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The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the better offenses in the league this season. They rank 11th in total points per game this year despite being a run-heavy group and technically not having had their starting quarterback for the first six games of 2024. They rank in the bottom half of teams in offensive yards per game.
Still, many fantasy managers are rostering one or more of their key players on the Steelers, and they've contributed on rosters well enough down the stretch that they're worth considering starting again in Week 16. It's the fantasy football playoffs in the vast majority of leagues, meaning start-sit decisions are more critical to nail than ever before.
Let's break down three key players from Pittsburgh's offense and whether you should start them this week when they take on their AFC North divisional rival Baltimore Ravens.
Should I Start Russell Wilson for Fantasy Football?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is a risky player to start, especially if his best WR George Pickens (hamstring) can't play. Though the Ravens had a poor pass defense heading into their first matchup, Wilson had an awful game, completing 23 of his 36 pass attempts for 205 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception.
Russell Wilson is starting in Pittsburgh because if nothing else, he’s going to take care of the ball.
That is one of the worst interceptions you will ever see.
Totally inexcusable from the veteran QB #Steelers
— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) November 17, 2024
Divisional matchups typically end up featuring some kind of tomfoolery. That makes them much harder to predict in general since teams are more familiar with each other's tendencies. Other than when they were shredded by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who's been elite this season, the Ravens have been far better against the pass recently.
We don't recommend starting Wilson at all if Pickens can't play. And even if he does, the former Super Bowl Champ is a low-end QB2 in our eyes. He'll be in enemy territory, and facing a defense that mostly shut him down a few weeks ago.
Should I Start Najee Harris for Fantasy Football?
Steelers running back Najee Harris was mostly fine in Week 11, the first time these two teams faced off. He rushed 18 times for 63 yards and caught four of his five targets for 30 yards, scoring 13.3 PPR fantasy points. But it's a terrible matchup here in Week 16, as the Ravens have allowed just 3.5 yards per carry to opposing rushers this season.
Is Ravens defense good enough to win a Championship? @ASchatzNFL: "I think that it is. The run defense is very, very good. The pass defense isn't terrible, it's slightly below average. The reason they've given up so many yards is because they've face the most drives in the NFL."
— Glenn Clark (@GlennClarkRadio) December 18, 2024
The defense is overall a better unit that they get credit for, as they've had to be on the field for the most opponent drives this season. But there's no doubt that linebacker Roquan Smith, a four-time AP All Pro (two First-Team, two Second-Team) is an elite run-stuffer. He's a menace to opposing running backs and that hurts Harris.
Lane Johnson puts Eagles offensive effort against Ravens into perspective.
Said Roquan Smith was calling out their plays at a level that he hadn’t seen from an LB since Luke Kuechly. pic.twitter.com/KcZfOoNQzk
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) December 2, 2024
Smith's one of the most intelligent players (football-wise) in the NFL, and he likely knows the Steelers very well. Harris should be approached with caution outside of deep leagues. If you're considering starting this RB over a player like New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., we'd lean Tracy at this point.
Should I Start Pat Freiermuth for Fantasy Football?
If Pickens doesn't play, Freiermuth is a decent start at tight end. But the Ravens did a great job of locking him down in Week 11 when he caught just two passes for 14 yards. He was only targeted twice in that game, so we'd expect him to get more work if he ends up being the best pass-catcher available on Saturday.
Pat Freiermuth's 9 yard TD reception against the Eagles was his third consecutive game with a TD catch. He's the first Steelers TE to accomplish this since Heath Miller did it in 2012. pic.twitter.com/B8KjUrSoGV
— Billy Hartford (@CamHeywardFan) December 17, 2024
The Muth's a great option when he gets enough volume. He's scored touchdowns in three consecutive weeks, but those are hard to predict. Streaks do happen, but they also can end just as abruptly as they started. We don't like his volume over the last two weeks without Pickens -- the three-target game in Week 14 wasn't fun to see.
Everything matters in the NFL, and the absence of star defensive end T.J. Watt (ankle) if he's not able to suit up on Saturday could make a big difference. Pittsburgh prefers to get into ugly defensive battles, but if they're missing their best defensive player, they could have a much harder time stopping the Ravens and be forced to pass the ball more.
Also, Baltimore's elite run defense may make it harder for the Steelers to stick to their ground-and-pound game plan. We like Freiermuth much more if both Watt and Pickens miss the game and would recommend starting him in all leagues in that case. Otherwise, there's plenty of risk, but you can't ask for a ton at that position anyway.
If both Pickens and Watt are present, he gets a slight downgrade but is still a fine player to start in leagues with 14 or more teams. Best of luck this week!
Popular Week 16 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 16 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Brenton Strange or Pat Freiermuth
Jerome Ford or Najee Harris
Brenton Strange or Pat Freiermuth
Rachaad White or Najee Harris
Cade Otton or Pat Freiermuth
Mark Andrews or Pat Freiermuth
Tucker Kraft or Pat Freiermuth
Jerome Ford or Najee Harris
Khalil Shakir or Najee Harris
Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson
Kendre Miller or Najee Harris
Tj Hockenson or Pat Freiermuth
Dalton Schultz or Pat Freiermuth
Jordan Love or Russell Wilson
Justin Herbert or Russell Wilson
Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson
Rico Dowdle or Najee Harris
Tyrone Tracyjr or Najee Harris
Brian Robinsonjr or Najee Harris
Cj Stroud or Russell Wilson
Dalton Kincaid or Pat Freiermuth
Hunter Henry or Pat Freiermuth
Josh Downs or Najee Harris
Kyle Pitts or Pat Freiermuth
Tony Pollard or Najee Harris
Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson
Adam Thielen or Najee Harris
Alexander Mattison or Najee Harris
Baker Mayfield or Russell Wilson
Bo Nix or Russell Wilson
Brian Robinsonjr or Najee Harris
Chuba Hubbard or Najee Harris
Chuba Hubbard or Najee Harris
Dandre Swift or Najee Harris
Drake Maye or Russell Wilson
Isaac Guerendo or Najee Harris
Jameis Winston or Russell Wilson
Jauan Jennings or Najee Harris
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Najee Harris
Jayden Reed or Najee Harris
Joe Mixon or Russell Wilson
Justin Herbert or Russell Wilson
Michael Pittmanjr or Najee Harris
Rico Dowdle or Najee Harris
Cade Otton or Pat Freiermuth
Travis Etiennejr or Najee Harris
Tucker Kraft or Pat Freiermuth
Aaron Jones or Najee Harris
Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson
Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson
Anthony Richardson or Russell Wilson
Bo Nix or Russell Wilson
Bo Nix or Russell Wilson
Breece Hall or Najee Harris
Breece Hall or Najee Harris
Brenton Strange or Pat Freiermuth
Brian Thomasjr or Najee Harris
Brock Bowers or Pat Freiermuth
Brock Purdy or Russell Wilson
Brock Purdy or Russell Wilson
Bryce Young or Russell Wilson
Cade Otton or Pat Freiermuth
Cade Otton or Pat Freiermuth
Caleb Williams or Russell Wilson
Calvin Ridley or Najee Harris
Cj Stroud or Russell Wilson
Cooper Rush or Russell Wilson
Dalton Kincaid or Pat Freiermuth
Dandre Swift or Najee Harris
David Njoku or Pat Freiermuth
David Njoku or Pat Freiermuth
Deandre Hopkins or Najee Harris
Derrick Henry or Najee Harris
Detroit Lions or Najee Harris
Devon Achane or Najee Harris
Drake Maye or Russell Wilson
Grant Calcaterra or Pat Freiermuth
Hunter Henry or Pat Freiermuth
Hunter Henry or Pat Freiermuth
Hunter Henry or Pat Freiermuth
Hunter Henry or Pat Freiermuth
Mark Andrews or Pat Freiermuth
Jake Ferguson or Pat Freiermuth
Alexander Mattison or Najee Harris
James Cook or Najee Harris
Jared Goff or Russell Wilson
Cj Stroud or Russell Wilson
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Najee Harris
Jayden Daniels or Russell Wilson
Jaylen Waddle or Najee Harris
Jerome Ford or Najee Harris
Joe Mixon or Russell Wilson
Jonnu Smith or Russell Wilson
Josh Jacobs or Najee Harris
Justin Tucker or Najee Harris
Khalil Shakir or Najee Harris
Khalil Shakir or Najee Harris
Kyler Murray or Russell Wilson
Ladd Mcconkey or Najee Harris
Rachaad White or Najee Harris
Lamar Jackson or Russell Wilson
Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson
Marvin Harrisonjr or Najee Harris
Matthew Stafford or Russell Wilson
Matthew Stafford or Russell Wilson
Najee Harris or Najee Harris
Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson
Quentin Johnston or Najee Harris
Rachaad White or Najee Harris
Rachaad White or Najee Harris
Rhamondre Stevenson or Najee Harris
Rhamondre Stevenson or Najee Harris
Rico Dowdle or Najee Harris
Sam Darnold or Russell Wilson
Sam Laporta or Pat Freiermuth
Tank Dell or Najee Harris
Tony Pollard or Pat Freiermuth
Tucker Kraft or Pat Freiermuth
Tyjae Spears or Najee Harris
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