The Steelers may have to lean hard on Jaylen Warren on Sunday, and all signs point to that being the plan if he’s active against the Bengals.
Warren is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, but he got in limited work during the week. With Rico Dowdle already ruled out, Pittsburgh’s backfield is set to be thin for the AFC North matchup. Steelers running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung said the team is preparing for Warren to handle the heavy lifting.
Steelers RBs coach Ramon Chinyoung on the RB rotation this week with Rico Dowdle likely being out:"With Rico being in the position he is now, Jaylen (Warren) is going to go out, he's going lead the group and when he needs a breather, we'll make sure he can receive that so he…
That usage would make Warren a strong prop option against a Bengals defense that has opened the 2026 season fifth in the NFL in EPA/Play. Cincinnati has also already picked up wins over Tampa Bay and Houston, and it enters Week 3 as the road favorite.
Through two games, Warren has been on the field for 54.7 percent of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps. That number jumped to 71.4 percent in Week 2, and if he suits up Sunday, his role should stay at that level or grow.
The Steelers’ offense has struggled badly early this season, sitting 32nd in EPA/Play and 27th in EPA/Rush. Even so, Warren has been one of the few steady pieces. He has 21 carries for 89 yards and has caught seven of his 10 targets for 61 yards in 2026.
The numbers point to a busy afternoon if he plays. Warren posted 73 combined yards in Week 1 and 77 in Week 2 while sharing the backfield with Dowdle, and a bigger workload would only raise that ceiling.
He’s also been productive as a runner, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and reaching at least 43 rushing yards in every game so far. With Aaron Rodgers checking the ball down frequently in Pittsburgh, Warren could also pick up easy receiving production on Sunday.
That’s why his combined rushing and receiving yards prop stands out. The floor looks sturdy, and the setup is there for another volume-heavy outing if he’s cleared to go.
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