Gruden pushes back against the 'Steelers don’t have wideouts' take, spotlighting Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson as potential breakout producers and citing DK Metcalf as a benchmark. He argues Pittsburgh’s pass-catch options could exceed expectations with strategic usage this season, even in a league-long-standing QB boost. Week 1 at MetLife vs the Jets will test those claims with Rodgers delivering the ball to a refreshed group.

In a narrative-friendly AFC North preview, Gruden frames the Steelers’ WRs as underrated fantasy assets whose upside depends on design, timing, and matchup-specific plays. The Jets game could serve as the first real barometer for this underrated corps, making Week 1 a critical driver for early-season fantasy projections and betting angles.

Week 1 spotlight centers on a Steelers–Jets opener that NFL analysts largely favor Pittsburgh. Nine of ten predictions lean Steelers in tight margins, with scorelines clustered around mid-teen to low-20s. One prognosticator bucks the trend, projecting Jets in a 14-10 upset. The piece flags a potential trap game and tees up early fantasy angles: quarterback execution, weapon usage, and the defense’s Week 1 impact.

Breece Hall is a Week 1 starter in most leagues, lining up as a solid RB2 vs. Pittsburgh. Despite last year’s dip and a jittery preseason, Hall’s big-play history keeps him in fantasy lineups with upside, even as Braelon Allen emerges as a capable spellback.

Allen’s preseason spark muddies the Jets’ backfield picture, but Hall should still lead the committee. In standard and Half-PPR formats, Hall’s floor remains sturdy with extended ceiling, making him a strong Week 1 play while you monitor late-week news.

Fields lands with the Jets on a two-year, $40 million deal, a real shot at starting in 2025 as Mougey touts visible camp progress and a fresh path to redemption. New York bets on a clearer scheme and growth, avoiding the quick bust label by giving Fields room to mature in a stable system.

The move keeps options open if Fields proves himself, while emphasizing a high-upside bet on a young quarterback in a rebuilding Jets era and offering fantasy managers a speculative upside with Jets pass-catchers and backs if execution tightens.