Jaylen Warren serves as workhorse again in loss

It sounds like Warren is belongs on the RB1/2 border with Rico Dowdle (toe) sidelined again this week. The Steelers will try to control the line of scrimmage by frequently deploying TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, both in the run game and as receivers.

Dowdle did not practice this week and was ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Browns. Rapoport called him day-to-day. The mini-bye between today’s game and Pittsburgh’s Week 5 date with Indy at home should be enough rest to get Dowdle back on the field. Jaylen Warren will see almost the entirety of the backfield tonight before returning to committee duties once Dowdle is healthy.

Dowdle did not practice once this week before being ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Browns. The mini-bye ahead of Week 5 may help him get back on the field, but his status for next week’s contest is very much up in the air. Jaylen Warren will see the bulk of the backfield work versus Cleveland. he ran 17 times and caught three passes in Week 3. With an elite workload versus a middling Cleveland defense, Warren is a high-end RB2 this week.

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 was limited in practice throughout the week because of the shoulder issue. The team listed him as questionable on Friday, though he always looked more likely than not to suit up. He will see the bulk of the backfield touches with Rico Dowdle (toe) out for Week 3, putting him in the RB2 mix.

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.