Steelers Depth Chart Puts Warren Over Dowdle — What It Means for Fantasy

Pittsburgh released its initial depth chart and made a quiet-but-loud call: Jaylen Warren sits at RB1, with free-agent addition Rico Dowdle slotted right behind him at RB2. Plenty of people expected a dual listing at the top given how close these two profile. The Steelers didn't do that — but don't read too much into the ordering.

The production says this is a two-man show regardless of the label. In 2025, Dowdle logged 1,076 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns across 17 games (216 PPR points), while Warren, in his fifth year with the team, put up 958 rushing yards, 6 scores, and 40 catches for 333 yards over 16 games (217 PPR points). Those are nearly identical fantasy seasons, and the front office has already signaled it's planning defined roles for both.

Why the Order Barely Matters

Dowdle signed a two-year contract this offseason, which tells you Pittsburgh didn't bring him in to hold a clipboard. When a team pays for a veteran back and then talks openly about splitting work, the depth-chart line item becomes cosmetic. Come Week 1, this is likely a committee with game-script swings deciding who's the RB1 on any given Sunday.

That's the trap for fantasy managers. Warren's receiving chops — those 40 grabs last year — give him a passing-down edge and a slightly safer PPR floor. Dowdle is the bigger early-down grinder. Neither profile screams bell-cow, and a healthy split usually leaves both stuck in flex purgatory rather than either one breaking out.

The Quarterback Wrinkle

Behind Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers listed Mason Rudolph as QB2, ahead of Will Howard. Third-round rookie Drew Allar sits fourth, but his draft capital makes him a near-lock to stick — meaning whoever loses the Rudolph-Howard battle for the No. 2 job could be the odd man out entirely.

For fantasy purposes, this is all downstream of Rodgers. He's our No. 42 overall (QB19) after a 24-touchdown, 7-interception 2025 that netted 227 PPR points, and his last five games ran 1.6 points above his season average. As long as he's upright, Rudolph (our No. 402, QB51, just 17 points in five games last year) is nothing more than a deep-dynasty afterthought.

The Fantasy Fallout

Winner, sort of: Warren. He carries our No. 52 overall ranking (RB17) and the RB1 tag gives him marginal name-value in redraft. But the committee ceiling is real, so treat him as a high-end flex, not a set-and-forget RB2.

Loser, sort of: Dowdle. He's our No. 53 overall (RB18) — essentially neck-and-neck with Warren — but his last five games of 2025 came in 4.1 fantasy points below his season average, and now he's the veteran in a timeshare he was expected to co-lead. The RB2 listing plus that fading form makes him a touch riskier in early drafts.

Bottom line: draft both at a modest discount and let the split shake out. If you already roster Warren, hold — the label is worth something, but don't expect workhorse volume. Dowdle is a fine late-round dart with standalone value, just cap your expectations until Pittsburgh shows its hand in the fall. Rudolph and Howard are waiver-wire noise unless Rodgers goes down.