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FFL: Week 1 | NFL: Week 1

WR Strength of Schedule

Fri May 31 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Lamb could top last season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the receiver position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to receivers last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the receivers with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the receivers that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  WR SOS  
1. Denver Broncos 531.34
2. Los Angeles Chargers 536.08
3. Miami Dolphins 537.31
4. Kansas City Chiefs 549.96
5. Las Vegas Raiders 552.89
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 554.85
7. New England Patriots 555.93
8. Buffalo Bills 556.13
9. Houston Texans 561.75
10. San Francisco 49ers 565.73
11. New Orleans Saints 566.06
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 566.19
13. Cincinnati Bengals 566.32
14. Jacksonville Jaguars 570.07
15. Baltimore Ravens 571.77
16. Seattle Seahawks 573.41
17. Minnesota Vikings 573.91
18. Philadelphia Eagles 574.46
19. Carolina Panthers 575.49
20. Los Angeles Rams 575.79
21. Washington Commanders 575.91
22. Detroit Lions 576.36
23. Atlanta Falcons 577.76
24. New York Jets 577.99
25. Tennessee Titans 578.06
26. Indianapolis Colts 578.18
27. Cleveland Browns 583.5
28. Arizona Cardinals 586.09
29. New York Giants 586.93
30. Chicago Bears 601.21
31. Dallas Cowboys 608.4
32. Green Bay Packers 610.22

 

The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for receivers. Jayden Reed and Christian Watson could be setup for career best seasons with this schedule. These are guys you can get a little later come draft day and mid-round options that could be difference makers for fantasy owners.

CeeDee Lamb is considered the No. 1 overall fantasy receiver for many and his schedule helps make that claim even stronger. Lamb has the second most favorable schedule for receivers. Lamb was huge last year and could improve on that even more, especially since the Cowboys could struggle to run the ball with their current options.

The Bears, Giants and Cardinals also round out the top-five most favorable receiver schedules. Chicago has a great trio of receivers with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze.  These guys could produce big as long as rookie Caleb Williams gets the job done at quarterback in year one. Moore has more to compete with for targets this year, but you still have to like his chances for a big season in year two with the Bears.

The Giants and Cardinals both have some question marks at receiver, but a couple rookies lead the way for both teams. Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison could have big rookie seasons with their new teams. These guys both have a chance to lead all rookie fantasy receivers in scoring.

On the opposite side of things, the Broncos have the most challenging schedule for receivers. The Broncos have all sorts of questions at receiver outside of Courtland Sutton. This is a unit of receivers you just might want to avoid come draft day. This schedule won’t make anything easier for this group.

The Chargers are a similar team to the Broncos, having openings and questions at receiver. So once again, it might be best to let someone else put Chargers receivers on their roster. Plus, the Chargers could be a lot more run heavy with a new coach running the show. The tough schedule and new offense make taking any Chargers receiver a bit of a risk.

There are two really good offenses on the list that have tough schedules for receivers. Both the Dolphins and Chiefs have a top-five least favorable schedule for receivers. The Dolphins have one of the best receiver duos in football, so it is tough to fade them because of this schedule. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should be able to produce big numbers once again in this offense.

The Chiefs are a little more concerning. This offense is a little matchup proof, but don’t have that elite receiver on their roster. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown lead the way. Brown hasn’t been great in recent seasons and Rice is facing a suspension. These guys will carry some risk come draft day, especially after seeing this schedule.

Davante Adams is usually another star receiver that is matchup proof, but you have to wonder a little this year. He has some question marks at quarterback, which could hurt his production when you pair it with this schedule. Adams is dealing with the fifth toughest fantasy schedule for receivers.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy receivers. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the receivers with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  WR PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Los Angeles Rams 501.93
2. Jacksonville Jaguars 515.53
3. Kansas City Chiefs 519.43
4. New York Giants 521.63
5. Miami Dolphins 532.77
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 534.53
7. Houston Texans 538
8. Buffalo Bills 540.87
9. Las Vegas Raiders 541.9
10. Carolina Panthers 549.33
11. Cincinnati Bengals 552.17
12. Detroit Lions 553.73
13. Arizona Cardinals 555.27
14. Cleveland Browns 555.4
15. Minnesota Vikings 560.93
16. New England Patriots 573.03
17. Los Angeles Chargers 573.1
18. Tennessee Titans 575.17
19. Baltimore Ravens 581.27
20. Seattle Seahawks 585.08
21. New York Jets 585.5
22. Denver Broncos 587.2
23. Pittsburgh Steelers 587.8
24. Philadelphia Eagles 589.73
25. Green Bay Packers 590.85
26. Washington Commanders 591.57
27. New Orleans Saints 604.13
28. Dallas Cowboys 609.73
29. Indianapolis Colts 614
30. San Francisco 49ers 641.53
31. Atlanta Falcons 644.93
32. Chicago Bears 647.98

 

The Bears and Cowboys are the teams that make both the top five easiest receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. Chicago has the easiest for the entire playoffs. Once again, their top trio of receivers are looking pretty good come draft day.

Lamb continues to make his case to be the first receiver selected come draft day. He could have a monster season and finish strong as well with the fifth easiest schedule for the playoffs. Lamb might be the most surefire first-round pick come draft day.

The Falcons, 49ers and Colts also have a top-five favorable playoff schedule for receivers. Atlanta receivers were looking up to begin with, getting a legit quarterback throwing them passes this year. And this schedule makes their options look even better, especially Drake London. He could have a breakout season.

San Francisco has great options at receiver in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. They are pretty safe picks come draft day. And they get a very favorable playoff schedule that could make them even more appealing to fantasy owners. These guys both have really solid floors come draft day in this offense.

Michael Pittman keeps getting it done as the No. 1 option for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson can become that true No. 1 at quarterback for Indy, Pittman would look even better. Pittman has produced in recent year despite having some quarterback issues. His game could go to a higher level this year if Richardson breaks out. Pittman could be a league winner if everything breaks his way in 2024.

The Chiefs and Dolphins are two of the best offenses in football but also the only two teams to make the top five most unfavorable receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. This is a tad concerning for both teams, Again, it is tough to bet against Hill, but maybe you drop him down your rankings just few spots behind the other elite guys because of this. You hate to use an early round pick on a receiver to see him maybe not produce what he should come playoff time.

And as mentioned with the Chiefs, their top two receivers already face a few question marks, so maybe their tough schedules make them players to let someone else draft. Both Brown and Rice could be a little erratic.

The Rams actually have the toughest playoff schedule for receivers. They are another team with two of the best receivers in football. It is tough to bet against either Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp, but the playoff schedule is a little scary, especially for Kupp. He seems to be trending down at this stage of his career.

The Jaguars and Giants are the two other teams with a top-five unfavorable fantasy schedule for the playoffs. The Jags have Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis as their top two receivers. Kirk is normally pretty steady but Davis can be boom or bust. Seeing his playoff schedule should bump him down a few spots in your rankings. It could be more of the same for Davis with his new team.

And the Giants are an outlier here, having an easy schedule for receivers during the regular season but the fourth toughest for the playoffs. This makes it tough come draft day. Their receivers could be good values for the regular season but disappoint when it counts. You do have to just make the playoffs, though, so we aren’t sure we shy away from Giant receivers just because of their tough playoff schedule. You still might be able to get good value with their options that help you win during the season.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Starts/Sits: Week 1

Player Notes
Trevor Lawrence Sep 9 8:40am ET
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a solid first and rough second half, finishing with only one touchdown and 162 passing yards in a 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Lawrence and the Jaguars scored all 17 points in the first half, allowing the Dolphins to make a comeback, which they topped off with a last-second field goal. The fourth-year QB didn't have the highest expectations from a fantasy perspective entering this season, but this performance does not bode any confidence for his fantasy managers. Lawrence only had one rush for eight yards, a pattern that can't continue for his future fantasy relevance. The Clemson product was already a borderline QB1/QB2, so this performance means he will move to many benches in Week 2. The impatient move would be to drop him, but one bad performance isn't enough to warrant that. However, managers should move Lawrence to the bench next week, where he faces a tough Browns secondary in Week 2.

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Derek Carr Sep 9 8:40am ET
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr picked up where he left off at the end of last season in Week 1's 47-10 win over Carolina. Carr completed 19-of-23 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, leading the team to an early 17-0 first-quarter lead. Carr's first touchdown on the day came on a 59-yard connection with receiver Rashid Shaheed, followed by a dart to Foster Moreau and a second-quarter touchdown throw to Juwan Johnson. His debut in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak' system could not have gone much better. Carr will look to continue his hot start next Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, who also looked dominant in Week 1.

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Bryce Young Sep 9 6:10am ET
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson caught just two his six targets for 19 yards in the team's loss to the New Orleans Saints. Johnson was the second most targeted pass-catcher, but was unable to connect with quarterback Bryce Young as the team struggled to move the ball on offense. Johnson was brought in to be a WR1 for Young, and did see encouraging enough usage to be a viable fantasy option moving forward. While it was a lackluster performance, Johnson can be considered a WR3 option in Week 2 when the Panthers take on the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Kirk Cousins Sep 9 6:00am ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins struggled in his first game with his new team, completing 16-of-26 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown with one rushing attempt for no gain in an 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coming off the severe leg injury, it's not a complete shock that Cousins struggled in his first game back from recovery. The newly revamped offensive line was also no help, as he was sacked twice and was under constant pressure throughout the game. It may take some time for Cousins to find that efficiency he had back in Minnesota, especially with a prime-time matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on deck next week on Sunday Night Football.

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Younghoe Koo Sep 9 6:00am ET
Younghoe Koo

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo converted his lone field goal attempt on Sunday from 24 yards out and tacked on one extra point in an 18-10 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Koo is among the most intriguing kicking options this season, with the newly revamped offense for the Falcons and the fact that he plays half of his game indoors. Unfortunately for Koo, the offense wasn't quite in good shape in this game, as they barely got into field goal range. Once this offense starts clicking on all cylinders, expect more opportunities for Koo moving forward. He should still be a solid start in a matchup that should provide plenty of offense for both sides when the Falcons face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football in Week 2.

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Trey McBride Sep 9 5:00am ET
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride had a team-high nine targets in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. The chances translated to a five-catch day but resulted in just 30 receiving yards. On a day when Arizona's offensive line was doing all that it could to withstand Buffalo's pass rush, quarterback Kyler Murray had to get rid of the ball quickly and McBride proved to be a reliable safety valve even if he didn't have time to get downfield. The second-year pro saw a couple of passes that could have gone for 20 or more yards, though both throws were off the mark. Despite the subpar day, McBride's eight PPR points were still enough for him to rank in the top 12 at his position in the first week of NFL action. He will continue to be a TE1 candidate as the season progresses and should be locked into lineups in Week 2 when the Cardinals play the Rams in their home opener.

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Kyler Murray Sep 9 4:50am ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray completed 21 of his 31 pass attempts for 162 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. He gained an additional 57 yards on the ground on 5 rushes, including a 29-yard scamper that ended up being Arizona's longest play from scrimmage. Murray's touchdown pass went to wide receiver Michael Wilson from five yards out in the first quarter. The 27-year-old signal caller had an efficient start to the game with only one incompletion in his first 12 attempts but as the game went on Arizona's offensive line found it harder and harder to keep up with the pass rush, forcing Murray to hurry his throws. While he was never picked off he eventually coughed up a fumble late in the third quarter that gave the Bills the ball on Arizona's 21-yard line, setting them up for the go-ahead score. Despite the lackluster final line, Murray will be a QB1 candidate in Week 2 when Arizona hosts the Los Angeles Rams.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. Sep 9 4:50am ET
Marvin Harrison Jr.

The hype surrounding Marvin Harrison Jr. pushed his ADP to 15 during the fantasy draft season. He fell well short of expectations in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, drawing just three targets and making a single catch for four yards. The fourth overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft may have disappointed fantasy managers in Week 1 but his usage leaves room for optimism. Harrison was on the field for nearly every offensive snap, missing only six plays, all of which were three tight end sets. While Buffalo's secondary seemed at times to be giving the rookie receiver special attention downfield, the defensive pressure on Kyler Murray also lent to Harrison's lack of production. With Harrison running mostly intermediate and long routes, there simply wasn't time for him to complete a route before Murray had to get rid of the ball. The debut was a dud but Harrison should remain in starting lineups in Week 2 when Arizona takes on the Los Angeles Rams.

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James Conner Sep 9 4:50am ET
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing described running back James Conner as the team's "bell cow" in recent comments to the media. Anyone left wondering how much Petzing's coachspeak could be trusted got their answer on Sunday. Conner handled the ball in each of the Cardinals' first six plays from scrimmage to open the game and paced the team's running backs with 16 rushing attempts. The eighth-year veteran gained 50 rushing yards and caught three passes for another 33 yards through the air. Conner scored his first touchdown of the season in the second quarter, taking the handoff from three yards out and punching it through the line for the score. Conner and the Cardinals next face the Rams, who allowed a combined 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns to David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions in Week 1.

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Michael Wilson Sep 9 4:50am ET
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson scored the team's first points of 2024 when he caught a five-yard pass from Kyler Murray in the first quarter of Sunday's season opener against the Buffalo Bills. Wilson showed good awareness on the play as he took it upon himself to find some open space in the back of the end zone while Murray did his best to stay on his feet despite a heavy pass rush on the play. The touchdown reception ended up being Wilson's only reception of the day and he drew just one other target in the loss. Wilson did start opposite Marvin Harrison Jr. and had the second-highest snap count among Arizona's wide receiver group. Next week the Cardinals host the Rams, who just gave up 121 receiving yards and a touchdown to the Lions' WR2, Jameson Williams.

From RotoBaller

DeeJay Dallas Sep 9 4:50am ET
DeeJay Dallas

Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas took a return 96 yards to the house for the first such score under the NFL's new kickoff rules on Sunday. Dallas can be elusive but he got a little lucky in Week 1 when three would-be tacklers converged on him and essentially took each other out, allowing the returner to easily shake free and continue downfield. Dallas spent his first four professional seasons with the Seahawks and has racked up 1,474 kick return yards since adopting those duties in 2021, the sixth-most in the league over the last three years. As the last running back on the depth chart, Dallas carries almost no fantasy value, though he might be of interest in leagues that account for return yards. In Week 2, Arizona faces the Rams, who registered six touchbacks with no returns for their kickoffs in their season debut.

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Chuba Hubbard Sep 9 2:00am ET
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard carried the ball six times for just 14 yards in the team's blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints. Hubbard was not involved in the receiving game, seeing zero targets. Hubbard saw just one more carry than running back Miles Sanders, but neither were able to provide much of a spark on the ground. Both running backs were gamescripted out of the matchup early on, with the Panthers finding themselves down by 27 at halftime. Hubbard's usage was encouraging enough to keep him in the mix moving forward, and he can be looked at as an RB3/4 option next week when the Panthers take on the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Adam Thielen Sep 9 2:00am ET
Adam Thielen

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen caught three of his four targets for 49 yards in the team's loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Thielen led all Panthers pass-catchers in yards, remaining as a trusted target for quarterback Bryce Young. Carolina's offensive limitations hinder heavily on Thielen's upside, but he could be a name to keep an eye on if he remains the No. 1 option for Young. Fantasy managers can look to Thielen as a WR4/5 option when the Panthers take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.

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Bryce Young Sep 9 1:50am ET
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed thirteen of his 30 passes for 161 yards with two interceptions in the team's 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Young also carried the ball four times for an additional 12 yards and a touchdown on the ground, helping to salvage his fantasy production. Carolina had no success moving the ball in Sunday's matchup, seeing just barely over 200 yards of total offense. While there was some optimism the Panthers would improve from last year's offense, that was not shown to be the case on Sunday. Young can be left out of lineups in mostly all formats next week when the Panthers take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.

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Michael Pittman Jr. Sep 9 1:40am ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught just four of his eight targets for 31 yards in the team's loss to the Houston Texans. Pittman saw the most targets and snaps out of all Colts pass-catchers, but was unable to turn it into a productive fantasy day. Pittman remains the No. 1 option for Richardson and the Colts passing attack, and fantasy managers can include him as a WR2 in lineups in the team's Week 2 contest against the Green Bay Packers.

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Anthony Richardson Sep 9 1:40am ET
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson completed nine of his 19 passes for 212 yards in the team's loss against the Houston Texans. Richardson threw for two touchdowns as well as one interception. He also ran the ball six times for 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Richardson showed why his low-end passing volume isn't a huge deal for his fantasy production, as he was able to combine his big-play ability with his rushing ability into a very productive fantasy showing. Richardson remains a high-tier QB1 option moving forward, and fantasy managers can start him with confidence next week when the Colts take on the Packers.

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Alec Pierce Sep 9 1:30am ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce was the surprise name of Sunday afternoon, grabbing all three of his targets for 125 yards and a touchdown in the team's loss to the Houston Texans. QB Anthony Richardson connected with Pierce on some big plays, including a 60-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and a 57-yard pass in the fourth quarter. Pierce also saw favorable playing time in Josh Downs' (ankle) absence, playing 84% of snaps, only behind Michael Pittman Jr in the WR group. Richardson's big arm makes all Colts pass-catchers a potential homerun option, and Pierce was the beneficiary of that on Sunday. It's unclear how sustainable Pierce's production may be moving forward, but he does make for an interesting waiver wire target this week. Fantasy managers can likely leave Pierce out of lineups in Week 2 in the Colts contest against the Green Bay Packers, but can revisit his status in Week 3 if he can follow up this week's performance.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Taylor Sep 9 1:20am ET
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran the ball 16 times for 48 yards and a touchdown in the team's loss to the Houston Texans. Taylor was not involved in the receiving game, getting zero targets through the air. Taylor struggled to breakthrough at just three yards a carry, but did receive the full workload as he was the only running back to see any carries. QB Anthony Richardson led the way on the ground for the Colts, rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown on six attempts. While it is encouraging to see Taylor get high-end usage, his inefficiency and lack of receiving work paired with Richardson's rushing upside did limit him in the contest. Taylor will look to bounce back next week when the Colts take on the Packers, a team that let Saquon Barkley rush for over 100 yards and three touchdowns in their Week 1 matchup. Fantasy managers can start Taylor with confidence in next week's matchup as an RB1 hopeful.

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DeForest Buckner Sep 9 1:10am ET
DeForest Buckner

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (back) exited Sunday's game against the Houston Texans and did not return. At the time of his departure, he had registered six tackles and 1.5 sacks. Buckner continues to have game-wrecking potential in his age-30 season, so the Colts can only hope he won't miss too much time, if any at all. We can likely expect to receive more info on his diagnosis and timetable this Monday.

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Geno Smith Sep 9 12:50am ET
Geno Smith

The Denver Broncos didn't win in Week 1 on the road at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but there defense certainly played better than their offense. Denver's defense/special teams finished as a top-10 fantasy through Sunday night in the 26-20 defeat. They got to quarterback Geno Smith two times, picked him off once, created two safeties and recovered a fumble on a muffed punt. The Broncos' revamped defensive line allowed 146 rushing yards on 33 attempts for a 4.4 yard-per-carry average. Through the air, they limited Smith to 158 passing yards to allow just over 300 yards total in a tough road game to kick off the regular season. Denver's D/ST will remain on waiver wires in most leagues, but they could be worth streaming consideration in deeper leagues in a Week 2 matchup at home against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that could already have QB controversy.

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