2025 Steelers Week 1 Fantasy Football Recap - Rodgers Near The Top After Week 1 Performance

All Stats courtesy of FantasyData.com

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Pittsburgh Steelers clawed their way to a thrilling 34–32 victory over a feisty New York Jets squad that tested them on both sides of the ball. One of the standout stars of Week 1? None other than future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, who delivered a masterclass performance in his Steelers debut and reminded everyone why his name still echoes across NFL stadiums.

Offense

Even at 41 years old, Aaron Rodgers proved that age is just a number. His Week 1 performance against the New York Jets was a vintage display reminiscent of his glory days with the Green Bay Packers. One could easily argue that Rodgers was the driving force behind the Steelers’ improbable 34–32 victory. He finished the game with 244 passing yards on 22 completions, four passing touchdowns, a stellar 73.3% completion rate, and an eye-popping 224.0 passer rating. Thanks to this standout showing, Rodgers kicks off the fantasy season ranked No. 7 among quarterbacks with 25.7 fantasy points.

A major contributor to Rodgers’ success was the efficiency of his receiving corps, all of whom delivered strong performances in Week 1.

• Calvin Austin III hauled in four receptions for 70 yards, including a highlight-reel touchdown. His efforts earned him the No. 16 spot among fantasy receivers with 17.0 points.

• D.K. Metcalf was one of Rodgers’ most dependable targets, catching four of seven passes for 83 yards—averaging an impressive 17 yards per reception. He currently ranks No. 26 with 12.3 fantasy points.

• Ben Skowronek made his presence felt with a 22-yard touchdown and a clutch special teams fumble recovery. He enters the fantasy rankings at No. 38 with 9.2 points.

Among the Steelers’ tight ends, Jonnu Smith led the way in Week 1, recording 15 receiving yards and a touchdown. He starts the season ranked No. 11 at his position with 12.5 fantasy points. Meanwhile, Pat Freiermuth contributed 28 receiving yards on three catches, landing at No. 27 with 5.8 fantasy points.

On the ground, Jaylen Warren didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he made his touches count. He rushed for 37 yards on 11 carries and added 22 receiving yards on two catches, including a touchdown. While not a dominant outing, Warren still managed to rack up 13.9 fantasy points, placing him 18th among running backs for Week 1.

Kenneth Gainwell, serving in a backup role, had a quieter day. He posted 19 rushing yards on seven attempts and chipped in just four receiving yards on three catches. His modest contribution earned him 5.3 fantasy points, landing him at No. 37 among players at his position.

Defense

It was a disappointing outing for the Steelers' defense—especially given the high expectations that they would set the tone in Week 1. Instead, the unit struggled to contain Jets running back Breece Hall, who carved up the front line en route to a 107-yard performance. The defense also surrendered 32 points, raising early concerns about their ability to dominate as anticipated.

Still, there were bright spots. Edge rusher Alex Highsmith emerged as the defensive standout, racking up eight tackles, a sack, and three quarterback hits. His impact earned him 13.1 fantasy points, placing him fifth among linebackers for the week. All-Pro T.J. Watt didn’t record a sack, but he contributed two tackles for loss and a pass deflection. He currently ranks 41st among linebackers with 7.0 fantasy points, though that number is likely to rise quickly as the season progresses.

Patrick Queen, meanwhile, had a solid showing with eight tackles and a quarterback hit. He begins the fantasy season 37th among linebackers, posting 7.5 fantasy points. Despite his blunt postgame remarks about the unit’s performance, Queen’s leadership and production will be key to any defensive turnaround.

In the secondary, Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey was arguably the most impactful defender for the Steelers in Week 1. Throughout the contest, he imposed his physical style on Jets receivers, consistently disrupting their rhythm. Ramsey finished the game with three tackles, two pass deflections, and a game-clinching play on wideout Garrett Wilson. Despite his influence on the field, he earned just 5.5 fantasy points, placing him 66th among defensive backs.

Just behind him at No. 67, also with 5.5 fantasy points, was safety Chuck Clark, who stepped in for the injured DeShon Elliott. Clark made his presence felt with eight total tackles, including one for a loss.

Rounding out the group was safety Juan Thornhill, who currently ranks 84th among defensive backs with 5.0 fantasy points. Thornhill contributed eight tackles and forced a fumble, adding a spark to an otherwise shaky defensive performance.

Closing out our Week 1 spotlight is veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who once again proved why he's the anchor of the Steelers’ interior line. Despite the defense’s overall struggles, Heyward stood out as the most effective presence up front, recording three tackles and a pass deflection. While his stat line wasn’t flashy, his consistency and leadership were evident throughout the game. For his efforts, Heyward begins the fantasy season ranked No. 42 among defensive linemen with 5.0 fantasy points.

Buy Or Sell For Week 2 -

• Buy - QB Aaron Rodgers, WR DK Metcalf, WR Calvin Austin III, CB Jalen Ramsey, LB T.J Watt, LB Patrick Queen, DL Cam Heyward, and DL Alex Highsmith

• Sell - DL Keeanu Benton, CB Darius Slay Jr., RB Kaleb Johnson, RB Kenneth Gainwell, CB Joey Porter Jr., and TE Darnell Washington.