In Dublin, Vikings inactives include Donovan Jackson, J.J. McCarthy, Desmond Ridder (emergency QB), Walter Rouse, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Ben Yurosek. Cam Akers is elevated to active roster for the second time, with Max Brosmer backing Carson Wentz. Steelers’ inactives are Alex Highsmith, Esezi Otemewo, Andrus Peat, Joey Porter Jr., and Jaylen Warren, whose late knee issue robs Pittsburgh of a key playmaker early. Kickoff is set for 8:00 AM Central.

The day shapes up as a test of depth for both teams: Akers’ return gives Minnesota a fresh backfield option behind Wentz, while Pittsburgh must navigate without Warren and Highsmith. Fantasy managers will want to watch how the snaps and game plan unfold as backups step into bigger roles.

With these lineups, projection chatter centers on Akers’ workload in Minnesota and the Steelers’ backfield and pass-game adjustments without Warren. Stay tuned for our in-game discussion thread as teams prepare for kickoff in Dublin.

Steelers-Patriots clash at 1-1 heightens roster depth with inactives shaping the game. Derrick Harmon returns to bolster Pittsburgh's interior line, while several regulars are out, including Porter Jr. and Highsmith. New England lists Gonzalez, Gregory, Wallace, Chism, Ponder and DeVito as inactive, testing their depth and flexibility on defense and special teams.

Expect the game to hinge on how Pittsburgh can pressure and clog gaps without full edge rotation and how New England compensates in the secondary and trench with a thinner group. Fantasy angles center on who steps up in spot duties and which defense wins the chess match in the trenches.

Ben Roethlisberger ripped Broderick Jones on his podcast after Pittsburgh’s Week 1 win over the Jets, calling Jones a turnstile and noting three sacks credited to him. Jones’s 2024 line (58.5 PFF, 10 sacks, 10 penalties) has Steelers fans worried as they face a difficult early slate. Troy Fautanu showed better footing, and Pittsburgh could consider veteran Andrus Peat if Jones doesn’t turn it around quickly. The win-now Steelers must fix left-town protection fast.

Jones’s struggles come as Pittsburgh eyes tougher opponents like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Green Bay, and Detroit. The Steelers’ pass protection hinges on Jones’s rapid improvement, with Peat as a possible fix. Week 1 highlighted the urgency to stabilize the left side, or risk accelerating the push to upgrade the line this season.

Week 1 inactives for New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers inject notable fantasy volatility. Vera-Tucker and Lazard sit for the Jets, along with Braiden McGregor, thinning the interior and receiver depth. Jelani Woods is also listed as inactive, adding a wrinkle for tight end usage in the surrounding context. For Pittsburgh, the list includes Derrick Harmon, Nick Herbig, Skylar Thompson, Max Scharping, Andrus Peat, and Ese Otomewo, signaling shifts along both lines and depth on defense. The opening matchup now hinges on which role players seize expanded opportunities and how coaches deploy their depth charts in MetLife.

Fantasy takeaway: Jets must compensate for Vera-Tucker and Lazard with lineman shuffles and elevated targets for other pass-catchers, while Steelers’ inactives thin certain rotations but could boost opportunities for reserves on both sides of the ball. DFS and daily fantasy pivot to upside plays at the edges and in the Jets’ and Steelers’ supporting cast, with a wait-and-see lens on early-series snaps.

Pittsburgh reshuffles six jersey numbers ahead of the regular season, led by Yahya Black moving to No. 94. Esezi Otomewo becomes 93, Andrus Peat 71, Max Hurleman 84, D'Shawn Jamison 38, and Trey Sermon 37. No. 94 last belonged to Dean Lowry, who is out with a knee injury. Black wore 94 at Iowa, and preseason buzz could push him into action as Week 1 vs. the Jets looms.

The change signals a fresh Steelers DL rotation and potential fantasy upside for Black if his momentum carries over. Sermon and Hurleman add backfield and committee depth, while Otomewo and Jamison provide versatile line-coverage options. The Jets opener on Sept. 7 will reveal how these moves translate to real game snaps.

For fantasy players, tracking snap counts and usage in that opener will be critical. If Black commands early-down reps and pressures the quarterback, a notable surge in tackle and sack opportunities could follow, especially with Lowry sidelined.