After the first two weeks of the season were quiet for Cordarrelle Patterson, the versatile offensive weapon had something of an expanded role in the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Pittsburgh running back room is a crowded one, but with some developing injury situations, is Patterson due for enough of a workload to pick him up in fantasy football?
Should Cordarrelle Patterson Be Added on the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 4?
The Steelers came into this season with one of the most exciting running back duos in the league, leaving little room for Patterson to wedge himself into game plans. However, during the team’s Week 3 win, both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren picked up injuries.
The extent of Harris and Warren’s injuries is similarly unclear, so Patterson could be the Steelers’ top running back option in Week 4. He could play second fiddle to either Warren or Harris, or he could be relegated to the third-string role he occupied to start the season.
Yeah, Cordarrelle Patterson needs more than 4 carries per game. pic.twitter.com/tV53wDuMyr
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) September 23, 2024
The good news is that Patterson has looked great in limited action thus far. Even at the age of 33 years, he’s still playing with the intensity that has made him a fan favorite for years and showing plenty of burst. If he’s given touches, he should do well with them.
One interesting angle in analyzing rushing opportunities with the Steelers is their quarterback. Justin Fields was a thousand-yard rusher for the Chicago Bears in 2022, and while he didn’t reach quite that level last season, he was the team’s leading rusher, cracking over 50 ground yards per game.
If Warren and Harris are both unavailable, Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin could always compensate, at least in part, by giving Fields more rushing opportunities. Of course, they won’t entirely go away from a back-based run game, so if Patterson is the only back, he’ll get ample carries.
This situation becomes a tough one to figure out if only one of Harris and Warren is ready to go. It would not be clear what the carry split between the starter and Patterson, not to mention Fields, would look like.
However, after Patterson looked so good in his first extended action of the season, the Steelers may feel empowered to exercise caution with their higher-priority backs. Patterson is also versatile enough to chip in when it comes to the passing game, so he could earn snaps that way.
If Patterson is given an expanded role, don’t expect him to fully let go of it. He’s a good enough player to impress when given a chance, and while he won’t receive top-back touches when either Warren or Harris is healthy, he could be a good flex piece in a pinch.
If he does perform admirably as the Steelers’ lone back for any period of time, he could be a trade candidate, with plenty of teams looking to find substitutes for injured key players. If you’re in need at the running back position and can spare the roster spot, consider bringing in Patterson as a short-term band-aid and a potential investment for later on as well.