Jaylen Warren Seized the Steelers Backfield — Now Dowdle's Returning
Warren's 490 scrimmage yards since Week 3 top every RB, but Rico Dowdle warmed up Sunday. Here's whether the RB1 label holds in Week 6.
Pass-game usage keeps him an RB1 even once Dowdle returns vs. Tampa.
- Warren: 490 scrimmage yds since Week 3, most of any RB
- Warren averaging 20.3 touches/game, 10th among RBs
- Dowdle warmed up Sunday but did not play (toe)
- No RB topped 60 rush yds vs. Tampa Bay this year
- Tuten: 52 PPR pts through 4 games (2026), RB52 in our ranks
If your fantasy weekend came down to the early games, the whole thing probably hinged on one name: Jaylen Warren. Since taking over as Pittsburgh's starter in Week 3, the 5-foot-8 back has racked up 490 scrimmage yards — more than any running back in football — on 20.3 touches per game, a workload that ranks 10th at the position.
The twist is that the Steelers never seemed to want this. They handed Rico Dowdle the fifth-largest RB contract in free agency, and Dowdle's prior history with head coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas made Warren's path to a true lead role murky. Then Dowdle's toe injury forced the issue, and Warren has made the coaches say the quiet part out loud.
The Receiving Edge Is Real
Warren's value isn't just volume — it's efficiency. Since Week 3 he sits ahead of backs like Bhayshul Tuten, James Cook III and Derrick Henry in forced missed tackle rate. As a pass-catcher, only Kyren Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs and Ashton Jeanty are posting more yards per route run. That dual-threat profile is exactly what keeps a smaller back locked into an every-down role.
The caveat: Dowdle went through pregame warmups Sunday and sat, which reads like a man close to returning. McCarthy has hinted there's a specific touch count in mind for Warren, so a split is possible against the Bucs in Week 6. But Tampa hasn't allowed a single back to crack 60 rushing yards this season, which means Warren's receiving usage should carry him regardless of the ground share — and push Dowdle's value further down the drain.
Over in Jacksonville, the companion story is Tuten, who keeps looking great on film and mediocre on the box score. He owns the backfield now — Chris Rodriguez Jr. was down to a 13.2% snap rate — and Tuten took 75% of the short-yardage carries plus a season-high 47.7% route rate. He ranks 5th among qualified backs in rushing success rate at 45.1%, yet he's still just the RB52 in our ranks with 52 PPR points through four games this season (2026, actual).
The Fantasy Verdict
Start Warren with confidence in Week 6. The matchup suppresses rushing, but his route volume and target share make him a floor-and-ceiling RB1 even if Dowdle eats a handful of carries. Tuten is trickier: Houston has allowed a 100-yard rusher just twice since last season, and Tuten hasn't earned the 4.4 targets/game that backs need to beat them. With Jacksonville's bye landing in Week 7, get ahead of it now and stash a replacement — Dameon Pierce, Woody Marks or Samaje Perine are the names to grab.
