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Yahoo Sports NFL fantasy football takes on Jaylen Warren

Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Yahoo Sports NFL about Jaylen Warren.

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Insights
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Insight ledger

All Yahoo Sports NFL insights about Jaylen Warren

PositiveProjectionNov 6, 2026
Ben Roethlisberger says Warren deserves MVP consideration for his play through eight weeks; Warren has 998 scrimmage yards (third in league behind only Jahmyr Gibbs and Jaxon Smith-Njigba) and is averaging 4.89 yards per touch, the most by any running back with at least 100 touches. Roethlisberger highlighted Warren's yards after contact as among the league's highest and praised his ability to fall forward for positive gains despite plays that don't initially look promising.
PositiveUsageNov 5, 2026
Warren rushed for 143 yards on 19 up-the-middle runs against Cleveland's soft interior defense. The Steelers' run selection breakdown shows 19 of 25 total runs went up the middle, with Warren gaining 15, 9 (TD), 15, 51, 0, -2, 4, 23, 5, 6, 1 (TD), 2, 3, 13, 2, 1, 4, -1, -1 yards on those carries. A 51-yard run exemplified the blueprint: blocking tight ends and pulling linemen moved MLB Carson Schwesinger out of position, defensive tackles were blocked left and right, and Warren reached the second level with only safeties and corners to beat.
PositiveUsageNov 3, 2026
Warren tied his career high with 143 rushing yards in the Steelers' dominant 27-6 win over Cleveland, part of a combined 199-yard, two-touchdown performance by the Steelers' running back duo. Joey Bray highlighted that Warren has the second-most scrimmage yards in the NFL through eight weeks and is the most efficient running back in the NFL on a per-touch basis. Warren's breakout season, coupled with Rico Dowdle's emergence, has given Pittsburgh a true two-headed monster in the backfield that controlled the pace of the game.
PositiveBreakoutNov 3, 2026
Warren has exploded in recent weeks and added 157 rushing yards in the Steelers' rout of the Browns on Sunday. The source notes Warren is first in the league in rushing EPA (19.0), third in yards per carry after contact (4.14), and sixth in rushing yards (704). He tied his career high with 143 yards on 17 carries Sunday on his 28th birthday, with five of his top nine career rushing games coming this season. The Athletic states "This is Jaylen Warren's team now," emphasizing his emergence as the focal point of Pittsburgh's offense.
PositiveUsageNov 2, 2026
Jaylen Warren's star turn has correlated with Brock Hoffman and Max Iheanachor joining the starting O-line on the right side earlier this season, and Pittsburgh continues to reap the benefits. In recent weeks against the Saints and Browns, Pittsburgh has turned to higher doses of gap concepts and more use of an extra offensive lineman jumbo package, resulting in Pittsburgh's best two rushing performances of the year (148 and 200 yards, respectively). Warren's short-yardage run game has been remarkably efficient in 2026, yet the Steelers have inexplicably opted to pass on first and second down inside the Browns' 15 in red zone situations.
PositiveUsageNov 1, 2026
Warren was a key part of Pittsburgh's rushing attack; he carried for a few yards on 3rd-and-7, overshot on a crossing route by Aaron Rodgers, picked up a first down on the first play of a drive, had a screen play shut down for a loss of 3 yards, ran a quick-hitting run for a wide-open 51-yard gain to the Browns' 25 yard line, gained 8 yards on a pitch out to the 13 yard line, and got 23 yards on a run late in the second quarter with Cleveland missing a tackle.
PositiveMatchupOct 31, 2026
Warren is favored to record 10+ rushing yards on the Steelers' opening drive against Cleveland at +174 odds. The source cites the Steelers' 17-play, 78-yard touchdown opening drive in their last meeting where Warren had 21 rushing yards, combined with Cleveland's recent pattern of allowing opening-drive touchdowns to the Jets, Ravens, and Titans with struggling run defense on opening drives. The source notes Warren has been hot recently and expects this prop to hit.
PositiveRoleOct 28, 2026
Warren has between 9.2 and 15.1 expected half PPR points in all seven games this year and held the line even with Rico Dowdle returning over the past two weeks (RB17 and RB16 usage). He had 18 carries and three receptions in a French win last week with Dowdle sprinkling in for a third of the role. The Steelers' MVP has handled 62% of the carries with Dowdle back, up from 48% in Weeks 1-3. Warren's floor is held up by 3.4 receptions per game in an offense that is fourth in neutral pass rate (60%) in the four Dowdle games. He projects 89.5 total yards against Cleveland.
PositiveBreakoutOct 26, 2026
Warren's emergence as a legitimate top five running back has been fun to watch in real time. The Steelers made it clear he would be the focal point of the offense on the first drive, as he racked up 43 yards on the opening series and finished with 101 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards. According to Matt Williamson, Warren is the first running back to have 550+ rushing yards and 250+ receiving yards in his first seven games in a season since Christian McCaffrey in 2019. He posted over 100 scrimmage yards in the first half on Sunday and continues to be the most dynamic and effective player on the Steelers offense, making a strong potential All-Pro case for himself.
PositiveUsageOct 26, 2026
Through seven games, Warren is the Steelers' most consistent offensive weapon. He has received at least 20 touches in four of seven contests, posting 179, 126, 188, and 137 yards from scrimmage in those games. The Steelers are 3-1 when Warren gets 20-plus touches and average 34.6 points per game in those contests versus 16.3 when he has fewer touches. In this game, Warren racked up 101 yards on 18 carries (5.6 YPC) plus 36 receiving yards on three catches for 137 total yards from scrimmage, serving as a spark plug for Pittsburgh's offense on a team that struggles to produce explosive passing plays.
PositiveUsageOct 24, 2026
Jaylen Warren is positioned as a key component of the Steelers' game plan against New Orleans' weak run defense; Joey Bray expects Warren to succeed in the run game against the Saints' poor run defense, while Mike Nicastro specifically projects Warren to get back on track with over 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. Jason Aponte notes the Steelers should be able to run all over the Saints' run defense, and Jarrett Bailey confirms the Steelers should be able to run all over the Saints' run defense, though he notes Pittsburgh ranks 31st in run percentage.
PositiveProjectionOct 24, 2026
Jonas Sanker targets Warren for anytime TD prop at -120 odds against the Saints, citing Warren's multiple goal-line opportunities last week (several cracks from the two-yard line), the Saints' status as one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, and Warren's increased touches down the stretch against Tampa Bay. Sanker emphasizes Warren will retain goal-line work and the Steelers should move the football easily in Paris, framing this as 'free money' and advising not to be deterred by last week's missed conversions.