Steelers pass game shows flashes through four games, but the bye week highlights blocking and scheme as the bigger culprits, not the receivers. DK Metcalf leads with 261 yards and a reliable, quick-hit connection with Rodgers on short and intermediate routes.

Calvin Austin's speed opens space for others, though he has not topped 35 receiving yards in three games. Roman Wilson has been quiet, Ben Skowronek brings dependable hands and a Rodgers TD, and Scotty Miller remains without a catch early.

As Rodgers anchors the offense, Pittsburgh must let Metcalf continue to dominate and push the rest to raise their level once the line stabilizes and the attack identity firms up.

The Steelers’ WR depth takes a hit with Calvin Austin III out, forcing an in‑house reshuffle that could redefine weekly target distribution. Scotty Miller looms as the immediate option, while Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith become the safer, high‑floor targets in a pitifully thin group. Odell Beckham Jr. or Diontae Johnson would barely shift the math, and Curtis Samuel is more speculative trade chatter than a fantasy staple. Pittsburgh leans on internal options and the draft picks, making Miller and Freiermuth the clear fantasy anchors going forward.

Fantasy managers should recalibrate expectations around the Steelers’ passing game, gaming around Miller’s volatility and Freiermuth’s dependable floor. If Samuel or a surprise veteran like Wilson surfaces, they offer speculative upside, but the safe path remains: prioritize Miller and Freiermuth, monitor the waiver wire, and avoid overpaying for potential one‑off additions until Pittsburgh proves its depth can sustain sustained fantasy value.

Pittsburgh’s initial 53-man roster locks in a five-man WR group led by Metcalf, with Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek providing speed, reliability and veteran savvy. Will Howard’s short-term IR sets up a tense quarterback decision window, while Skylar Thompson remains in the mix. The defense plans for Derrick Harmon’s absence by loading eight DL, and rookies Jack Sawyer and Carson Bruener earned spots, underscoring a youthful, versatile backbone that will shape Week 1 fantasy outcomes.

Fantasy takeaway: the WR depth offers upside across weekly targets, while the QB situation injects volatility into early-season projections. With Metcalf as the clear target anchor, the Steelers could deliver solid fantasy value at the position if Howard or Thompson surfaces as a red-zone facilitator, amplifying late-round flier appeal and stream options for Weeks 1–4.

Robert Woods was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 53-man roster deadline loomed, leaving the WR depth chart thinner after the Pickens move. Woods had been in the mix behind Metcalf and Pickens, but a combination of preseason struggles and the rise of Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin III sealed his fate. With Woods gone, Calvin Austin III looms as the immediate breakout candidate, while Scotty Miller and Wilson push for snaps as the Week 1 tilt against the Jets approaches.

The Jets game looms large as Pittsburgh pivots to game preparation with a thinner group, and Woods’ exit signals a shift in how fantasy managers should view the Steelers’ receiving corps. Expect early opportunities for the youngsters, with Woods aiming to latch on elsewhere, potentially reshaping waiver priorities for Baltimore’s and Cleveland’s add options later in the season.