Steelers Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings 2026: Best Pittsburgh Draft Picks to Target originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Steelers’ 2026 NFL Draft class is here, and Pittsburgh fans have plenty to sort through before fantasy football draft season begins.
Not every rookie the Steelers selected will matter in standard fantasy football leagues right away. Offensive linemen do not score points, defensive backs are usually only relevant in IDP formats and late-round role players often need time before they become weekly fantasy options. But Pittsburgh did add several players who could matter in redraft, dynasty, best ball, Superflex and deeper fantasy leagues.
The biggest fantasy names in this class are Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, Iowa return specialist Kaden Wetjen, Indiana fullback/tight end Riley Nowakowski and Navy running back/receiver Eli Heidenreich. The Steelers also used premium picks on offensive linemen Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker, and those additions could help the entire offense if they win starting jobs. Pittsburgh selected 10 players overall, including Iheanachor in Round 1, Bernard in Round 2, Allar, Daylen Everette and Dunker in Round 3, Wetjen in Round 4, Nowakowski in Round 5, Gabriel Rubio in Round 6, and Robert Spears-Jennings and Heidenreich in Round 7.
Here is how Steelers rookies should be viewed for fantasy football.
Fantasy draft range: Rounds 12-15 in redraft; early-to-mid second round in dynasty rookie draftsBest 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.
Fantasy draft range: Late rounds in Superflex; undrafted in most one-QB redraft leaguesBest 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.
Fantasy draft range: Final rounds in return-yardage leagues; undrafted in most standard leaguesBest 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.
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.
Fantasy draft range: Undrafted in standard leagues; late stash in deep TE-premium leaguesBest 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.