Steelers WR Calvin Austin (shoulder) is out for Thursday night's game vs. the Bengals. Scott Miller finished second among Pittsburgh WRs with a 48% route rate with Austin out last week. The Steelers went with a bunch of two and three-TE sets with Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Pat Freiermuth. Those guys are worth considering in one-game daily contests but shouldn't be in season-long fantasy lineups.

Steelers WR George Pickens (hamstring) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Browns. Reports on his status for this one were positive this morning, but Pickens’ pregame workout must not have gone well. His absence leaves a huge hole in Pittsburgh’s passing game. Pickens has accounted for 24% of the team's targets, 24% of the receptions, 32% of the receiving yards, and 30% of the receiving TDs since QB Russell Wilson took over. WRs Calvin Austin, Van Jefferson, and Mike Williams could all pick up extra targets, along with TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. But we’ll also likely see the Steelers lean even more on the run game. Russell Wilson is not a recommended QB1 play with Pickens out.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth tied his season low with a 58% snap share in Sunday's win over the Ravens. That matched his low set back in Week 2, but it also matched his snap share for Week 10. Freiermuth's playing time has been falling recently, from a Week 6 peek of 87%, to 71%, then 65%, and the 58% of the past two weeks. He has now tied or trailed TE Darnell Washington in snaps for two straight games.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) is officially out for Sunday's game vs. the Rams. He reinjured his hamstring on Thursday and is expected to miss more time beyond Week 7, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward have tag-teamed TE duties with Freiermuth out. Neither is a viable fantasy play. WRs Diontae Johnson and George Pickens should pick up more volume with Freiermuth out.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game vs. the Ravens. Pittsburgh has a Week 6 bye, and Freiermuth should have a chance to be back for Week 7. His absence this weekend leaves TE duties to Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward. Neither is a reliable fantasy play.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with his hamstring injury, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac. The Steelers have a Week 6 bye, so it's possible that Freiermuth ends up missing just one game. He'll be replaced by some combination of rookie TE Darnell Washington and TE Connor Heyward. Neither guy is a recommended fantasy add.

According to Steelers beat writer Chris Adamski, TE Darnell Washington was “by all indications a full participant in all drills” at rookie minicamp. “He showed zero visible signs of any injury or hindrance,” Adamski added. Good to know. Recent reports pointed to knee concerns as the reason Washington dropped to Round 3 in April. But at least for now, he appears healthy. We remain uninterested in Washington as a TE3 in best ball leagues.

Steelers TE Darnell Washington dropped in the draft due to medical concerns, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. Fowler says teams were concerned with at least one of Washington's knees -- and some teams were concerned with both knees. It's a surprising report considering Washington didn't miss any games in college with knee trouble. (He missed 4 with a foot injury in 2021.) We'll look for more information on Washington's health. He, unfortunately, landed in a tough spot for fantasy value behind TE Pat Freiermuth in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers selected Georgia TE Darnell Washington in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Washington’s college numbers aren’t great; he topped out with 28-454-2 last season. But you have to at least take notice of a TE that averaged 16.2 yards per catch. Of course, playing alongside the best TE in the country — Brock Bowers — didn’t help boost production. Washington also goes a supersized 6’7, 264 pounds, so he was heavily utilized as a blocker. That figures to be a key part of his NFL role, especially alongside Pat Freiermuth. We’ll also have to keep an eye on Washington’s health following reports of knee trouble.

TE Darnell Washington measured in at nearly 6’7 and 264 pounds at the NFL Combine. He recorded excellent marks in the broad jump (10 feet, 2 inches), short shuttle (4.08) and 40-yard dash (4.64). At his size, Washington is simply an athletic freak. While his production was lacking at Georgia, note that he played with the top TE in the nation (Brock Bowers). Expect Washington to come off the board as a top-50 pick.