Calvin

Austin

Austin was having a quiet game until a blown coverage — blown coverage is an understatement, really as Chidobe Awuzie fell down — allowed him to sneak into the end zone on a connection with Aaron Rodgers to give Pittsburgh a 26-24 lead and ultimately a win/playoff spot. The 26-year-old wideout will cede targets to DK Metcalf in the playoff game against the Texans, but should again see a handful of targets in that contest.

He’s a fringe WR4/WR5 without D.K. Metcalf as the Steelers try to find some semblance of seam-stretching power against the Ravens in a must-win AFC North divisional title game.

Austin has a chance to return this week, but it would be nice to see him upgrade his participation level. The speedy receiver is needed with No. 1 WR DK Metcalf suspended this week. The Steelers (9-7) take on the Ravens (8-8) this week, and the winner advances to the postseason.

Austin missed Week 17 with the hamstring issue. DK Metcalf will be out for Week 18 to finish serving his two-game suspension, meaning Austin could immediately return to a high-volume role. The Steelers will lean on their ground game this week in battle for the AFC North with the Ravens, but fantasy managers can pencil Austin in for a handful of targets if he is active, putting him on the WR4/5 radar for the final week of the regular season.

With DK Metcalf also suspended for this one, the Steelers will need to lean heavily on their tight ends in the pass-catching game, while Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling could also see an uptick in targets. Watt was ruled out before the weekend but was able to practice in a limited capacity this week. Watt should have a good shot at returning in Week 18 against the Ravens.

Apparently it will be Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen that you’ll want in the Pittsburgh passing game against Cleveland as the Steelers try to make due without the suspended D.K. Metcalf. Pittsburgh also listed Isaac Seumalo (triceps) as questionable after three limited sessions.

Austin left Week 16’s game with the hamstring injury. He went down in the second half and was listed as questionable to return but never did. A DNP today stacks the odds against him to suit up on Sunday. With DK Metcalf suspended for the remainder of the regular season, Adam Thielen is seemingly the team’s top wideout for Week 17. Aaron Rodgers will also lean heavily on his tight ends versus the Browns, putting Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth in the TE2 mix.

Austin suffered the hamstring issue in the second half. With time winding down, he looks unlikely to return before the game ends. Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Scotty Miller will mix in alongside DK Metcalf to close the fourth quarter.

Austin popped up on the injury report Friday with a calf injury that caused him to be limited in practice. The 26-year-old receiver was back to a full participant in practice Saturday and enters the matchup with the Dolphins without an injury designation. Austin isn’t worth rostering in most fantasy leagues with new additions Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen passing him on the depth chart.

It was a mid-week downgrade, never a great sign. Austin played a season-low 16 offensive snaps on Sunday with new additions Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen taking bigger roles, so he’s droppable in most leagues.