Top 5 Rushing Matchups
Pittsburgh at New Orleans (Paris)
Jaylen Warren has been one of the most efficient backs in the league this season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry with 460 yards on 84 attempts. His best game came in Week 5 against Indianapolis, when he ran for 101 yards and added 87 receiving yards to earn AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in a 34-22 win. The frustrating part about Warren is that despite three games of 90+ rushing yards, the Steelers went back to having a committee approach upon Rico Dowdle's return which has greatly impacted Warren's upside in Week 7, as Dowdle is averaging 7.1 carries per game in games that he has been healthy. Combining the committee approach along with the lack of touchdowns gives Warren a serious downgrade unless he can recapture the bellcow role as he has found the end zone just once on the ground despite his efficiency. The good news for the Steelers is that after years of offensive line struggles, they're finally turning the corner towards a competent offensive line. The Steelers invested heavily in the 2024 draft in the offensive line, and it has taken multiple years for these players to come together, but three of their five starters are from that draft and are all taking significant steps forward in their third year. Center Zach Frazier and left guard Mason McCormick have been outstanding in the run game, while 2024 first-round pick left tackle Troy Fautanu is a dependable left tackle that may not develop into an All-Pro, but is a vast improvement compared to some of the players Pittsburgh had been starting this decade.
New Orleans has allowed 828 rushing yards this season, the third-most in the league, and its 11 rushing touchdowns allowed are the most of any defense. Opposing running backs are averaging 4.9 yards per carry against the Saints, and the damage has come from a variety of backs. Don't be fooled by last week's performance against the Giants, as that team is in complete disarray in finding a starting running back. New York had 34 rushing yards last week as Devin Singletary, Najee Harris and Tyrone Tracy Jr. all struggled. The week's before that tell the full story. Atlanta ran for 207 yards and five touchdowns against them in Week 4, and Aaron Jones Sr. ran 25 times for 113 yards and a touchdown in Minnesota's 23-13 win in Week 5. The issue is that this is a team that relies heavily on their linebackers and safeties and they desperately miss their elite run-stopper Demario Davis who departed this offseason. Pete Werner has shown that he's a better complimentary linebacker than a primary one as the combination of Werner and 2025 fourth-round pick Danny Stutsman just has not worked, while at safety things are even more dire. Justin Reid who has been a strong run-stopping safety throughout his career seems to be slowing down as he approaches 30 years old, while Julian Blackmon has really struggled. Blackmon played just one game in 2025, and the lack of interest from the rest of the NFL was telling as he signed a one-year $2.2M contract this offseason to remain in New Orleans.