NFL Player News

It’s a bit of a surprise given the Steelers’ lack of depth at wide receiver, but that’s perhaps an indictment on Watkins’ ability to stick on an NFL roster. The 26-year-old has attracted attention for his speed after the Eagles drafted him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but he’s totaled 98 catches for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns in 49 career games. He may need to sign to a practice squad to start 2024. The Steelers also waived/released LB Kyron Johnson, LB Luquay Washington, LB Jacoby Windmon, LB Marcus Haynes, DB Zyon Gilbert, DB Thomas Graham, DL Willington Previlon, DL Jacob Slade, OL TyKeem Doss, OL Joey Fisher, QB John Rhys Plumlee, RB Aaron Shampklin, RB Jack Colletto, RB La’Mical Perine, RB Jonathan Ward, TE Matt Sokol, TE Rodney Williams, WR Jaray Jenkins, WR Duece Watts and WR Dez Fitzpatrick.

The six catches were a new season high, while the eight targets matched his 2024 high. Those totals came as Diontae Johnson played his second game in a Ravens uniform. Curious, though Bateman has been consistently catching 3-4 passes all season. We’ll see if he can really keep that up as Johnson gets more acclimated, though Bateman isn’t really competing for the same looks. He also isn’t really pushing for weekly WR4 value, but his floor is higher than zero while ceiling is always possible in this attack.

Hill “added” two rushes for zero yards. Not the best night at the office. The only good news was that a returning Keaton Mitchell played all of two snaps. We doubt Mitchell challenges Hill’s change-of-pace status any time soon, but more nights like tonight won’t help. The Steelers are on tap for Week 11.

Pro Football Focus charted Mitchell playing two snaps behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. Maybe he will eventually cut into Hill’s snap share, but it doesn’t seem likely any time soon. Mitchell isn’t worth a stash in 12-team re-draft leagues.

We say “official” because Herbert actually took a hand-off. He simply fumbled it, with the miscue going on Joe Burrow’s record. It made for a calamitous Bengals debut, but one they probably won’t hold against him for Week 11 against the Chargers. They badly need help behind Chase Brown, and Herbert will be far more acclimated to the system by next Sunday. He is still a dubious bench stash in 12-team re-draft leagues.

Tonight was the first time role-player Wallace ever caught three passes or scored a receiving touchdown. His winding, 84-yard scoring grab in the fourth quarter was a third down dump-off that featured comically inept tackling from the Bengals. A huge play, but not something that will be repeated moving forward.

Back from a one-game, team-imposed suspension, Burton did not cover himself in glory, failing to run out a potential long reception in the first half. His role mostly amounted to cardio. It’s not a performance that’s going to have the Bengals telling Tee Higgins to take all the time he needs to get healthy. Burton will be off the fantasy radar in Week 11 against the Chargers.

Tonight was the first time Iosivas reached two catches in four weeks. He has 39 yards during that time span, extra disappointing considering it’s come with Tee Higgins missing three of those contests. Iosivas isn’t 12-team league relevant and is unlikely to become so down the stretch.

4/30 wouldn’t be a bad Gesicki statline were Tee Higgins in the game, but it was his worst box score with the Bengals’ No. 2 wideout on the shelf. That’s due in large part to Ja’Marr Chase taking control of the Bengals’ passing attack and going thermonuclear for 11/264/3. Gesicki almost had a touchdown on the Bengals’ opening drive, but got wrestled down at the Ravens’ two-yard line. Gesicki’s Week 11 status seems as simple as: Start him if Higgins sits, bench him if Higgins plays. The Bengals will be in L.A. to take on the Chargers.

With the Ravens playing one of the worst defenses in the league, Andrews posted new season highs across the board. It helped that Isaiah Likely (hamstring) was on the shelf. The statline is obviously good news, though it’s bad news Andrews hadn’t previously reached six receptions or 60 yards. The fundamental fact of Andrews’ season is that both his floor and ceiling are way off his career norms. He won’t be a particularly appealing TE1 for Week 11 vs. the Steelers.

Johnson is now “up to” ... one catch for six yards through two games as a Raven. That does not include falling down on a target. Pro Football Focus’ Nathan Jahnke charted Johnson as playing only five total snaps. This must be some difficult system to break into. We would like to say better days are ahead in this explosive passing attack, but it feels like wishcasting when you have Lamar Jackson hitting role players Tylan Wallace and Nelson Agholor for scores this evening. Johnson will be hard pressed to crack the top 48 in Week 11 against the Steelers.