RB Jaylen Warren, PIT (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

32BeatWriters

“Their roles are pretty clearly defined. (Najee) Harris is the lead back, with (Jaylen) Warren playing a third-down role and getting sprinkled in occasionally on first and second downs, as well.”

https://twitter.com/32beatwriters/status/1693762752563622155?s=21

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

32BeatWriters

“Their roles are pretty clearly defined. (Najee) Harris is the lead back, with (Jaylen) Warren playing a third-down role and getting sprinkled in occasionally on first and second downs, as well.”

https://twitter.com/32beatwriters/status/1693762752563622155?s=21

Music to my ears. Those sexy receptions & even some COP/breather back touches?

 

[Faust]

ESPN’s Dan Graziano says, “Don’t be surprised...if Jaylen Warren is the [Steelers] lead running by the end of the season.”

It seems unlikely that Warren would lead the Steelers in touches as long as Najee Harris is healthy, but Harris’ overall lack of efficiency and explosiveness have been well-documented since he entered the league in 2021. On the contrary, Warren’s efficiency since entering the league as a UDFA last season has been just as well-documented, and the second-year back has continued to impress this offseason. Warren ate into Harris’ workload last season, particularly on passing downs, and he’s expected to be utilized heavily on third downs this season. Graziano isn’t the first to speculate Warren overtaking Harris at some point in 2023, but it will likely take either an injury to Harris or a complete decline in his play for that to come to fruition. Warren is still a high-end handcuff who would be a low-end RB1 if Harris ever missed time.

 

[LawFitz]

Only a matter of time, IMO. Stillers won't quit Najee easily. But when they do...

 

[JohnnyU]

32BeatWriters

“Their roles are pretty clearly defined. (Najee) Harris is the lead back, with (Jaylen) Warren playing a third-down role and getting sprinkled in occasionally on first and second downs, as well.”

https://twitter.com/32beatwriters/status/1693762752563622155?s=21

Music to my ears. Those sexy receptions & even some COP/breather back touches?

…..or more. Harris owners are on notice.

 

[travdogg]

I think I said it in the Najee thread, but I'll echo it here, this is Gordon/Ekeler all over again.

Warren is a top-10 RB if anything happens to Najee.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I think I said it in the Najee thread, but I'll echo it here, this is Gordon/Ekeler all over again.

Warren is a top-10 RB if anything happens to Najee.

And has the stand-alone value even if nothing does. Bonus.

 

[JohnnyU]

I think I said it in the Najee thread, but I'll echo it here, this is Gordon/Ekeler all over again.

Warren is a top-10 RB if anything happens to Najee.

….and that something doesn’t necessarily have to be an injury

 

[LawFitz]

This could easily turn into a hot-hand situation even without a Najee injury. All dude needs to do is keep cloud dusting after 3 yards while Warren does his honey badger thing and eventually the difference will be too much too tolerate - even for a stubborn goat like Tomlin.

 

[Banger]

Reminds me of the Harris/Stevenson situation last year. Loved Stevenson last year and love Warren this year.

 

[Faust]

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Jaylen Warren is expected to get “a little more first and second down snaps than usual.”

Rapoport said that Najee Harris remains the start and will see work on early downs, but Jaylen Warren will take the field for third downs. That was before mentioning an increased role for Warren on first and second downs. The way Rapoport paints it sounds like a full-blown committee is brewing in Pittsburgh. If that is the case, Harris would plummet deep into the RB2 ranks with Warren not far behind as a viable FLEX option.

 

[The Frankman]

Jaylen Warren rushed three times for six yards in the Steelers’ Week 1 loss to the 49ers, adding five receptions for 12 additional yards.

NFL Network’s pre-game report that Warren was going to see more work came true, as he tied Najee Harris with eight touches. The problem is, the Steelers went down two scores just 10 minutes into the game and had to abandon the run. They weren’t having much more success sustaining drives with the pass, either, leaving little upside opportunity for Warren. Harris still won the snaps battle but appeared to be on the field for fewer than 60 percent of the plays. “This is happening,” one might say. Warren will be a wild card FLEX for Week 2 against the Browns.
- Rotoworld

 

[The Frankman]

Pro Football Focus - NFL Week 2 Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Monday Night Football

Jaylen Warren leads the Steelers backfield in yards: Warren and Najee Harris were the closest to a 50/50 split we’ve seen in a game with a relatively neutral script.

• Warren had one game where he outsnapped Harris last season, but it was a game the Steelers lost 38-3, so it was understandable that the passing-down back played more.
• Warren has slowly but surely gained more playing time on early downs, bringing their playing time closer together.
• Harris was the more successful runner tonight, with 43 yards on 10 carries compared to 20 yards on six carries for Warren. Warren more than made up for it as a receiver, with 66 receiving yards on four receptions compared to 0 receiving yards on Harris’ only catch.
• It wouldn’t be surprising if this were the new normal for Pittsburgh, with the two running backs seeing close to a 50-50 split depending on the game script.
• Warren should not be on the waiver wire in any league, as his explosiveness could lead to an increase in opportunities over time.

 

[Heisenberg23]

Eye test alone - Warren appears more explosive back and better than Harris

 

[BobbyLayne]

Tied with Kyren for the league lead in RB targets (12)

 

[Steeler]

Eye test alone - Warren appears more explosive back and better than Harris

Steelers should have drafted Creed Humphrey instead of Harris

 

[JohnnyU]

Even on the 17 yard run Harris looked slow to me. Warren looks like the better RB, but Tomlin seems loyal to Harris at the moment. He should wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[zamboni]

The Steelers have obviously long been an organization based on loyalty, as we know from 3 head coaches in 54 years. For those that remember the mid-2000s, there were calls for Amos Zereoue to take over for a gassed Jerome Bettis, but it never happened. While Najee isn't exactly in that same realm, their 1st round draft capital is likely going to keep him highly involved for the forseeable future. Will probably take a Najee injury for Warren to really shine.

 

[Gold Fox]

Warren missed a huge block and could have got his QB injured. Harris will keep the primary role, if solely to preserve the health of Pickett.

 

[Banger]

The Steelers have obviously long been an organization based on loyalty, as we know from 3 head coaches in 54 years. For those that remember the mid-2000s, there were calls for Amos Zereoue to take over for a gassed Jerome Bettis, but it never happened. While Najee isn't exactly in that same realm, their 1st round draft capital is likely going to keep him highly involved for the forseeable future. Will probably take a Najee injury for Warren to really shine.

or continued ineffectiveness of Harris where they give the ball to Warren to see if he can spark the offense. If the Steelers are behind or struggling to move the ball (which it seems may be a consistent theme this year) they aren't going to be thinking about what round they drafted a player....they are going to put in the player that's going to move the chains and keep the offense on the field.

Most people said that this is Harris's offense and there's nothing to worry about and that Warren is the 3rd down back. It's week 2 and Warren is already getting much more than anticipated. Yesterday the defense won the game as the offense could barely move the ball outside of a couple Pickens passes. They need to find someway / someone to help move the ball and if Warren helps them do that, he will continue to get more and more.

 

[Wigglytuff's Gruff]

Warren missed a huge block and could have got his QB injured. Harris will keep the primary role, if solely to preserve the health of Pickett.

You could make the argument that this might not be the optimum outcome for the Steelers.

 

[kyoun1e]

This feels like the Zeke/Pollard situation last year.

May take a few weeks, but I think Warren gets a largert piece of the pie and becomes startable if this offense doesn't improve. If the CLE offense didn't hand PIT two TDs last night and they fell to 0-2 there would be more panic I'd think.