# Pat Fitzmaurice: Fitzmaurice names Rico Dowdle a running back to avoid, expecting Jaylen Warren to be Pittsburgh's primary back because of his superior pass-catching and pass-blocking with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. **Claimed:** Aug 23, 2026 **Pundit:** Pat Fitzmaurice — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pat-fitzmaurice **Outlet:** FantasyPros — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fantasypros **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/08/fantasy-football-do-not-draft-list-running-backs-to-avoid-2026/ 3 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls and 1 fantasy bust call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the room on 1 and below it on 1. > My money is on Warren as Pittsburgh's primary running back this year, and it's possible Dowdle has a smaller role than some expect. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Jaylen Warren to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Rico Dowdle to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet - **Rico Dowdle to fall short of his draft cost (RB32, 86th overall)** - Kind: Fantasy Bust Calls · About: Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Jaylen Warren — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jaylen-warren - Pittsburgh Steelers — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/steelers - Rico Dowdle — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/rico-dowdle ## What others said about the same people - Bryan DeArdo on Drew Allar: A CBS Sports piece lays out Pittsburgh's quarterback pecking order: Aaron Rodgers starts, Mason Rudolph is the No. 2, rookie Drew Allar sits at No. 3 and Will Howard is fourth, with the Steelers expected to keep all four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster rather than trading Howard. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4af69b53-867a-4e1f-8e7d-7f699e4ed649 (scored 100) - Jack Markowski on Will Howard: Markowski writes that Howard now appears locked into the 53-man roster, that Pittsburgh is unlikely to move Rudolph, and that Rudolph has the inside track to be the backup behind Aaron Rodgers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1085a04c-1453-40e5-ad1f-1d1573417b37 (scored 100) - Kevin Patra on Mason Rudolph: Patra argues the Steelers are increasingly likely to keep four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster, with Mason Rudolph and third-round pick Drew Allar both safe, leaving Will Howard's spot as the only real question. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5d2a53ae-b642-4021-9718-b3ab8e83c9b0 (scored 100) - Nathan Jahnke on Robert Tonyan: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100) - Noah Strackbein on Michael Pittman: Strackbein predicts the Steelers will keep six wide receivers on the 53-man roster: DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1552915f-2239-4d0e-afaa-a991d5963946 (scored 100) - Jack Markowski on Will Howard: Markowski expects quarterback Will Howard to make the Steelers' 53-man roster as one of four quarterbacks provided he is healthy after his head injury. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/99ea5b2e-0891-490d-8ba9-dee6c1fb8076 (scored 100) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) - Rafael Zamorano on Deshaun Watson: Zamorano reports Watson will start Week 2 at Tampa Bay and suggests there's little reason to expect improvement, raising the possibility Watson's five-year contract never yields more than single-digit wins. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d7d7e0a2-61e0-4525-970b-b01a2356f11b (scored 100) - Rich Hribar on Tua Tagovailoa: Hribar expects Tua Tagovailoa to be Atlanta's starting quarterback for Week 2 while Michael Penix stays out, with Penix's return closer to Week 4. He is unenthusiastic about the Falcons' offense either way and treats Bryce Young as a fringe fantasy starter. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/124ac755-a942-4382-8bad-177da7f8170d (scored 0) - Bradley Locker on Carson Wentz: PFF's unsigned adjusted power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 season place the Bills first, the Rams second and the Dolphins last, with notes on quarterback situations in Seattle, Minnesota and Cleveland. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a3716f21-0488-4fc8-a414-c25c2d781a6e (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Michael Penix Jr.: In a Week 1 recap with no named byline, CBS Sports suggested Michael Penix Jr. would take over as Atlanta's Week 2 starter if healthy, called Ashton Jeanty's sophomore breakout imminent, and warned readers not to overlook San Francisco as NFC West winners. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1000d8d0-5de1-405e-b8ce-255cde75a32d (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=pat-fitzmaurice