The Browns opened Davis' (quadriceps) 21-day practice window Tuesday.
Smith was signed to the Steelers active roster Tuesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official website reports.
The Browns opened Gabriel's (back) 21-day practice window Tuesday.
The Steelers signed Murphy-Bunting off the Buccaneers' practice squad Monday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
The Steelers placed Harmon (foot) on injured reserve Monday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said that Dowdle (toe) had a positive workout Friday and is "making progress" in his recovery, but the Steelers aren't yet certain if he'll be available to play Week 5 versus the Colts, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
The Steelers could be without Dean for "a couple of weeks" after he exited Thursday's 27-24 loss to the Browns due to an ankle injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Harmon is expected to miss multiple weeks after exiting Thursday's 27-24 loss to the Browns due to a foot injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Washington caught three of five targets for 27 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Cleveland on Thursday.
Hickman logged five tackles (one solo) and one pass defensed in the Browns' 27-24 win over the Steelers on Thursday.
The Steelers offense finally showed some signs of life last week but not sure if they can replicate that in back-to-back weeks. Cleveland’s offense got their last two wins against below average defenses and they had to battle until the end of both games to get those wins. The Browns were shut down by Jacksonville and this is another good defense that has the ability to shut down their lackluster offense especially behind DeShaun Watson. Head ref Clete Blakeman is leading their unit as his games tend to go under the total at this number.
The recent history of this rivalry suggests a lean toward Cleveland, including that the Browns have won four consecutive TNF games against the Steelers. But moreover, we just don't believe Pittsburgh has earned the distinction as a road chalk in this matchup. The Steelers are coming off their best showing in their shootout win over the Bengals, but Cleveland has won two straight and already looks more competent than it has in recent years. We'll take the points in what we believe is basically a pick'em matchup.
Say what you will about Aaron Rodgers, he knows how to get his way. You saw notable changes to the Steelers’ offense last week against the Bengals, and now facing the Browns, they are going to provide a far more formidable and resistant defense than what Cleveland has experienced since Week 1. In that game, Jacksonville tore up the Dawg Pound, 34-10. Deshawn Watson is being praised for his play, and while he did make a couple great touchdown throws, he also completed 53% of his passes for 144 yards last week. Pittsburgh has a prime opportunity to tune him up with its strong pass rush and take a surprising lead in the AFC North.
DraftKings. Michael Pittman draws a tough matchup today against the Browns man-heavy scheme. Cleveland runs man coverages at the league’s highest rate (44%, per Fantasy Points Data). Pittman does not have a catch in two games against man coverage (one target on 21 routes). It’s a coverage he’s historically struggled against - in fact, he does not have an 18+ yard catch against man since Week 16, 2024 (20 games). Even when the Browns are in zone, they crowd the middle of the field with their single-high safety looks. I like Roman Wilson and DK Metcalf to see the majority of deep targets (11 total, Pittman has yet to register one in the two games they’ve all played). I’d bet this down to under 16.5.
While Cleveland hasn't allowed a rushing TD yet, it hasn't been great at stopping the run at 120.3 YPG. Jaylen Warren is about the only healthy good running back the Steelers have -- and he'll catch some passes too. So if Warren is on the field and the Steelers are near the Cleveland goal-line, we should be in good shape. I don't think Aaron Rodgers is going to Case Keenum-style vulture a TD with a sneak score. Rodgers has one rushing TD since 2024.
Every team in the AFC North has the same 2-1 record, and tonight we get a battle between two longtime rivals who absolutely hate each other when the Steelers travel to Cleveland, where they've lost four straight. Cleveland has also won its last seven Thursday Night Football games since 2018. The home team has the advantage because of the short week and the travel. I saw something in the win over the Bengals last week that impressed me. They weren't so conservative, and they opened things up. It's risky, and it's not the typical Steelers brand of football, but it's exciting to watch. I'd like to believe that this is the new Steelers, and we have to change most of what we know about them.
Denzel Boston has a very impressive start to his rookie season and his efficiency metrics are especially good. The Browns have a condensed target distribution and very good things have happened when Denzel Boston has been targeted. Boston has turned 15 targets into 9-195-2 TDs, while averaging 1.99 yards per route route and a whopping 49.9% of Cleveland’s air yards. The Steelers secondary meanwhile is depleted and has been very vulnerable to play action, in addition to explosive passing plays where Boston has really thrived this season.
KC Concepcion had just two catches for nine yards in the Browns week three win over the Carolina Panthers. A big reason for that was that Deshaun Watson had just sixty seven passing yards through the first three quarters. With Denzel Boston being the Browns leading wide receiver in yards and touchdowns, look for the Steelers to give him more attention. There will be enough targets between Boston, Concepcion, and Harold Fannin that Concepcion can clear a lower level yardage prop. Take Concepcion over on his yardage prop.
DK Metcalf has yet to post more than 40 yards in a game; Thursday offers a chance for Metcalf to get untracked. Aaron Rodgers will be facing a man-heavy Browns defense, and the Steelers seem eager to attack downfield. That sets up well for DK Metcalf, who caught four passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in his lone matchup with the Browns last season. Metcalf was targeted on 35 percent of his routes in that game, averaging 3.65 yards per route run, according to Jordan Vanek of Fantasy Points. I also like Metcalf to go Over his longest reception prop of 18.5 yards.
I like Wilson to go over 18.5 receiving yards, even with a 31% chance of rain. He has seen six targets in each of his three games, finishing with 26, 28 and 60 receiving yards. Wilson has 274 air yards on only 18 targets, giving him a 15.2-yard aDOT. His 31% share of Pittsburgh’s air yards is also only slightly behind DK Metcalf at 36%. Cleveland has already allowed 10 pass plays of 20-plus yards and owns a 9.0% explosive pass rate allowed, 18th in the NFL. If this game stays in a neutral script, Wilson should continue to get opportunities downfield. At only 18.5 yards, he does not need much more than one chunk play or a couple of catches to cash this.
The box score shows that Browns wideout KC Concepcion caught two of nine targets last week. What it doesn't show you is how inaccurate Deshaun Watson was, often giving the rookie no chance. Watson likely will play another uneven game, but the Steelers are seriously banged-up at nickel corner. And Concepcion continues to gain quick separation. With Watson needing to account for the Steelers' pass rushers, I'm expecting many quick throws to the dynamic rookie.
FanDuel. Coming off a 67-yard performance against the Bengals, in which he saw a season high 49% route participation, I'm backing Darnell Washington to clear this low receiving yards line against the Browns. It's all about opportunity with the big tight-end, as he's cleared this line in 9/10 games with at least a 35% route share in the Aaron Rodgers Era (averaging 36.4 yards per game). Besides the fact he's coming off a big game, this is a good spot for him situationally. Cleveland is the most man-heavy defense, and Washington grades out well against the scheme. Michael Pittman is historically poor against man (yet to record a catch this season), and DK Metcalf has just been poor, period. I like this to over 17.5.
Rico Dowdle is unlikely to make it back on the short week, and that means Warren should be in for another big workload. The two backs combined for 18 carries in each of the first two games, but with Dowdle sidelined last week, Warren had 17 carries while virtually no one else rushed the ball. RBs have combined for 25, 19 and 23 carries against the Browns in their first three games, and with the Steelers favored, the script is there for Warren to get a lot of second-half work and get into the range of 18-20 carries.
Playing a depleted and suspect Carolina defense, the Browns averaged 3.8 yards per pass and 4.1 yards per play. They allowed a 38 percent pressure rate. Now they face a much tougher Pittsburgh pass rush. Look for Deshaun Watson to make critical mistakes against a Steelers' defense that ranks fourth in sack rate and is tied for the lead with 19 tackles for loss. Mike McCarthy changed two starters on his offensive line entering Week 3, and the moves paid off. Pittsburgh averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Aaron Rodgers threw for 292 yards and three TDs while being sacked just twice.
These two teams are 2-1, a surprise to many, including myself. The Steelers made changes to their offensive line prior to last week and responded with their best offensive performance by far, and I'm counting on that upgrade to help neutralize the Browns' quality defensive front. On the other side, I still don't trust the Browns offense at all after throwing for just 127 net passing yards at home against a questionable Panthers defense. This is a serious upgrade in opposing defense, and I don't have confidence in the Browns backdooring a cover. I also like fading the inexperienced head coach on a short week. I'm getting in now in case this goes to 3.
