2026 Week 4 Fantasy Football Thursday Night Football Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

One game kicks off Week 4 on Thursday: the Steelers traveling to Cleveland. It's an AFC North divisional game, which means physical, lower-scoring football is a real possibility — and the weather forecast is unavailable, so don't assume conditions are clean at Huntington Bank Field.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

Cleveland's defense sets up a split picture: it's been generous to wide receivers (ranked 9th in PPR points allowed to WR, 29.7 per game) but suffocating against tight ends (ranked 32nd — dead last — allowing just 3.5 points per game to TE) and stingy against running backs (ranked 26th, 10.4 points allowed per game). Pittsburgh's defense flips that script: brutal against QBs (ranked 29th, just 7.72 allowed per game in one game counted) and tight ends (ranked 32nd, 3.5 per game), but middle-of-the-road against Cleveland's RBs.

Jaylen Warren, RB — Pittsburgh

Start him in every format. Warren is averaging 16 touches and 4.7 targets per game this season on a 66.3% snap share — the volume of a true featured back. His 40.6 PPR points over three games are right in line with that workload. Cleveland's defense is ranked 26th in points allowed to RBs, meaning it's one of the league's softer matchups at the position. In PPR especially, Warren's receiving role makes him a locked-in flex at minimum.

DK Metcalf, WR — Pittsburgh

The matchup is real: Cleveland ranks 9th in PPR points allowed to WRs (29.7 per game). The catch-rate concern is also real. Metcalf is averaging 8 targets per game on a 95.9% snap share — elite volume — but converting only 3.7 receptions per game. That's a high-targets, low-conversion gap that screams regression toward positive outcomes, not away from them. In PPR, trust the target volume and the favorable matchup; he's a start. In standard scoring, the boom-bust nature is more real — he needs a touchdown to pay off.

Aaron Rodgers, QB — Pittsburgh

The matchup is not good. Pittsburgh's own defense has held opposing QBs to just 7.72 PPR points per game (29th in points allowed), and Cleveland's defense is no pushover either. Rodgers has averaged just 13.7 PPR points per game this season (41.2 points over three games). With Drew Allar listed as Out, Rodgers is the unquestioned starter — but this is a low-ceiling spot in a divisional grind. Stream elsewhere if you can.

Injury note: Drew Allar is listed as Out — confirmed non-factor.

Pat Freiermuth, TE — Pittsburgh

Fade him this week. Cleveland's defense ranks dead last (32nd) in points allowed to tight ends at just 3.5 per game — the single worst matchup in the league for the position. Freiermuth has actually been productive (28.1 PPR points over three games, 4.7 targets and 3.7 receptions per game), so the role is real. But that matchup is a wall. Sit him if you have a viable alternative.

Michael Pittman, WR — Pittsburgh

Pittman only has usage data for two games this season: 4.0 targets and 2.5 receptions per game on an 80.4% snap share. That's a step down from Metcalf's target volume. He's totaled just 12.4 PPR points over two games — modest production that matches modest usage. The favorable WR matchup helps, but this is a low-floor, low-ceiling situation. Viable as a late-flex in PPR if you're desperate; leave him on the bench in standard.

Harold Fannin, TE — Cleveland

Here's the name to know on Cleveland's side. Fannin leads the team with 6 targets and 4.7 receptions per game on a 84.8% snap share — that's TE1-level usage — and his 38.6 PPR points over three games reflect it. Pittsburgh's defense ranks 32nd in points allowed to tight ends (3.5 per game), which is the same brutal number Cleveland is putting up on opposing TEs. This is the one matchup that truly hurts. Fannin's volume is legitimate, but this defense is the toughest possible draw for TE in the entire league. Treat him as a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 and accept the ceiling is likely capped.

Quinshon Judkins, RB — Cleveland

Judkins is averaging 17 touches and 3 targets per game on a 61.1% snap share — genuine feature-back usage. His 26.7 PPR points over three games are modest relative to that volume, which suggests the box scores haven't fully caught up yet. Pittsburgh's defense sits at a middling 15th in points allowed to RBs (19.7 per game) — not a great matchup, but not a wall either. In PPR, the receiving work keeps him relevant. In standard, the modest production-to-usage gap is a slight concern, but the role alone makes him a startable RB2.

Deshaun Watson, QB — Cleveland

Watson has put up 55 PPR points through three games (18.3 per game), which outpaces his 15.1 projected points this week. He's averaging 8 rushes per game, which is the fantasy floor that keeps him interesting. Pittsburgh's defense has been the toughest on QBs in the data available (29th in points allowed, 7.72 per game), though that's based on just one game counted — treat it as directional, not definitive. Watson is a low-end QB1/streamer given his rushing upside, but don't overestimate the ceiling here.

Browns pass-catchers

Joe Royer (TE) is listed as PUP — he's not playing. Bub Means has zero usage data and zero production through three games; ignore him. Jimmy Horn is averaging just 1 target per game with no recorded receptions — not a fantasy option.