Aaron Rodgers’ arrival in Pittsburgh is not just a headline-grab; it could reshape 2025 fantasy value by lifting the Steelers’ backfield options and opening up attacking avenues for the pass game. Warren and the rookie Kaleb Johnson may benefit most as Rodgers’ play-action and timing throws could keep defenses honest and create clearer lanes for a veteran in Warren or a dynamic rookie in Johnson. Rodgers’ history with top-scoring backs—Jones in Green Bay and others—gives Warren a plausible path to bigger yardage and improved fantasy receipts, especially with Najee Harris now elsewhere.

SportsLine’s model adds a broader flavor: Waddle and Downs surface as sleepers and breakouts, with Bateman cast as a bust candidate in 2025. The piece highlights a Colts connection between Richardson and Downs, plus a potential Waddle rebound aided by Jonnu Smith’s departure to the Steelers, which could free targets. It’s a reminder that the 2025 rankings and cheat sheets are driven by a model that has historically nailed sleepers and breakouts, and that fantasy managers should lean on those simulated projections when mapping draft strategies across PPR and non-PPR formats.

In short, Rodgers to Pittsburgh isn’t just about pass-catchers; it could unlock a more balanced offense where Warren or Kaleb Johnson emerge as reliable 2025 fantasy contributors. The piece also stresses using robust rankings and rich cheat sheets to navigate the evolving landscape, with sleeper value anchoring many early-round decisions and bust risk shaping later pivots.

Pittsburgh’s No. 20 runs deep in Steelers lore, and this year’s No. 20 is Kaleb Johnson, a 2025 third‑round pick who could step into a larger workload after Najee Harris left for Los Angeles. Johnson sits behind Jaylen Warren for now, but the vacancy hints at a potential breakout opportunity if he seizes reps early. The No. 20 lineage also carries Rocky Bleier’s legendary comeback and a string of notable wearers (Cameron Sutton, Patrick Peterson, Robert Golden, Al-Hajj Shabazz) that frames today’s assignment with historical gravity. The Jets loom in MetLife Stadium, but the conversation centers on how a storied number can shape a rookie’s fantasy ceiling and a veteran roster turning points.

Beyond the on‑field path, the piece sketches how No. 20 has evolved from Bleier’s 1,000‑yard seasons and four Super Bowls to a modern rookie’s arc, with the Steelers balancing depth, youth, and tradition. The countdown format links the roster to a larger narrative: a young backfield, a defensive veteran who briefly wore the number, and a franchise that still leans on a long memory of 20s past. It’s a brand‑new snapshot of a single digit, but a window into how a franchise plans a season around opportunity, history, and competitive pressure.

Najee Harris is close to returning from a scary eye injury suffered in a July fireworks mishap, and the Chargers are counting on him to anchor a crowded backfield. On a one-year deal worth up to 9.25 million, Harris has been inching back into drills after limited activity since early August. If Harris isn’t ready for Week 1, Omarion Hampton will shoulder more carries as the top backup, with a battleground around Vidal, Sanders, Haskins and Miller-Hines for the third spot. The Chargers haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017, and Harris’s dual-threat profile could unlock the passing game if he’s healthy. Week 1 against Kansas City in Sao Paulo will be a true early-season gauge.

The Chargers’ depth behind Harris is notable but unproven, making every practice rep critical for Hampton and the competing group. Harris’s Pittsburgh background as a steady runner and reliable receiver is a relatable touchstone for fantasy managers weighing risk vs. reward in a backfield that needs a durable, feature-back presence. Harris’s health status and usage in the opener will drive the early fantasy value of Hampton and the rest of the Chargers' backfield, especially in DFS lineups and risk-adjusted season-long rosters.

Jaylen Warren is the focal point as 2025 fantasy prep centers on the Steelers after Najee Harris departs. Kaleb Johnson lands as an early-down answer, but Arthur Smith-era ambiguity and Rodgers’ measured pace could limit overall volume. Cordarrelle Patterson and Jonnu Smith join a pass game that aims to diversify targets, while Rodgers’ slower tempo keeps play totals in check. Warren’s health is restored, but his weekly upside remains capped with Johnson absorbing more work.

Draft strategy centerpoints Warren’s floor and the Johnson split, with Patterson and Smith offering veteran, high-floor upside in the passing game. Rodgers’ pace reduces big-volume weeks, making red-zone chances and breakouts more stochastic. In shallow leagues Warren may still offer FLEX value, while Johnson is a late-round dart with upside if he seizes early-down work.

A quartet of rookie running backs battles for fantasy relevance in 2025, and the path to weekly touches looks distinctly clear for Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, RJ Harvey, and Kaleb Johnson. Jeanty lands with Las Vegas, stepping into a Raiders backfield that could lean heavily on a dynamic rookie if training-camp chatter proves true. Hampton lands in Los Angeles with the Chargers, where a multi-faceted backfield could still offer a high-end RB2 ceiling. Harvey lands in Denver with the Broncos, where he’ll compete for touches in a familiar land of high-volume rushing when the offense clicks. Johnson lands in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers’ run game could lean on a bruiser who can punch in goal-line opportunities. Even with floor-raising competition, each rookie carries a plausible route to meaningful fantasy production in 2025.

Across the board, the rookies are positioned to maximize upside in flexible formats, with Jeanty highlighted as a potential year-one feature back in a run-focused Raiders attack; Hampton as a high-upside RB2 in a Chargers system that blends explosiveness and receiving aptitude; Harvey as a credible RB2 with receiving upside in a Broncos scheme that has shown patience with backs who can catch; and Johnson as a 850+ yard, eight-TD type talent who could push for lead-back duties in Pittsburgh’s short-yardage role. Draft whispers and camp chatter align with a broader fantasy trend: rookies who land in flexible, high-volume offenses can become league-winners even if early-season workload is capped.

Rookies aren’t a guaranteed path to RB1 glory, but the 2024 season’s breakout classmates—Thomas Jr., Bowers, and Daniels—set a blueprint: frequent touches, a role that expands as the year progresses, and a receiving game component that can anchor a fantasy manager’s floor. Jeanty, Hampton, Harvey, and Johnson each offer distinct avenues to top-5 or top-12 fantasy output in 2025, making late-round targets with real upside appealing for managers aiming to unlock a surprise breakout during the season.