El-Balad analyzes vital insights from Thursday’s fantasy football matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. This recap highlights significant player performances and strategies that may impact fantasy teams moving forward.
Key Fantasy Football Insights from Thursday’s Game
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Player Usage
- Calvin Austin III missed the game due to a shoulder injury, allowing Roman Wilson to increase his snap count.
- D.K. Metcalf remains the Steelers’ leading wide receiver, while Austin has served as a secondary option when healthy.
- Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller also had roles, with Miller stepping up significantly last week.
- This week, the Steelers reestablished Austin as the second receiver in two-wide receiver sets.
Notably, Wilson caught two passes for 17 yards, showing improvement from his previous career stats. This performance may prompt the Steelers to seek additional receiving talent.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Running Game
- Chase Brown excelled, achieving a season-high in rushing yards by halftime.
- The Bengals’ running back rotation features Brown as the primary player on early downs.
- Samaje Perine’s role expanded this week, particularly in second-and-long situations.
Brown’s upward trend may overshadow Perine’s increased usage. Continued strong performances from Brown could still benefit the Bengals’ offense, even if it slightly affects Perine’s role.
Tight End Challenges for the Bengals
- The absence of starting tight ends Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson severely limited the team’s production.
- Despite losing pivotal players, the Bengals utilized their depth, activating five tight ends prior to the game.
- Noah Fant was the most active tight end, notably scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
This tight end rotation may leave fantasy owners wary, as shared snaps lead to unreliable production.
Miscellaneous Observations
- Steelers’ rookie running back Kaleb Johnson did not see any snaps this week and may not be worth keeping in standard leagues.
- The snap distribution among the Steelers’ tight ends shows increased involvement from Pat Freiermuth.
- Charlie Jones of the Bengals, despite struggling with injuries, was active and contributed to special teams.
The data reflected in this recap underscores the importance of monitoring player health and team strategies as they evolve throughout the season.
