A hamstring injury suffered in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills was supposed to sideline Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren for multiple weeks.
However, Warren has recovered enough from his injury to make his status for the 2024 regular-season opener at the Atlanta Falcons very much optimistic.
Here is an update on Warren’s injury and his outlook for Week 1.
Jaylen Warren Injury Update
Warren, the third-year undrafted running back out of Oklahoma State, was initially not believed to be ready for the season opener because of his injury. Being without Warren for an extended period of time would be a blow to the Steelers.
The good news is that Warren has proclaimed himself ready for Week 1.
Although they have a decent back in Najee Harris, who is still listed as the starter on the running back depth chart, Warren provides more versatility with his pass-catching ability. He is a bigger threat to provide explosive plays than Harris.
Although Harris led the Steelers with 1,035 yards, Harris finished with only 784 rushing yards on 4.1 yards per carry, while Warren averaged over five yards a career last season (5.3), a much more efficient mark.
Warren did only have four touchdowns last season, half of Harris’s total, but he was a major threat to catch passes out of the backfield. Warren finished with 61 receptions last season and literally doubled his total touches (210) from his rookie year (105).
Warren’s Fantasy Outlook for Week 1
The idea that Warren could be ready to play in the season opener is good news for Steelers fans and fantasy football managers.
The one thing that fantasy managers do know, however, is that despite Warren’s edge in versatility over Harris, there was not much of a difference between them last season from a fantasy standpoint.
Warren and Harris finished with near-identical fantasy point numbers in 2023.
Warren averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game, while Harris averaged 11.5. Warren finished with 196.4 total fantasy points; Harris finished with 195.5.
The difference between the two, of course, is that Warren compiled his numbers with far fewer touches (210) than Harris (284) last season.
KEEP READING: PFN’s Consensus Fantasy Football Rankings
For Week 1, Pro Football Network’s start/sit projection tool projects Warren to finish with only 6.2 fantasy points, while Harris is projected to have 10.6.
Warren is projected to have 25 rushing yards and 12 receiving yards on two catches.
New starting quarterback Russell Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith — the ex-Atlanta Falcons head coach — will undoubtedly be the focus around the Steelers in Week 1.
But having Warren available will no doubt make everyone’s job a little easier.