The Pittsburgh Steelers are back in action on Sunday as they travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams. The defense has once again been one of the best in the league, but the offense has had a lot of struggles.
A big part of the Steelers’ struggles on offense is in the ground game. They average only 3.4 yards per carry, with a 24-yard rush being the longest on the year.
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are the top two running backs, so which one should fantasy football managers play in Week 7?
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Jaylen Warren’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Warren is coming off his best rushing game of the season, as he carried the ball nine times for 40 yards in the win against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry in that game after averaging below 3.6 in every other contest this year. The offensive line has really struggled to win the line of scrimmage, making it hard for any Steelers back to make plays.
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One area where Warren definitely shines is in the passing game. He currently has 21 catches, which trails only George Pickens (22) on the roster. He has had at least three catches in every game and has given QB Kenny Pickett a nice outlet when he needs to get rid of the ball.
Najee Harris’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
While Warren had his best rushing game against the Ravens, Harris had a tough day. He carried the ball 14 times for only 37 yards, which was his fewest since the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
As a rookie, Harris was outstanding both rushing the ball and making plays in the passing game. He rushed for 1,200 yards two years ago and also had 74 catches. However, he has become less and less involved in the passing game, and this year, he has almost been non-existent.
He has five catches on the season for 37 yards, and one of those receptions went for 32 yards. He doesn’t quite seem to have the explosiveness he did two years ago, as he is yet to get in the end zone this season.
Which of the Steelers RBs Should You Start?
Warren is the guy who should be in your lineup. How he is being used in the passing game compared to Harris is just too big to go unnoticed. It is weird to see a guy like Harris go from 74 receptions in his rookie year to just one catch per game midway through his third season.
Warren has more explosiveness and just gives the Steelers a little bit more firepower and big-play ability from the running back position. Both of these guys are going to be involved in the game plan, but Warren is the more likely of the two to have a big game.