Wilson must first beat out Justin Fields for the Steelers starting quarterback job this preseason before having any relevance in Fantasy. The one-time stud has failed to average even 21 Fantasy points per game in each of his past three seasons with a total of 13 outings of 24-plus points in that span. And while he was quite efficient in 2023 with a 66.4% completion rate and a touchdown throw every 17.2 attempts, the Steelers figure to remain run-leaning under new playcaller Arthur Smith, who ranked in the bottom eight in pass attempts per game in each of his past two seasons in Atlanta and four of his five seasons as an offensive coordinator. Wilson's a longshot to ever again put up the numbers he once did, and his playing time is far from guaranteed. That's why Wilson should be avoided in one-QB leagues and isn't even a priority in two-QB formats.
Fantasy Stats
passing
rushing
fantasy
Year
yds
Passing Yards
td
Touchdown Passes
int
Interceptions Thrown
yds
Rushing Yards
td
Rushing Touchdowns
fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
2024
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2023
3070
26
8
341
3
296
19.7
2022
3524
16
11
277
3
239
15.9
3y Avg.
3236
22
8
267
3
268
17.9
Fantasy News
Steelers' Russell Wilson: Will start Week 1
Rotowire
The Steelers named Wilson their starting quarterback for the Sept. 8 season opener at Atlanta, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.
Wilson has long been considered the favorite over Justin Fields, who saw considerable first-team snaps this summer while the 35-year-old dealt with a calf injury. Wilson has been practicing without limitations for three weeks now and even made a couple appearances in the preseason, confirming that his health won't be an issue heading into Week 1. He'll be in danger of losing the starting job to Fields if he doesn't play well, but a run-first offense under new coordinator Arthur Smith could hide some of Wilson's shortcomings at this later stage of his career.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Looks to be starter for Week 1
Rotowire
Wilson completed both of his passes for 26 yards in Saturday's 24-17 preseason loss to the Lions.
Wilson started for the second consecutive game but played only one drive that ended in a rushing touchdown. Both of his passes went to George Pickens, the latter being an explosive 32-yard gain. Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, coach Mike Tomlin declined to name his starting quarterback for Week 1 against Atlanta, but it's expected that Wilson will get the nod. Even if that's the case, Wilson will likely need to play well to maintain the role over Justin Fields in the long term.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Crushed by pass rush
Rotowire
Wilson completed eight of 10 passes for 47 yards in Saturday's 9-3 preseason loss to the Bills.
Wilson's stat line was underwhelming, but it overstates how well Pittsburgh's first-team offense was able to move the ball. That wasn't necessarily on Wilson, as he was under constant pressure and sacked three times. He narrowly missed out on connecting with George Pickens near Buffalo's goal line on his final drive of the game, though the duo's rapport may be lacking after Wilson missed a significant amount of training camp with a calf injury. The Steelers have consistently stated that Wilson is the starting quarterback heading into the season, though this performance didn't do him any favors in his competition with Justin Fields.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Won't play Friday, leader in QB battle
Rotowire
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that Wilson won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Texans, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
According to Pryor, Tomlin insinuated that Wilson is the current leader in the battle for the starting quarterback job with Justin Fields, as the coach noted that the depth chart he released Tuesday is "real." The depth chart has Wilson listed as the starter and Fields as the backup, even though the latter has taken far more first-team reps this summer while the former has been limited by a calf injury. Wilson was a full practice participant Tuesday and still has plenty of time to build chemistry with the starters, but the preseason opener will give Fields another chance to impress.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Resumes practicing in full
Rotowire
Wilson (calf) returned to practice as a full participant Tuesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson had been managing a minor calf strain for nearly the last two weeks, which gave Justin Fields a chance to command Pittsburgh's first-team offense at training camp alone, but the former is now back in the mix at practice. Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Wilson and Fields are alternating reps to begin Tuesday's session, which can be considered confirmation of Adam Schefter of ESPN's recent report that the two remain in a competition for the Week 1 starting gig. Friday's preseason game against the Texans could serve as an opportunity for Wilson or Fields to pull ahead, if they do suit up for a series or two.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Making progress
Rotowire
Wilson (calf) participated in practice Tuesday, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.
Wilson, who is bouncing back from a calf issue that has curbed his training camp participation, will be brought along slowly, per coach Mike Tomlin. "(Wilson) played some 7-on-7," Tomlin noted with regard to the QB's activity during Tuesday's session. "He got a little 11-on-11 work, not a lot. We'll keep progressing with that throughout the week and moving forward, obviously with the mindset of no steps backward as we do so." With Wilson having been limited at practice, Justin Fields has logged extra reps with the first-team offense.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Limited work in individual drills
Rotowire
Wilson (calf) was sidelined during team sesssions for the fourth straight practice but was a limited participant during individual drills Sunday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson did not participate during the Steelers' walkthrough Sunday morning and was expected to be a non-participant once again. However, he was active during some agility and throwing sessions later on in practice, which was more work than he's done during previous training camp practices. The 35-year-old still wasn't fully suited up, as he wore a ball cap rather than a helmet, and he did not appear to be going full speed, per Pryor. Wilson is the presumed starter over Justin Fields at this point, but the latter will likely need some live reps this training camp in order to separate himself in this competition ahead of the first preseason game Friday, Aug. 9. The Steelers are scheduled to have a day off before returning for the team's first padded practice Tuesday, according to Pryor. While the coaching staff will likely be overly cautious with him, Wilson's activity level Tuesday will be a good indicator of where he's at.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Held back by minor calf injury
Rotowire
Wilson missed Thursday's practice due to calf tightness and is considered day-to-day, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reports.
Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports that Wilson wanted to practice but was held back by the coaching staff, which gave fellow offseason addition Justin Fields an opportunity to dominate first-team reps. The expectation remains that Wilson will be under center come Week 1, leading a remade offense with a new coordinator (Arthur Smith), two early draft picks on the O-line (OT Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier) and open competition for WR spots behind top option George Pickens.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson: Remains in lead for starter gig
Rotowire
Wilson remains the clear favorite to start Week 1 under center for Pittsburgh and has made a good impression on his new coaching staff throughout OTAs and June minicamp, Chris Ward of SteelersNow.com reports.
Wilson has impressed with arm talent and leadership throughout spring activities, per Mark Kaboldy of The Athletic, and he's reportedly dominated first-team reps to this point. Justin Fields could push for more opportunities during training camp, but for the time being, there's been nothing to suggest any shift from coach Mike Tomlin's remark early in the offseason that Wilson is in the "pole position" to start Week 1 under center. Experience and consistency alone could make enough difference for Wilson, a 35-year-old veteran, to win the starting gig over Fields, but he'll face pressure to keep Pittsburgh in the playoff race, given that he's playing on only a one-year contract.
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Russell Wilson: Planning to sign with Pittsburgh
Rotowire
Wilson plans to sign a one-year contract with the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
According to Schefter, it will be a "team-friendly" deal, with the Broncos being on the hook for most of his $38 million salary in 2024. Wilson still hasn't even officially been released by Denver, but it sounds like he's already found his new team. The move should become official when the new league year opens Wednesday afternoon. In Pittsburgh, Wilson will link up with new OC Arthur Smith and be the heavy favorite to open the 2024 season as the Steelers' starter over 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. For fantasy purposes, it's not a great landing spot in Smith's run-centric, methodical offense, but Wilson should be viewed as an upgrade over Pickett. Wilson's insertion does boost the fantasy stocks of George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Going to Pittsburgh after Giants visit
Rotowire
Wilson is traveling to Pittsburgh on Friday to meet with the Steelers' front office and head coach Mike Tomlin, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Wilson has permission to meet with other teams but can't technically sign a contract until the Broncos release him at the start of the league year (Wednesday). Multiple Pittsburgh beat writers have suggested the Steelers want to give 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett another shot as the starting quarterback, but most of what we've seen from Pickett suggests that even this post-prime version of Wilson would give the team a better chance to win in 2024. An offset in Wilson's Denver contract means he has no incentive to maximize his 2024 pay from a new team, so he'll likely choose his next destination based on some combination of likelihood to start, chances of making a playoff run and post-2024 compensation. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Wilson already had an "exploratory meeting" with the Giants earlier this week.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Expected to meet with Steelers
Rotowire
The Steelers are "tentatively planning" to meet with Wilson before the start of free agency, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Broncos have given Wilson permission to talk with other teams even though he won't be released until March 13, the start of the 2024 league year. While previous reports out of Pittsburgh suggested the Steelers were ready to move forward with Kenny Pickett and maybe Mason Rudolph as their quarterbacks, the upcoming meeting with Wilson suggests there's at least some level of interest in bringing in a new starter. The decision may end up coming down to financials more so than confidence (or lack thereof) in Pickett. If nothing gets done in Pittsburgh, other potential suitors for Wilson could include the Raiders and Falcons.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Future uncertain in Denver
Rotowire
Wilson is expected to be released by the Broncos before the new league year begins in March, but no final decision on his future with the organization has been made, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.
After just two seasons in Denver, Wilson looks like he could be headed towards a split with the Broncos. According to Legwold, the veteran quarterback's potential release would result in an $85 million dead-money charge for the Broncos, the largest for a single player since the salary cap was instituted. Despite the sense that Wilson will be released this offseason, head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that no formal decision on the quarterback has been made, according to Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com. Meanwhile, general manager George Paton went as far to say that "the door is open" for the 35-year-old signal-caller to return in 2024. Wilson finished the 2023 campaign with 297 completions on 447 pass attempts for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 games. In addition, he was used more as a rusher this season, carrying 80 times for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, the season was a step in the right direction for the Broncos offense after a disappointing start to Wilson's time in Denver in 2022. His potential for future fantasy success hinges on him finding a fitting landing spot on a team in need of experienced quarterback play.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Set for backup role in final two games
Rotowire
Wilson will serve as the backup quarterback in Sunday's game against the Chargers while Jarrett Stidham takes over as the team's starter, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.
The Broncos plan to bench Wilson for the final two games of the season to avoid any potential injuries and thus preserve the option to cut him before March, when his $37 million salary for 2025 becomes guaranteed. Wilson won't be inactive for the final two contests, however, so he could still wind up taking the field if Stidham gets hurt. Head coach Sean Payton could provide further insight into the team's quarterback situation when he speaks to the media after Wednesday's practice. While starting each of the team's first 15 games and playing all but four snaps on offense, Wilson has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 6.9 yards per attempt, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go with 80 carries for 341 yards and three scores.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: QBs to Sit
Rotowire
Wilson comes into Week 16 with five games in a row with fewer than 20 Fantasy points, and it's tough to trust him in the Fantasy playoffs. He's also facing a Patriots defense that has held five of their past six opposing quarterbacks to fewer than 20 Fantasy points, including Justin Herbert in Week 13 and Patrick Mahomes in Week 15. I would only start Wilson in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues in Week 16.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Sleeper QBs
Rotowire
Wilson has scored fewer than 20 Fantasy points in four games a row, but hopefully this matchup against the Lions will help him get back on track. Four of the past five opposing quarterbacks against Detroit have scored at least 23.2 Fantasy points, and the Lions allow 21.8 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year. Detroit has also allowed the third-most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks, and Wilson has seven games this season with at least 30 yards on the ground.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Throws two TDs in Week 14 win
Rotowire
Wilson completed 21 of 33 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 24-7 win over the Chargers. He added six rushing attempts for five yards.
Wilson's first pass of the game was picked off deep in Denver territory, but he got a mulligan after the Chargers proceeded to turn it over on downs. He should have had a touchdown to Jerry Jeudy in the final seconds of the first half, but Jeudy failed to get his feet down along the sideline in the end zone, so the Broncos had to settle for a field goal to take a 10-0 lead into the locker room. Wilson broke it open with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton in the third quarter, then finished off the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Adam Trautman. The veteran quarterback will take a 23:8 TD:INT into Saturday's game in Detroit, with half of those interceptions coming in the last two games.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Sleeper QBs
Rotowire
Wilson is struggling as a Fantasy quarterback of late with three games in a row with fewer than 19 Fantasy points. He's also passed for more than 200 yards just once since Week 4. But I still like Wilson as a low-end starter in deeper leagues in Week 14 at the Chargers, who are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Wilson will hopefully continue to make plays with his legs after rushing for at least 30 yards in four of his past five games, including a rushing touchdown in consecutive outings. And the last time he faced the Chargers in Week 18 last season he scored 29.1 Fantasy points, so hopefully history repeats itself.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Rotowire
Wilson is struggling as a Fantasy quarterback of late with three games in a row with fewer than 19 Fantasy points. He's also passed for more than 200 yards just once since Week 4. But I still like Wilson as a low-end starter in deeper leagues in Week 14 at the Chargers, who are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Wilson will hopefully continue to make plays with his legs after rushing for at least 30 yards in four of his past five games, including a rushing touchdown in consecutive outings. And the last time he faced the Chargers in Week 18 last season he scored 29.1 Fantasy points, so hopefully history repeats itself.
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Broncos' Russell Wilson: Three turnovers in loss
Rotowire
Wilson completed 15 of 26 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Texans. He added 10 rushes for 44 yards and an additional score.
Wilson performed admirably for much of the game and led a comeback effort for the Broncos with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton as well a score of his own on a quarterback sneak. However, he undid all of that work with three interceptions in the final 16 minutes of game time, including one that sealed the loss from the Texans' eight-yard line with only 16 seconds remaining. Wilson entered the game having not thrown an interception since Week 6. He also has only one passing touchdown in three consecutive games.