Initial reports on Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren’s Week 6 status were that he would be unlikely to play. However, the third-year pro is now set to make his return after avoiding a game designation on the Steelers’ final injury report. What is the latest on Warren’s injury, playing status, and fantasy football outlook?
Jaylen Warren Injury Update Week 6
At the beginning of the week, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin provided updates on several players, including Warren, whom he called doubtful to play in Week 6 as he recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him in Weeks 4 and 5.
Warren suffered a Grade 1 PCL sprain in Week 3, an injury that left him week-to-week but was considered a better-case scenario. After missing a pair of weeks, early expectations were that it would become a trio. However, optimism flooded in quickly.
#Steelers RB Jaylen Warren not looking particularly doubtful here. pic.twitter.com/hKsjXelxi2
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) October 10, 2024
The Oklahoma State product logged a pair of limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday after failing to practice the week before. On Friday, he upgraded to full participation and earned a questionable tag. That tag was later dropped, and he currently holds no designation entering a Week 6 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
All signs point toward Warren returning from injury on the road in Vegas, a positive sign for the dynamic back who has dealt with injuries to start the season (he started the season slow with a preseason hamstring issue).
Warren’s Fantasy Outlook
During Warren’s absence, the Steelers initially elevated RB Cordarrelle Patterson’s role; however, the veteran Swiss Army Knife suffered an ankle injury in Week 4.
Patterson missed Week 5 and is ruled out for Week 6. The Steelers utilized an RB2 rotation of Aaron Shampklin and Jonathan Ward in his and Warren’s stead.
Now that Warren has returned, though, he is set to resume RB2 duties and will see little competition from the rest of the depth chart, especially with Patterson sidelined.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
During his two-week hiatus, RB1 Najee Harris struggled on the ground (27 carries for 61 yards, 2.3 yards per carry). Pittsburgh is third in the NFL in rush attempts per game (32.8), meaning plenty of touches can be afforded in Warren’s direction.
Warren has averaged 5.1 yards per carry for his career, which can lead us to believe his slow start to the season (14 rushes for 54 yards, 3.9 yards per carry) could be attributed to his injury.
Furthermore, the run-oriented Steelers could benefit from a positive game script if they get off to a good start against the Raiders. They open Sunday as favorites with Las Vegas’ top receivers (Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers) likely to sit. Warren should return to being Pittsburgh’s lightning to Harris’ thunder.
Warren ranks as a low-end Flex play in Week 6, but there is room for optimism for his season-long outlook in Pittsburgh. You can use PFN’s free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer to best set up your team for success.