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← All windowsThursday Night · Week 4
Next up behind Jaylen Warren; depth chart RB3.
Rest of the stableEli Heidenreich (RB4), Riley Nowakowski (FB1)ExpandCollapse
Eli HeidenreichRB4change of pace4% rostered · free long shotSeventh-round rookie who has not taken an offensive snap this season and has worked as a special-teamer. With Dowdle ruled out for Week 3 he is reported as the direct backup behind Warren, which matters because Warren is himself questionable with a shoulder. A contingency body rather than a producer; Pittsburgh would likely elevate veteran help before feeding him volume.
Injury history: Rookie with no reported NFL injury; he is not listed on Pittsburgh's Week 3 injury report (Sept 25). Absence of reported injury data does not establish durability.
42score
Riley NowakowskiFB1fullback0% rostered · free long shotFifth-round rookie (169th overall) out of Wisconsin and Indiana, listed as Pittsburgh's starting fullback and used as a lead blocker and move/H-back in McCarthy's heavy packages, plus special teams. He caught 32 passes in his final college season, so he is not purely a blocker, but he has no role in the running back carry rotation.
Injury history: Rookie with no reported NFL injury; not listed on Pittsburgh's Week 3 injury report (Sept 25). Absence of reported injury data does not establish durability.
28score
Why this pick · the matrix
Evidence: low. Stash priority: 55/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.
Rostered in under 1% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last 2 games with stats for PIT: 1.5 carries and 0 targets per game.
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 38 | 216 | 14 | 10 | 110 | 0 |
| 2025 | 16 | 211 | 958 | 45 | 40 | 333 | 8 |
Last 3 games with stats for PIT: 12.7 carries and 4.7 targets per game.
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
Travis Homer is listed RB3 on the Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart behind Jaylen Warren. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.
Backfield news: Max Hurleman: Out (espn_rosters) Rico Dowdle: Out (espn_rosters)
Scouting: Veteran special-teams ace (46 career special-teams tackles, one TD) and pass-protection specialist signed in March 2026, with only 90 career carries and 55 catches on offense. He made his season debut as a Week 2 elevation and adds experienced depth behind Warren with Dowdle out, but he has never been a volume runner and is not a realistic lead-back answer.
Starter injury history: 2024: preseason hamstring, then out Week 4 vs IND with a knee; knee and hamstring issues recurred through the year. 2025: knee left him limited in late September; brief ankle exit Week 11 vs CIN with no absence. 2026: shoulder injury - limited participant Wed/Thu/Fri (Sept 23-25) and listed questionable for Week 3 vs CIN. Not ruled out; no return timetable stated.
Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.
Next up behind Quinshon Judkins; depth chart RB2.
Rest of the stableJaleel McLaughlin (RB3), Michael Burton (FB1)ExpandCollapse
Jaleel McLaughlinRB3change of pace0% rostered · free long shotSigned from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Sept. 15 as the corresponding move for Sampson's IR placement. Experienced small-bodied change-of-pace back from four seasons in Denver; adds a passing-down option behind Judkins but has not been reported as a designated backup.
Injury history: No verified injury information gathered this cycle. Missing injury data does not establish health.
43score
Michael BurtonFB1fullback0% rostered · free long shotVeteran lead blocker and special-teams contributor. Sampson's IR placement reshuffled the running back room but does not change Burton's job; he takes a handful of short-yardage or goal-line carries at most and is outside the backfield pecking order.
Injury history: Long-tenured fullback, age 34, with no significant injury absences reported in the last three seasons. No new injury reported this cycle.
28score
Why this pick · the matrix
Evidence: low. Stash priority: 64/100. Scores are rankings, not probabilities.
Rostered in 1% of ESPN leagues when this board was built. Your league may differ; if he is taken, check the rest of the stable for a lower-rostered back.
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 66 | 0 |
| 2025 | 4 | 27 | 92 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 1 |
Last 3 games with stats for CLE: 1.3 carries and 3 targets per game.
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
| Season | Games* | Carries | Rush yds | Targets | Rec | Rec yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 42 | 124 | 9 | 9 | 53 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 230 | 827 | 36 | 26 | 171 | 7 |
Last 3 games with stats for CLE: 14 carries and 3 targets per game.
*Games with a recorded stat line; not an attendance or injury measure. Stats exclude this game week. Source: nflverse
Raheim Sanders is listed RB2 on the Cleveland Browns depth chart behind Quinshon Judkins. Deterministic pick; the model overview was unavailable.
Backfield news: Dylan Sampson: Out (espn_rosters)
Scouting: Promoted by circumstance: with Sampson on IR he was the only other running back on the 53-man roster and took over Sampson's offensive and special-teams role before McLaughlin was signed. Big-bodied short-yardage type; the healthy pickup here, though the ceiling is committee work, not a lead job.
Starter injury history: 2025: dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula vs BUF in Week 16, ending his rookie season; surgery Dec. 23. 2026: recovered ahead of schedule, cleared for full contact, opened camp July 31 with no limitations. No 2026 absence reported.
Analyst write-up pending; deterministic pick shown.