Steelers 2026 Week 8 Fantasy Football Report - Heyward and Washington Explode The Charts
The Pittsburgh Steelers headed into their bye week on a high note, dominating the Cleveland Browns 27-6 and taking sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
For fantasy managers, the victory was just as encouraging. Pittsburgh's defence continued to prove it's a weekly difference-maker, while the ground game put on a clinic, piling up 200 rushing yards. With the Steelers finding success on both sides of the ball, several fantasy-relevant pieces appear poised for a strong second half of the season.
To say it was a week of major fantasy movement would be an understatement. The Steelers saw significant risers on both sides of the ball, highlighted by two players who posted some of the biggest jumps in fantasy value we've tracked in quite some time.
🔥 Fantasy Movers
Darnell Washington - TE
"Cheat code" is a term reserved for players who can take over a game at any moment, and Steelers tight end Darnell Washington fits that description perfectly. At 6-foot-7 and over 300 pounds, Washington is more than just an elite run blocker. He's a matchup nightmare with the ball in his hands, often forcing defenders to make business decisions in the open field.
In Week 8, Washington led Pittsburgh in receiving with 94 yards on just three catches, further solidifying his thunder-and-lightning partnership with Pat Freiermuth. The breakout performance propelled him 58 spots in fantasy rankings, from TE79 to TE21 with 62.4 fantasy points. With injuries continuing to impact the Steelers' receiving corps, Washington's role in the passing game could keep growing, making him one of fantasy football's most intriguing tight-end risers.
Patrick Queen - LB
For the second straight week, Patrick Queen looked like the Steelers' most valuable defender and a must-start IDP asset. After a strong performance in Week 7, Queen elevated his game even further against Cleveland, flying all over the field and making impact plays at every level of the defence.
His stat sheet was loaded: a team-high 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a tackle for loss, a pass deflection, and two quarterback hits. The dominant outing propelled Queen up 22 spots in the rankings, from LB42 to LB20 with 63.9 fantasy points. Simply put, few defensive players are hotter in fantasy football right now.
Cameron Heyward - DL
Just when it seemed the 37-year-old veteran was fading from the fantasy radar, Cam Heyward reminded everyone why he's still one of the NFL's most disruptive defenders. From the opening drive to the final whistle in Pittsburgh's Week 8 win over Cleveland, Heyward was a constant headache for quarterback Deshaun Watson, wreaking havoc in the backfield and collapsing the pocket.
The stat line was fantasy gold: six tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and a pass deflection. The monster performance fueled a massive rise in IDP rankings, vaulting Heyward 73 spots from DL90 to DL17 with 46.0 fantasy points. The question now is whether he can carry that momentum into a favourable Week 10 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
🔥 Other Notable Movers
Player | Position | Fantasy Points | Movement | Week Performance |
Rico Dowdle | RB | 44.6 | RB49 (No Change) | 15 carries, 56 rushing yards, 1 TD |
Pat Freiermuth | TE | 79.0 | TE10 (No Change) | 2 receptions, 35 receiving yards |
Jaylen Warren | RB | 140.8 | ⬆️ RB10 → RB7 (+3) | 17 carries, 143 rushing yards, 1 TD |
T.J. Watt | LB | 74.5 | ⬆️ LB11 → LB6 (+5) | 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 1 PD, 3 QB hits |
Alex Highsmith | LB | 36.9 | LB75 (No Change) | 5 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 3 QB hits |
Fantasy Football Stock Watch
Rising 📈 | Holding Steady ➡️ |
Jaylen Warren (RB7, +3) | Rico Dowdle (RB49) |
T.J. Watt (LB6, +5) | Pat Freiermuth (TE10) |
Alex Highsmith (LB75) |
🏈 Steelers Week 10 Fantasy Buy or Sell
🟩 BUY (Play)
LB Patrick Queen
RB Jaylen Warren
TE Darnell Washington
LB Payton Wilson
LB T.J Watt
DT Cam Heyward
LB Alex Highsmith
TE Pat Freiermuth
DT Keeanu Benton
🟥 SELL (Bench)
WR DK Metcalf
WR Roman Wilson
WR Michael Pittman Jr.
CB Jalen Ramsey
CB Asante Samuel Jr.
S Jaquan Brisker
LB Jack Sawyer
S DeShon Elliott
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