Roman Wilson has six targets in Week 1 win

Wilson tied with rookie Germie Bernard for second-most wide receiver snaps on the team, both tallying 55 snaps. He saw mostly short-yardage targets, with his longest reception tallying nine yards. Wilson’s role is as the clear WR3 in the Steelers offense; he did not see a role increase with Michael Pittman out of the game. Playing in a low-ceiling Steelers offense, Wilson is a WR5 at best for Week 3 against the Bengals.

It was a bit of a compliment sandwich, with Rodgers opening his comments by mentioning a route Wilson screwed up early in camp and again today. Rodgers did, however, say Wilson will have to play a big role for the team and that he has the utmost confidence in him. Rodgers is infamously punitive to his younger players, and the Steelers have second-round rookie Germie Bernard behind Wilson on the depth chart. Wilson is firmly ahead of Bernard for now, but one mistake during the regular season could flip the WR3 role in an instant.

Bernard started alongside other Steelers backups this evening, indicating he has not yet earned a starting role in three-wide receiver sets. That said, he looked good. Bernard found the end zone via a screen pass on the Steelers’ second drive, shaking a defender immediately after the catch before muscling past another as he crossed the plane. He nearly scored again on the following drive, but QB Will Howard overthrew him in the end zone. The Steelers’ top-two WRs, DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman, are just getting over injuries, and No. 3 WR Roman Wilson should not be considered insurmountable in-house competition. Bernard could work his way into the lineup early in the year.

Reeling in Michael Pittman Jr. was a big move for the offense, but the Steelers have major depth issues with Calvin Austin moving on and several Aaron Rodgers-based veterans free agents and/or retired. Roman Wilson currently holds the No. 3 slot on the depth chart, and we all know Rodgers isn’t about to let that happen if he returns.

Watt isn’t expected to get his usual amount of snaps, but the future Hall of Famer will be able to held as a pass-rusher in sub-packages in the winner-take-all game. The Steelers inactives for Week 18 will be WR Roman Wilson, QB Will Howard, RB Kaleb Johnson, CB Tre Flowers, LB Jeremiah Moon and OT Jack Driscoll.

It’s a strange thing to say about a wideout who has been a healthy scratch for three straight weeks as veteran journeyman Adam Thielen plays ahead of him. Tomlin said if Metcalf’s two-game suspension is upheld this week, Wilson — who has 166 yards and two touchdowns this season — will have a chance “to show his professionalism and his readiness and how he’s been sharpening his sword for battle.” Calvin Austin III and Thielen could also see an increase in routes and targets if Metcalf if out in Week 17 against the Browns. The Steelers are likely to revert to a run-heavy offense without their top receiver.

That was quick. Five days after signing the former Vikings wideout, the Steelers will have him active in the biggest game of the season. It would be a surprise if Thielen was used as anything more than a rotational slot receiver for now. He appears to have surpassed Roman Wilson on the Pittsburgh depth chart. Steelers declared WR Roman Wilson, DT Derrick Harmon, SS Kyle Dugger, OT Calvin Anderson, DT Brodric Martin, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, and QB Will Howard inactive for Week 14.

Wilson also led the team in receiving with a paltry 35 yards, highlighting the struggles of the Pittsburgh offense in the loss. The team managed just 221 yards of total offense while scoring a lone field goal until under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Wilson willed his way into the end zone on a slant. Wilson remains off the fantasy radar even with the team in dire need of secondary production behind alpha receiver DK Metcalf.

Wilson notched his first professional touchdown late in the fourth quarter and set career highs in targets, receptions, and yards in the loss. The outburst is a promising sign considering the general lack of secondary options through the air for the Steelers, although Wilson will be a difficult start ahead of a Week 9 showdown with the 7-1 Colts. Fantasy managers could look to stash the youngster on benches for the time being.

It was a play-action pass where Skowronek went against the flow of the defense and it almost operated like a screen, with Steelers receivers blocking downfield to create an easy crease for the 28-year-old receiver. Skowronek doesn’t need to be chased in fantasy leagues after only playing 10 of 53 snaps for the Steelers in this one. He’s operating more-or-less in a timeshare for Pittsburgh’s third receiver role with Roman Wilson.