player arguably hit the hardest with poor play sequencing as the bulk of his work comes on early downs. Even so, Dobbins now has a higher share of the backfield opportunities following the placement of Jonah Coleman on IR Saturday. Dobbins is a shaky RB3 ahead of a Week 4 showdown with the 49ers.
  • DEN Quarterback #10
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    Bo Nix completed 17-of-34 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the Broncos’ 30-26, Week 3 win over the Rams, adding seven yards and a touchdown on four carries.

    The Broncos were shut out in the first half amidst consistent struggles from Nix, who, for his part, turned in solid production in a third quarter that saw the Broncos knot the game at 16 through two touchdowns and successful two-point conversions. Nix and the Broncos would struggle to move the football again in the fourth quarter but a pick-six from safety Talanoa Hufanga gave them the lead with under five minutes to play. Stafford returned blows to send the Rams to a three-point lead before Nix’s game-winning score from one yard out. That final drive was aided by three key penalties to go against the Rams, the final of which was questionable, to put it kindly. Josh Wallace appeared to intercept Nix for the second time in the fourth quarter but a defensive pass interference penalty was called, giving the Broncos renewed life. Hufanga would intercept Stafford for a second time in the fourth quarter, this time in the end zone, to seal the victory for the Broncos as time expired. Nix and offensive coordinator Davis Webb have not looked good through three games despite the team’s 2-1 record, and will need to clean things up ahead of another NFC West showdown against the 49ers in Week 4. Nix is currently nothing more than a middling QB2.
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    Tyler Higbee caught 8-of-11 targets for 62 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ Week 3 loss to the Broncos.

    Higbee’s first quarter touchdown got the scoring started for the Rams, but it wasn’t until Terrance Ferguson departed with an ankle injury that his volume truly took off. From that point forward, Higbee was one of the primary options through the air, finishing two targets behind Davante Adams for the team lead. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Ferguson’s status closely in the coming week as Higbee could become a legitimate waiver target should Ferguson miss time.
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    Konata Mumpfield caught 4-of-8 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ Week 3 loss to the Broncos.

    Mumpfield managed just one grab before erupting for 78 yards and a touchdown on a single drive in the fourth quarter with the Rams trailing for the first time in the game. His touchdown came on a double move against Riley Moss down the sideline for a walk-in score from 48 yards out. Mumpfield stepped into a growing role the previous two weeks in the absence of Puka Nacua and could remain a starter at wide receiver should Nacua miss additional time.
  • LA Wide Receiver #17
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    Davante Adams caught 7-of-13 targets for 137 yards in the Rams’ Week 3 loss to the Broncos.

    Adams’ 137 yards combine with the 195 yards he erupted for in Week 2 to set a new high in receiving yards in consecutive games during his remarkable career. Even more stunning was the fact that he did so against one of the top corners in the league in Pat Surtain, who shadowed Adams for all but a handful of his routes, proving his ability to get open against top competition even in the later stages of his career. Puka Nacua missed both Week 2 and Week 3 but the details of, and timeline to return from, his injury remain convoluted, at best. Adams will remains a top-tier WR1 should Nacua miss more time, and would be solid WR2 should Nacua return for a Week 4 meeting with the Eagles.
  • LA Running Back #23
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    Kyren Williams rushed 15 times for 88 yards in the Rams’ Week 3 loss to the Broncos, adding 70 yards on six receptions.

    Williams’ 70 yards through the air were a career-high mark in receiving for a single game, returning yet another RB1 fantasy performance despite sharing backfield work with Blake Corum. Corum managed only 15 yards on six carries and caught two passes for zero additional yards. Furthermore, Corum has still not seen a carry inside the red zone through three games of the 2026 season. Williams remains a surefire RB1 ahead of a difficult matchup against the Eagles in Week 4.
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    Matthew Stafford completed 30-of-55 passes for 390 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in the Rams’ 30-26, Week 3 loss to the Broncos, adding 13 yards on two carries.

    The Rams stormed out to a 16-0 lead they would take into the break but two unanswered scores and two-point conversions from the Broncos saw the game knotted at 16 heading into the fourth quarter, which is where the scoring really took off. Stafford and the Rams appeared to be in control of the game until a Talanoa Hufanga pick-six off Stafford, making 33 career pick-sixes thrown to give him a record he would otherwise not like to have on his ledger. Stafford answered on the following possession on a 48-yard strike to Konata Mumpfield, only for the Broncos to answer back with a Bo Nix rushing score with 47 seconds left to play. Stafford worked more magic to get the team into the red zone, marching the field with only one timeout with a chance to win on the final play of the game. Hufanga ultimately won the play with his second interception off Stafford, sending the Rams to a 1-2 record. Stafford also became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 20,000 yards for two different franchises in the loss. Stafford remains a locked-in QB1 in fantasy circles ahead of a Week 4 showdown with the Eagles on the road.