The Pittsburgh Steelers enter their Week 17 clash with the Cleveland Browns riding momentum from a dominant ground game performance in Week 16. Jaylen Warren emerged as a key contributor last week, but his name appeared on the midweek practice report with an injury. Will fantasy football managers have their explosive running back available for the crucial divisional matchup?
Jaylen Warren Injury Update
Warren popped up on Wednesday’s practice report with a hip injury following his breakout performance against the Detroit Lions. The running back logged 143 yards on 14 carries and scored two 45-yard rushing touchdowns in the Steelers’ victory. He was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s session, which head coach Mike Tomlin anticipated earlier in the week.
Tomlin addressed Warren’s status during his Tuesday press conference, stating that Warren would “be limited at the early portions of the week”. The head coach added that he remains “optimistic” about Warren’s availability for Sunday’s game against Cleveland. Multiple reports indicate the injury is considered minor and Warren is expected to play against the Browns.
The fact that Warren practiced at all on Wednesday is an encouraging sign for his Week 17 outlook. Players dealing with legitimate injury concerns often sit out entirely on the first practice report of the week, but Warren’s ability to participate in limited fashion suggests the hip issue isn’t significant enough to threaten his availability.
Warren should be viewed as on track to suit up for the Week 17 contest barring any setbacks in the coming days. Fantasy managers can feel confident keeping him in their lineups for championship matchups, as there is no indication from the coaching staff that this injury puts his status in jeopardy.
Warren’s Fantasy Outlook
Mariano Rivera was great, but the job Warren did in closing out the Lions last week was elite (even if the kicking game/defense nearly blew it).
“Back breaking 45-yard TD run in the fourth” was a note I had jotted down and that was before his second “back breaking 45-yard TD run in the fourth”.
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Not bad for a RB that didn’t have more than 35 rushing yards in any of his three games prior.
Those are his two longest gains of the season and put him in rarified air when it comes to stringing explosive plays like that together. That said, it was still a split backfield with Kenneth Gainwell where Warren surrendered some passing game work.
This is a profile you can start, as long as you’re not expecting a repeat of last week. He’s got five games of 15+ PPR points this season, a total he has a chance to build on against the Browns defense that is fading.
— PFSN Fantasy Analyst Kyle Soppe
