Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster drama remains mostly stable after a rough second preseason showing, with only a handful of tweaks anticipated before the Aug. 26 cutdown following Friday’s finale against Carolina. The Steelers head into Week 3 with one more chance to lock in roles and special-teams assignments, keeping veteran leadership in place while the young talent fights for final spots.

Quarterback depth is highlighted by a three-man group featuring Rodgers, Rudolph and rookie Will Howard, while Jaylen Warren anchors the backfield with Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell and Lew Nichols in the mix. The pass-catching corps leans on Metcalf, Woods, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller and Max Hurleman, with Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth providing a tight-end backbone alongside Darnell Washington.

On the line, Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu and Calvin Anderson anchor tackles; Isaac Seumalo, Mason McCormick, Max Scharping and Spencer Anderson hold guard spots, with Zach Frazier and Ryan McCollum at center. Up front on defense, Cameron Heyward, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Keeanu Benton and Yahya Black anchor interior gaps, while Derrick Harmon and Logan Lee push the edges. The Watt-Smith pass-rush core—T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer—maps as Pittsburgh’s primary pressure package, with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson inside and Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison providing linebacker depth.

Secondary options include Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay Jr., Brandin Echols and Beanie Bishop at cornerback, with DeShon Elliott, Miles Killebrew, Juan Thornhill and Chuck Clark at safety. Special teams feature Boswell, Johnston and Kuntz as the kicking, punting and long-snapping trifecta.

The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Bank of America Stadium for the Week 3 preseason battle with the Carolina Panthers on Aug 21, 2025. It’s a tight turnaround on a short week, making this the final meaningful exhibition for many depth players and a chance to prove roster spots behind the starters. The Steelers’ plan leans toward evaluating backup skill positions, line play, and defensive depth after a loss to Tampa Bay. Regional TV coverage is KDKA-TV with NFL+ streaming, and Steelers Wire will keep you updated on injuries and standout performances that matter for dynasty and late-round fantasy depth.

Starters are unlikely to push heavy reps—Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, T.J. Watt, and Jalen Ramsey have been healthy scratches in recent games—so fantasy managers should watch how backups perform in the final audition. Expect depth players at wide receiver and running back to seize touches, while the defensive line and secondary are under scrutiny for Week 1 readiness. This game shapes the late-season depth chart and waiver targets as teams finalize their 53-man rosters.

Bottom line: monitor who earns extended run, especially at receiver and the backfield, and how the offense operates without the usual star workload. If a rise from the depth corps translates into more snaps or red-zone chances, that player could become a sneaky DFS or dynasty option as the preseason concludes.

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.

Certainty in fantasy backfields is appealing, but the brightest values often come from ambiguity. When a backfield isn’t settled, the door opens for explosive players with the right opportunity to rise to every-week starter status. The 2024 season provided multiple examples where uncertain roles yielded league-winners, and 2025 looks ripe for similar mid- to late-round bets. Focus shifts from “RB1 locks” to those backs with a path to lead-back duties or primary work if a primary back falters or evolves. Washington’s rookie Croskey-Merritt, the Giants’ Cam Skattebo, Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren, and Jacksonville’s Bayshul Tuten are among those names commanders and fantasy managers will watch closely as training camp and the preseason unfold. The core idea: dismiss the depth-chart noise, chase the explosive path, and calibrate redraft and best-ball drafts to profit from high-upside, low-ownership scenarios.

Washington’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a late-round flyer with breakout appeal if an opening arises in a backfield that already features Brian Robinson. Croskey-Merritt flashed one-cut explosiveness in the preseason opener and has backing from staff keen to generate more big plays. In deeper formats, rostering him could pay off when opportunity materializes Week 1 or later in the season. On the other side of the country, Cam Skattebo drew late-round intrigue in New York as a pass-catching, compact runner who could push for a role if injuries or inefficiency open a lane. In Miami and Detroit’s other backfield sketches, Warren and Tuten illustrate how volatility can become value when the clock runs and the touch tree expands.