Steelers Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings 2026: Best Pittsburgh Draft Picks to Target

Here is how Steelers rookies should be viewed for fantasy football.

Steelers fantasy football rookie rankings after the 2026 NFL Draft

1. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Fantasy draft range: Rounds 12-15 in redraft; early-to-mid second round in dynasty rookie drafts
Best formats: PPR, half-PPR, dynasty, best ball

Bernard is the clear No. 1 fantasy target from the Steelers’ draft class. Pittsburgh traded up to No. 47 overall to get him, which says plenty about how the team views his fit. The Steelers’ staff highlighted his ability to play inside and outside, move around the formation and contribute in different ways, including special teams. He also had 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025 at Alabama.

That versatility matters for fantasy. Bernard does not need to be a pure outside No. 1 receiver to matter. If he can win slot snaps, earn designed touches and become a reliable chain-mover, he could carve out PPR value as a rookie.

He is not a must-draft player in shallow redraft leagues, but Steelers fans should keep him on the late-round radar. In dynasty, he is easily the best Pittsburgh rookie to target.

2. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Fantasy draft range: Late rounds in Superflex; undrafted in most one-QB redraft leagues
Best formats: Superflex, dynasty, best ball

Allar is more interesting for dynasty managers than redraft players. The Steelers selected the Penn State quarterback in the third round with the No. 76 overall pick. He brings size, arm strength and long-term upside, having thrown for 7,402 yards and 61 touchdowns across four seasons at Penn State.

The fantasy question is simple: Will he play right away?

If Allar wins the starting job or gets on the field early in the season, he becomes relevant in Superflex leagues. If he is more of a developmental option, he is a dynasty bench stash. In standard one-QB leagues, there is no need to draft him unless he is named the starter and shows rushing or big-play upside in the preseason.

Still, Steelers fans in dynasty leagues should be interested. Quarterbacks with starting paths always matter in Superflex.

3. Kaden Wetjen, WR/returner, Iowa

Fantasy draft range: Final rounds in return-yardage leagues; undrafted in most standard leagues
Best formats: Return-yardage, best ball, deep PPR, dynasty

Wetjen might be more valuable in real football than traditional fantasy football, but he is still worth knowing. The Steelers took him in the fourth round after a decorated college career as a return specialist. At Iowa, he had 954 punt return yards with four touchdowns and 1,538 kickoff return yards with two touchdowns.

That makes him a format-specific fantasy play.

In leagues that count return yards, Wetjen could have sneaky value right away. In standard leagues, he probably needs a bigger offensive role to become draftable. The Steelers could use him on gadget plays, screens, motion touches and shallow routes, but it is hard to project steady weekly volume early.

Think of Wetjen as a late dynasty stash or best-ball dart throw, not a redraft priority.

4. Riley Nowakowski, FB/TE, Indiana

Fantasy draft range: Undrafted in standard leagues; late stash in deep TE-premium leagues
Best formats: TE-premium, deep dynasty, full PPR

Nowakowski is one of the more interesting fantasy long shots in the class. Pittsburgh listed him as a fullback, while some draft trackers viewed him as a tight end-type player. Either way, he has a pass-catching background. In 2025, he caught 32 passes for 387 yards and two touchdowns while also adding two rushing touchdowns.

That does not automatically make him fantasy relevant, but it gives him a path in deeper formats. If the Steelers use him as a movable fullback/H-back who catches passes out of the backfield, he could eventually become a weird but useful PPR piece.

For now, he is not worth drafting in normal leagues. In TE-premium dynasty leagues, though, he is a name to monitor.

5. Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy

Fantasy draft range: Undrafted except deep dynasty leagues
Best formats: Deep dynasty, return-yardage, best ball

Heidenreich is a fun story for Pittsburgh fans and a creative fantasy stash in deep leagues. The Steelers selected the Navy running back/receiver in the seventh round, and the local connection makes the pick even better. Heidenreich is from Pittsburgh and was on hand at the draft when he was selected.

The fantasy appeal is the hybrid skill set. Players with RB/WR flexibility can become interesting if they earn gadget touches, return work or a specialized offensive role. The problem is opportunity. Seventh-round rookies usually need to win on special teams first before they get enough offensive snaps to matter.

Heidenreich is not a redraft pick, but he is worth a watch-list spot for Steelers fans in deep dynasty leagues.

Which Steelers rookies help fantasy without being drafted?

Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Fantasy draft range: Not draftable
Fantasy impact: Helps the offense, run game and pass protection

Iheanachor will not be selected in fantasy drafts, but he could still matter. The Steelers used the No. 21 overall pick on the Arizona State offensive tackle, and he did not allow a sack in his senior season, according to the team.

That is important for the fantasy value of Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Better offensive line play means more stable drives, more red-zone chances and better passing-game timing. If Iheanachor starts early, he could indirectly boost the entire Steelers offense.

Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa

Fantasy draft range: Not draftable
Fantasy impact: Run-game upside

Dunker is another offensive lineman who matters more indirectly. Pittsburgh traded up to take him in the third round, and the team expects him to work primarily at guard with some tackle flexibility.

For fantasy managers, that makes him relevant to Pittsburgh’s rushing attack. If the Steelers become more physical up front, their running backs and short-area passing game could benefit.

Steelers IDP rookie notes

Daylen Everette, Gabriel Rubio and Robert Spears-Jennings are not standard fantasy football targets, but they could matter in IDP leagues.

Everette is the most interesting of the group because corners who play early can rack up tackles and passes defended. Rubio is more of a defensive-line depth play unless he earns a big snap share, while Spears-Jennings profiles as a potential box safety with deep-league IDP appeal.

Best Steelers rookie fantasy draft strategy

For standard fantasy leagues, Bernard is the only Steelers rookie who should be drafted in most formats. Allar is a Superflex and dynasty stash. Wetjen becomes interesting in leagues that reward return production. Nowakowski and Heidenreich are deep-league watch-list names.

The smarter redraft strategy is simple — draft Bernard late, monitor Allar’s quarterback battle and keep an eye on how Pittsburgh uses Wetjen in the preseason. For dynasty managers, Bernard and Allar are the two real targets, with Wetjen, Nowakowski and Heidenreich as deeper upside swings.