Steelers vs. Texans Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - C.J. Stroud, Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Dameon Pierce, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris

Welcome to our Steelers vs. Texans fantasy football start 'em, sit' em matchups analysis article for Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season.

Read our matchups analysis, player breakdowns, and lineup recommendations for the matchup and set those winning lineups. Good luck RotoBallers!

Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans

Spread: Steelers -3.0
Implied Total: Steelers (22.5) vs. Texans (19.5)
Pace: Steelers (7th) vs. Texans (6th)
Steelers Off. DVOA: -11.8% Pass (25th), -31.7% Rush (29th)
Texans Off. DVOA: 22.4% Pass (11th), -36.6% Rush (30th)
Steelers Def. DVOA: -14.3% Pass (7th), -11.2% Rush (14th)
Texans Def. DVOA: 4.0% Pass (17th), 18.7% Rush (31st)

Matchups We Love

Steelers RBs

The Raiders were a positive matchup for these two last week, which finally yielded some production from Najee Harris. They rode him all the way to a win on the ground with 19 carries for 65 yards. Yet, Jaylen Warren totaled only 13 fewer yards on 11 touches. He also saw four targets and made an impressive block on the long-bomb touchdown to Calvin Austin III.

The Texans represent an even better matchup for the backfield, providing another shot at a big day. Much like the Dallas backfield last season, Harris will see the majority of the rushing attempts while Warren sees fewer touches and does more with them. They're both in play against Houston.

Najee Harris is averaging 3.0 yards after contact per carry. That's the 5th highest average in the NFL. He's had 16 carries for 74 yards and is averaging 4.6 YPC after two games so far this season. Najee Harris is one of the most underrated RBs in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/OWvTNZPuUl

— Billy Hartford (@BudDupreeFan) September 22, 2023

Matchups We Hate

Dameon Pierce (RB, HOU)

Pierce capitalized on his teammate being tackled inside the five-yard line, forcing his way into the end zone. Devin Singletary has run more routes than Pierce in each of their last two outings, plus he came in late to close out the victory with nine carries. It's hard to get excited about Pierce's usage, which is a shame given his talent as a pure runner. He's a touchdown-or-bust back that's better to bench if possible.

C.J. Stroud (RB, HOU)

Stroud deserves a ton of credit for knocking off the Jaguars. He's also setting records as a rookie passer throwing for over 900 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in his first three NFL games. It's tempting to buy into his production and consider him a streamer, and long term, I do.

However, the Steelers defense ranks fourth in pass rush grade, according to PFF, which is going to create issues for Houston's patchwork offensive line. In his two easier matchups against Jacksonville and Indianapolis, he threw 280-plus yards and two touchdowns, but against the Ravens in Week 1 that dropped to 242 yards and zero touchdowns, which is closer to what should be expected this week.

Other Matchups

Texans WRs

It only took three weeks for Tank Dell to ascend to the top of the depth chart. The majority of his production was on a 68-yard house call he made in the fourth quarter, but he still led the team in every receiving statistic. It came at the expense of Nico Collins, who dropped his first dud of the year. It's worth noting that they led from wire to wire, which is unlikely to occur very often. Pittsburgh pressures well but has been burnt in coverage multiple times, as seen by Davante Adams on Sunday night. Dell profiles as the deeper speedster, which gives him the edge as a top-30 receiver with Collins in the top 36 against Patrick Peterson, who has struggled.

George Pickens (WR, PIT)

Despite their offensive woes, the Steelers are playing at the seventh-fastest pace, just one spot behind the Texans. It's another scenario where more plays should mean more opportunities. Pickens keeps making big plays. He's also seeing a steady dose of volume with Diontae Johnson sidelined. His targets per route run of 22% and yards per route run of 2.20 are both good indicators of his talent and potential breakout. He's a top-30 receiver who can produce a spike week, although he takes on Steven Nelson, who has been a tough matchup. His teammate Austin is also worth a look as a boom-bust flex option after tying Pickens with six targets.

Pat Freiermuth (TE, PIT)

Despite his lackluster start to the year, Freiermuth delivered when it seemed like he should. He still only had three grabs for 41 yards, but a trip to the end zone is what you're after at the tight end position. He leads the team with four targets in the red zone, an area of the field Kenny Pickett looks his way. The matchup is good again this week, landing him in the top 12.

Notable Injuries

Diontae Johnson (hamstring)
Noah Brown (groin)

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