Player News

• Steelers' Van Jefferson: Logs two catches in victory

  3D ago • By RotoWire

  Jefferson secured two of his three targets for 14 yards during Sunday's 13-6 win over the Broncos. Jefferson saw plenty of playing time for a second consecutive week, as he was on the field for 82 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, which led the team's wide receivers. The Rams second-rounder in 2020 was called for offensive pass interference in the closing seconds of the first half that nullified a touchdown, but he recorded a catch on the next play and nearly took the ball to the end zone. Jefferson has secured just three of five targets for 15 yards over the first two weeks of the regular season as part of the team's lackluster passing attack, but his early-season snap counts have been encouraging.

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• Steelers' Van Jefferson: Limited to one catch in win

  10D ago • By RotoWire

  Jefferson secured one of two targets for one yard during Sunday's 18-10 win over Atlanta. Jefferson was on the field for 72 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps Sunday, which ranked first among the team's wide receivers, but he didn't draw many targets from interim starting quarterback Justin Fields as the passing game struggled to get going. Jefferson appeared in 17 games between the Rams and Falcons last year, securing 20 of 43 targets for 209 yards while rushing once for four yards. He appears to be in line to serve as the Steelers' No. 2 option at wide receiver early in 2024, but the team's passing attack may not be proficient enough to make him a reliable fantasy option.

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• Steelers' Van Jefferson: Remains favorite for No. 2 WR spot

  08/05/2024 • By RotoWire

  Jefferson has taken most of the first-team reps in two-wide formations during training camp, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports. Jefferson was billed as the favorite for the No. 2 WR job heading into camp, albeit with competition for roles appearing wide open beyond runaway No. 1 receiver George Pickens. Rookie third-round pick Roman Wilson is considered week-to-week after injuring his ankle July 30, and third-year pro Calvin Austin seems like a better bet for the No. 3 role given that he's one of the smallest players in the league (listed at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds). Jefferson thus has a nice opportunity to earn a starting job, although that might entail a lot more blocking than catching passes under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Jefferson's 345 snaps under Smith in Atlanta last season yielded only 28 targets and a 12-101-0 line.

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• Steelers' Van Jefferson: Early favorite for WR2 job

  07/12/2024 • By RotoWire

  Jefferson has "pole position" to be Pittsburgh's No. 2 wide receiver, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. The Steelers signed four wide receivers with NFL starting experience between January and May, also bringing in Quez Watkins, Scotty Miller and Marquez Callaway. They've each had exactly one season with 500-plus receiving yards, either in 2020 or 2021. Jefferson's so-called pole position prior to training camp may not mean much, as he'll face competition not only from the aforementioned veterans, but also 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson and 2023 third-rounder Calvin Austin. It looks like a wide-open competition for snaps/roles behind runaway No. 1 receiver George Pickens.

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• Steelers' Van Jefferson: Moves on to Pittsburgh

  03/15/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Steelers and Jefferson agreed to a one-year contract Friday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Jefferson has a 50-802-6 line on 89 targets in 17 regular-season games from 2021 with the Rams on his resume, but the 2020 second-round pick otherwise has put together 63 catches, 798 yards and four touchdowns in his other three campaigns between L.A. and Atlanta. With his new squad, he'll be a part of a Pittsburgh receiving corps that lost Diontae Johnson via a trade with Carolina, meaning Jefferson currently slots in as the Steelers' No. 2 WR behind George Pickens. Ultimately, Jefferson's place in the pecking order for passes from quarterback Russell Wilson will depend on other additions made this offseason.

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