Derrick Harmon has emerged as the Steelers’ standout rookie through four weeks, delivering a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass deflection that led to an interception in just two games. His bursts have coincided with Pittsburgh’s strongest defensive stretch this season, signaling real fantasy upside in IDP and DFS if his role grows.

With the rest of the rookie class quiet and no Steelers on the quarter-season All-Rookie list, the bye week becomes a pivot for development and clearer roles. Dynasty managers should monitor Harmon’s snap count and impact plays as the 17-game slate unfolds, while the other rookies jostle for usage behind him.

The Steelers sit at 3-1 as the bye week arrives, with their 2025 rookie class already making noise. Derrick Harmon has become a steady force on the defensive line, while Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black have flashed in limited action. Two late-round rookies look to rejoin the fold soon—Will Howard and Donte Kent—ahead of Week 6 against the Browns. Howard’s return could lock in the third quarterback role, and Kent would bolster a secondary in need as Ramsey heals.

Meanwhile, Cory Trice Jr. looms as a potentially disruptive outside corner when healthy. The bye buys Pittsburgh time to reintegrate key pieces and sharpen the defense around a developing group that includes Harmon, Sawyer, and Black, with Rodgers and Rudolph mentoring Howard as the rookie QB eyeing a larger role. The coming weeks will test how these rookies reshape Pittsburgh’s ceiling late in the season.

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.

Week 3 fantasy intrigue centers on a Steelers-Patriots showdown with high-variance outcomes. Rodgers is forecast to be sacked 4+ times, a signal that the Jets signal-caller could struggle against a ferocious pass rush in this scenario. Pittsburgh’s defense aims to clamp the Patriots on the ground, with a potential Derrick Harmon debut adding juice to the run D. Jaylen Warren is projected to exceed 100 total yards, while Broderick Jones may be benched to reset protection after multiple sacks.