Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has carried plenty of fantasy football intrigue this offseason after flashing explosiveness and pass-catching ability through his first two seasons as a pro.
Despite going undrafted in 2022, the Oklahoma State product has pushed Najee Harris for the starting role and become a "1B" back in the Steelers' committee. However, Warren suffered an injury in his latest preseason game, potentially putting his Week 1 status in doubt.
When is Warren coming back? Will he play in Week 1? Let's dive into his latest injury update and 2024 fantasy football outlook.
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Jaylen Warren Fantasy Football Injury Update
Warren (hamstring) may miss "a few weeks," according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The 25-year-old exited Saturday's preseason battle with the Buffalo Bills with a hamstring injury and was ruled out shortly after. Warren finished last season by running for 764 yards and four touchdowns off 149 carries, adding 61 catches for 370 yards. Of course, this isn't the kind of update fantasy managers had hoped for heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
#Steelers RB Jaylen Warren, who left Saturday’s preseason game with a hamstring injury, could miss “a few weeks,” a source confirms.
Warren’s status for Pittsburgh’s Week 1 game vs the #Falcons is currently unclear. pic.twitter.com/1eQhibZaX4
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 19, 2024
Fortunately, Warren has time to recover before the Steelers begin the season versus the Atlanta Falcons. If he doesn't suit up for that one, Harris would presumably see more touches, with Cordarrelle Patterson expected to provide relief.
Jaylen Warren Fantasy Football Outlook
While Warren is highly unlikely to produce RB1 numbers alongside Harris, his explosiveness and potential increased opportunity under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith could yield RB2 numbers in 2024, meaning he's a potential weekly flex option.
Unless the Steelers finally pull off the Brandon Aiyuk trade, expect Warren to be heavily involved in the passing game, given the lack of WR talent behind George Pickens. Since Warren is usually available outside the top 24 running backs in PPR formats and shouldn't miss extended time, he's a great piece for Zero-RB teams or a solid flex option.
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