The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 3 matchup between the Chargers and Steelers.
Find a breakdown of every Week 3 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| LA Chargers | Rank | @ | Pittsburgh | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | Spread | -2.0 | ||
| 16.75 | Implied Total | 18.75 | ||
| 24.0 | 11 | Points/Gm | 15.5 | 26 |
| 6.5 | 1 | Points All./Gm | 8.0 | 2 |
| 59.5 | 18 | Plays/Gm | 62.0 | 15 |
| 52.5 | 3 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 53.0 | 4 |
| 5.6 | 15 | Off. Yards/Play | 4.2 | 29 |
| 4.3 | 3 | Def. Yards/Play | 4.9 | 12 |
| 59.66% | 3 | Rush% | 62.10% | 2 |
| 40.34% | 30 | Pass% | 37.90% | 31 |
| 38.10% | 6 | Opp. Rush % | 38.68% | 7 |
| 61.90% | 27 | Opp. Pass % | 61.32% | 26 |
- Pittsburgh has scored a touchdown on 4.8% of their drives, ahead of only the Bears, Panthers, and Broncos.
- 59.4% of the yardage gained by the Chargers through two weeks has been via rushing, the highest rate in the league.
- 53.4% of the yardage gained by Pittsburgh has been gained via rushing, third in the league.
- 42.9% of Pittsburgh’s dropbacks have come with a clean pocket, the lowest rate in the league.
- 68.0% of the Chargers’ dropbacks have come with a clean pocket, fourth in the league.
- The Steelers have allowed opponents to convert 19.0% (4-of-21) of their third downs, the lowest rate in the league.
- 62.0% of the Chargers’ set of downs have reached third down, ahead of only the Bears (65.2%).
- Opponents have converted 23.1% (6-of-26) of their third downs against the Chargers, the second-lowest rate.
Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: Herbert has opened the season as the QB23 in weekly scoring in both weeks.
Capped by the run-first offense, Herbert has thrown for 144 and 130 yards in each of the first two games this season.
His 6.0 yards per pass attempt average is 25th to open the year.
Everything we assumed about this offense has been true through two games.
The Chargers have thrown the ball 11% below expectations. That rate is 12% below expectations on first downs.
In addition, Herbert is working his way back this week from an ankle injury he suffered last week.
*Herbert’s injury is a high-ankle sprain, which has his status for Sunday as a game-time-decision. Easton Stick is the direct backup.*
Herbert has faced the Raiders and Panthers and has barely lived as a back-end QB2, so we must keep him in that territory against a more brutal Pittsburgh defense on the road.
Neither team has a team total in the twenties, so the field is expecting a fistfight.
Pittsburgh has had a good draw opening against a stationary Kirk Cousins in Week 1 and Bo Nix last week, but they are second in the NFL in pressure rate (42.2%).
Herbert has only been pressured on 28.0% of his dropbacks (7th), but when he has faced pressure, he is 29th in rating through two games.
Justin Fields: Fields is expected to get another start this weekend.
Pittsburgh only has one offensive touchdown through two games, but Fields has been the caretaker of the Arthur Smith offense.
We will see what this offense has to do when pressed, but the Chargers are unlikely to be an opponent that puts them in a severely negative game script if they do trail.
Fields has been the QB16 (11.9 points) and QB22 (10.6 points) to open the year.
Like the Chargers, the Steelers have thrown the ball 12% below expectations to open the season.
Fields is averaging 6.3 yards per attempt, 23rd in the league when they have thrown the ball.
He has thrown for 156 and 117 yards.
If Fields is being used as a QB2 in hopes of landing rushing production, he has 22 rushes with 57 and 27 yards in both contests.
Running Back
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More Week 3 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Matchup | Time |
|---|---|
| Patriots @ Jets -- FREE | Thursday Night Football |
| Giants @ Browns | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Packers @ Titans | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bears @ Colts | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Texans @ Vikings | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Eagles @ Saints | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Chargers @ Steelers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Broncos @ Bucs | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Panthers @ Raiders | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Dolphins @ Seahawks | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Ravens @ Cowboys | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| 49ers @ Rams | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Lions @ Cardinals | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Chiefs @ Falcons | Sunday Night Football |
| Jaguars @ Bills -- FREE | Monday Night Football |
| Commanders @ Bengals -- FREE | Monday Night Football |
