The Pittsburgh Steelers are traveling to Dublin, Ireland, to play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. However, shortly before kickoff, starting running back Jaylen Warren was ruled a surprise inactive due to his lingering hamstring injury. Now, fantasy football managers need to make a last-second pivot to try to salvage an already difficult situation for the Steelers offense.
Who Will Be the Steelers’ RB1 After Jaylen Warren Injury?
In a perfect world, you’re pivoting from this backfield altogether in Week 4. Not only is the matchup less than ideal against a Vikings defense that relies on stacking the line of scrimmage and creating chaos, but the Steelers aren’t really built for this.
Kenneth Gainwell is the next man up, but he’s only reached 15 touches in four of 69 career games. He figures to approach that number today, and with a 73.7% career catch rate, there’s a path for him to give you viable flex numbers in PPR formats, but the upside is capped.
MORE: Updated Fantasy Rankings, Analysis, Trade Advice, and More
He’s the only Pittsburgh RB worth a look as a late swap and checks in as my RB30 for the week. Names in that general range of the Week 4 RB Rankings for me are Quinshon Judkins (at Lions) and Bill Croskey-Merritt on a banged-up Commanders team that heads to Atlanta.
I’d play both of those backs over Gainwell this week, but I do have Pittsburgh’s new RB1 ranked ahead of both Kansas City backs (vs. Ravens) and over Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Panthers) following the fumble party that was Week 3.
Week 4 Fantasy RB Rankings
1) Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons (vs. WAS)
2) Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens (at KC)
3) Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers (vs. JAX)
4) Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles (at TB)
5) James Cook | Buffalo Bills (vs. NO)
6) Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts (at LAR)
7) Bucky Irving | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PHI)
8) Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions (vs. CLE)
9) De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)
10) Josh Jacobs | Green Bay Packers (at DAL)
11) Ashton Jeanty | Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CHI)
12) Kenneth Walker III | Seattle Seahawks (at ARI)
13) Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers (at NE)
14) Jordan Mason | Minnesota Vikings (vs. PIT (Ireland))
15) Breece Hall | New York Jets (at MIA)
16) Cam Skattebo | New York Giants (vs. LAC)
17) Travis Etienne Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (at SF)
18) Chase Brown | Cincinnati Bengals (at DEN)
19) Omarion Hampton | Los Angeles Chargers (at NYG)
20) TreVeyon Henderson | New England Patriots (vs. CAR)
21) J.K. Dobbins | Denver Broncos (vs. CIN)
22) D’Andre Swift | Chicago Bears (at LV)
23) Javonte Williams | Dallas Cowboys (vs. GB)
24) Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints (at BUF)
25) Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams (vs. IND)
26) Quinshon Judkins | Cleveland Browns (at DET)
27) Trey Benson | Arizona Cardinals (vs. SEA)
28) Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Washington Commanders (at ATL)
29) David Montgomery | Detroit Lions (vs. CLE)
30) Tony Pollard | Tennessee Titans (at HOU)
31) Isiah Pacheco | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
32) Nick Chubb | Houston Texans (vs. TEN)
33) Bhayshul Tuten | Jacksonville Jaguars (at SF)
34) Rhamondre Stevenson | New England Patriots (vs. CAR)
35) Kenneth Gainwell | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. MIN (Ireland))
36) Zach Charbonnet | Seattle Seahawks (at ARI)
37) Kareem Hunt | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. BAL)
38) Ollie Gordon II | Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)
39) Jeremy McNichols | Washington Commanders (at ATL)
40) Miles Sanders | Dallas Cowboys (vs. GB)
