Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is expected to play

Warren operated as an every-down back in Week 3 against the Bengals, running for 127 yards on 17 carries and catching three passes for 49 yards in a victory. DeFabo suggested Warren had established himself as the team’s clear lead back option against the Bengals with Rico Dowdle (toe) sidelined. “I’ve always had respect for him, playing against him, and then being his teammate now for a little more than a season,” Aaron Rodgers said of Warren. “He is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with, and I just can’t say enough about his energy and the way he runs the football and the way he cares about his teammates.” Warren’s pass game involvement spiked in Week 3, as he ran a route on 70 percent of Pittsburgh’s drop backs. Dowdle, meanwhile, did not practice Monday ahead of the Steelers’ Thursday game against the Browns. Warren should remain in all lineups this week.

Warren ripped off a 30-yard reception on the Steelers’ first play of the game and was reliable throughout while serving as the Steelers’ primary back. Warren gained 20 or more yards on three plays and would have found the end zone on a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter if not for tripping and falling in the open field. This was exactly the kind of performance fantasy managers were hoping for with Rico Dowdle (toe) sidelined, as Warren was on the field for 53 of 59 offensive snaps for Steelers RBs. The Steelers play the Browns on Thursday in Week 4; if Dowdle can’t heal up in time to play on the short week, Warren would again be a volume-based RB2 with plenty of upside.

With Rico Dowdle (toe) out and Eli Heidenreich being a healthy scratch, Warren will split backfield touches with Travis Homer. Warren should be in for a big workload, making him a safe RB2 with upside against the Bengals.

Warren got in three limited practices this week and, given Rico Dowdle was already ruled out, feels likely to be active on Sunday. Warren will get a workload boost if he can handle it. Eli Heidenreich, Pittsburgh’s seventh-round pick, is next on the depth chart behind Warren with Dowdle out.

He seems well in line to play and, given Rico Dowdle’s second-straight missed practice, could assume the bulk of the load against the Bengals in Week 3. That sentence would have sounded better before Cincinnati reinforced the interior with Dexter Lawrence this offseason.

Warren got a little banged up in the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the Patriots, but he’s still the team’s healthiest running back of note. Rico Dowdle was in a boot today after injuring his toe in Week 2. He was listed as a DNP and appears to be on the wrong side of questionable to start the week. Even at less than full strength, Warren would likely handle the bulk of the backfield snaps if Dowdle can’t go.

Per Penn Live’s Nick Farabaugh, Dowdle was wearing a boot on his left foot today. He suffered the toe injury in Week 2 and was initially considered day-to-day. Neither the boot nor the DNP is a good sign for his Week 3 availability. Jaylen Warren would see the bulk of the backfield touches if Dowdle misses time.

Warren was the second back to enter the game behind Rico Dowdle, but he operated as the lead back for much of the day with Dowdle dealing with a toe injury. He averaged just under four yards per carry as his biggest play came on a 26-yard reception. With Aaron Rodgers’ inability to consistently push the ball downfield, Warren is the primary checkdown guy to benefit, seeing four targets in Week 2 after totaling six targets in Week 1. He dominated snaps when Dowdle was out and will rank as a fantasy RB2 should Dowdle miss time. Otherwise, Warren is an RB3 for Week 3 against the Bengals.

Warren also fumbled in this one, which may have contributed to why he played just 25 of the team’s 67 snaps while Rico Dowdle played 39. Dowdle also played on more passing snaps than Warren, but a lot of that is due to his ability as a blocker. Warren outcarried Dowdle, saw more targets, and also looked more explosive, but it was Dowdle who was on the field when the Steelers were trying to run out the clock on the final drive. This seems like it may be a frustrating committee to figure out moving forward.

Warren played 3-of-3 snaps on the first drive. Steelers RB Rico Dowdle played 4-of-4 snaps on the second. The two backs then rotated on the third. Dowdle rushed five times for 18 yards, adding one reception for two yards. This is about what we expected, though a recent report did indicate that Dowdle would be the Steelers’ “workhorse.” For now, treat both players as reliable FLEX starters with RB2 upside in what should be a split backfield, at least early on.