Pittsburgh

Steelers

The Steelers will likely limit Dowdle’s reps for a few weeks as he manages the toe injury that cost him three games. He should be good to go for Sunday’s game by Friday. Dowdle saw 10 touches in his first game back and looked relatively explosive, running for 40 yards on seven attempts. He is in the RB3 mix for Week 7 versus the Saints.

Say it ain’t so, a former Rodgers favorite set to rejoin him during his twilight tour. Valdes-Scantling is reportedly set to sign to the Pittsburgh practice squad and could work his way to the active roster considering the absence of Michael Pittman, the latter of whom was moved to injured reserve Saturday. There likely won’t be any fantasy value to speak of.

Washington got in the end zone for the third time this year via an RPO toss from Rodgers near the goal line. His six targets were double the total of Pat Freiermuth, who was laboring through a calf injury in this contest. Muth should be healthier and earn more looks next week, making this minor spike game from Washington rather unsustainable. Washington will be a touchdown-or-bust TE2 for his Week 7 date with the Saints.

The Muth was clearly limited by his nagging calf injury in this game. He was added to the injury report over the weekend and played through the issue despite being hit with a late questionable tag. He was spotted hobbling to the sidelines at least once during this game, though he ultimately gutted it out and played through the issue. He and Darnell Washington each played 54 of 76 offensive snaps. Better days should be ahead for Freiermuth once he’s healthy, but it will be hard to trust him as anything other than a TE2 flyer for his Week 7 game against the Saints.

Dowdle was active for the first time since injuring his toe in Week 2. He initially formed a near 50-50 committee with Jaylen Warren, but the latter pulled away in the fourth quarter and overtime. Warren racked up four carries and one catch in overtime alone, bringing his touch total from 11 to 16. Dowdle saw a single carry in the extra frame. Dowdle’s role should grow in the coming weeks, but it’s clear that Warren is the top option in the backfield, leaving Dowdle as a low-end RB3 for Week 7 versus the Saints.

Warren and Rico Dowdle, who was active after missing three games with a toe injury, split the backfield carries for the majority of this game. Warren finally pulled away from Dowdle late in the fourth quarter and overtime. Over the final 20 minutes of the contest, Warren out-carried Dowdle 7-2. He held a modest 7-5 carries advantage through three quarters. Dowdle was more efficient on the ground, but the Steelers clearly trust Warren more in all situations when push comes to shove. Warren will be in the RB2 mix when he takes on the Saints next week.

Rodgers and the Steelers couldn’t get anything going through three quarters. They had just three points on the board and Germie Bernard check-downs were their only method of moving the ball. Even that was barely working. Running out of options, Rodgers simply started forcing the ball to DK Metcalf. He targeted Metcalf 12 times in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Steelers scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and another seven in the extra frame. Rodgers now has at least 230 yards and multiple touchdowns in four straight games. The Steelers’ pass-crazed approach under Mike McCarthy has kept him in the QB2 mix so far, and it will do so again when he faces the Saints next week.

Aaron Rodgers couldn’t get much going outside of check-downs for the better part of three quarters. Then, in desperation mode, Rodgers started forcing targets to his No. 1 receiver. Metcalf saw 12 targets in the fourth quarter and overtime. He turned that into 81 yards, otherwise known as nearly all of his production for the day. Metcalf’s ability to win downfield and on the boundary isn’t being maximized by Rodgers, but the team is throwing so often that Metcalf can still rack up fantasy points with ease. With a vulnerable Saints defense on deck for Week 7, Metcalf is on the WR2/3 border as we approach the midpoint of the season.

Bernard began the game with a potentially catastrophic blunder by moving the chains on first down, only to run back behind the sticks in search of more yards. He was taken down behind the line to gain for a turnover on downs. Instead of banishing him to the bench, Aaron Rodgers continued to lean on the rookie throughout the contest for easy completions underneath. He tied DK Metcalf for a team-high in catches. Per the broadcast, it was the most catches by a rookie receiver of Rodgers since the grizzled veteran entered the league. Bernard went from a PPR scam to a full-blown breakout in overtime by extending the ball for a game-winning touchdown with two defenders draped over him. Bernard has 21 targets over the past two weeks. He also has at least 80 yards in back-to-back games. He is looking at a WR3 ranking for his Week 7 matchup with the Saints.

Muth was a late addition to the injury report, with the Steelers adding him on Saturday and listing him as questionable. With multiple starting receivers out this week, Muth will be asked to take on more work as a pass-catcher, moving him up the TE2 ranks. Inactive for the Steelers are WR Ben Skowronek, QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, RB Eli Heidenreich, CB Terell Smith, and DL Kevin Jobity Jr.