As NFL Training Camps will get underway in the next week, we are taking a look at each team’s schedule, players to watch, position battles, and depth chart information. Up next: The Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp
Rookies Report: July 26
Veterans Report: July 26
Training Camp Location: Saint Vincent College – Latrobe, Pa.
Open Practice Schedule:
| Day of the Week | Date |
|---|---|
| Thursday | July 27 |
| Friday | July 28 |
| Saturday | July 29 |
| Sunday | July 30 |
| Tuesday | August 1 |
| Wednesday | August 2 |
| Thursday | August 3 |
| Friday | August 4 |
| Saturday | August 5 |
| Sunday | August 6 |
| Tuesday | August 8 |
| Wednesday | August 9 |
| Sunday | August 13 |
| Tuesday | August 15 |
| Tuesday | August 16 |
| Wednesday | August 17 |
Player to Watch
Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
Nobody wants to know more about the Steelers’ backfield than fantasy gamers. Najee Harris laid an egg last season as a first-round pick. And undrafted RB Jaylen Warren took full advantage of his limited touches. So much so that we have some viewing this backfield as full-blown RBBC, causing Harris’ ADP to plummet into Round 4. But Harris has a chance to rewrite his narrative if he truly operates as the team’s No. 1 rusher during the preseason. Whether that be playing only with starters, getting the complete starter treatment by not playing at all, or by Warren handling all the preseason duties, should Warren sneak in playing time with the 1s at Harris’ expense…continue to watch the former first-round RB’s ADP nosedive. – Andrew Erickson
Position Battle to Watch
Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT) vs. George Pickens (WR – PIT)
Diontae Johnson, who currently sits at 77th overall in ADP, enters this season after being unable to score a single touchdown in 2022. This anomaly was a regression unlike any other, as Johnson had scored at least six touchdowns each year before last season. When you break down the stats, the issue is the play of then-rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Johnson ranked 13th in target share and 10th on red zone targets in 2022. Talented players see more chances to provide value for their team than non-talented players. With Diontae Johnson able to win route at an elite level in the NFL (top 15), we now move into his height and weight to see if his frame can allow us to trust his red zone usage. In these metrics, Johnson struggles as he is only 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds.
Does this mean we want to draft George Pickens instead? Let’s break down his case for the courtroom.
George Pickens, in 2023 has an ADP of 81 overall and hits the height metrics (six feet or taller) we prefer. He comes close to the weight numbers (215 pounds) we love to see in a red zone target as he stands at six feet tall and weighs over 201 lbs.
The issue with George Pickens was his ability to be a boom/bust player for your lineup. Although he posted six weeks of fantasy finishes inside the top-24, Pickens also provided eight weeks of WR50 or lower fantasy production.
Although George Pickens can have ceiling games throughout the season at a lower ADP, Dionte Johnson provides safer production with a positive regression in the touchdown department. Johnson should be your targeted wide receiver in the Pittsburgh Steelers passing attack, and George Pickens should be saved for usage in DFS formats instead of your redraft leagues.
Steelers Fantasy-Relevant Depth Chart
Current as of July 18
| ECR | Quarterbacks | ECR | Running Backs | ECR | Wide Receivers | ECR | Tight Ends | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Kenny Pickett | 12 | Najee Harris | 34 | Diontae Johnson | 8 | Pat Freiermuth | |||
| 54 | Mitch Trubisky | 50 | Jaylen Warren | 37 | George Pickens | 44 | Darnell Washington | |||
| 74 | Mason Rudolph | 143 | Anthony McFarland Jr. | 77 | Allen Robinson II | 100 | Zach Gentry | |||
| 173 | Jason Huntley | 149 | Calvin Austin III | 106 | Connor Heyward | |||||
| 186 | Miles Boykin | |||||||||
| 215 | Gunner Olszewski | |||||||||
| 223 | Hakeem Butler | |||||||||
| 228 | Dez Fitzpatrick |
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