Germie Bernard has seen his target count climb sharply in the Steelers’ injury-hit lineup, capturing 29 targets across three games with the starting unit. His involvement surged from eight targets in Week 2, when Michael Pittman Jr. was absent, to nine last week amid multiple wide receiver injuries, and then 12 on Sunday as the team’s WR2. Bernard ran 78% of routes and caught 11 passes during that span, a significant increase from the 27% of routes he ran in three other games. Aaron Rodgers, who rarely trusts young receivers, has expressed approval of Bernard off the field and has been feeding him the ball consistently. Bernard’s average depth of target was a mere 1.83 yards, showing his role as a short-area slot receiver that complements Rodgers’ veteran style. Analysts expect Bernard to maintain this role even once the other Steelers receivers return.
Elsewhere, Colston Loveland’s red-zone opportunities have caught attention since Caleb Williams returned to the Bears’ offense. Loveland logged three red-zone targets on Sunday, though his fantasy day fell short of expectations as he failed to convert any touchdowns despite an unusually high expected touchdown figure of 2.7 entering the game. He was tackled at the one-yard line on one catch and dropped an easy end-zone target on another. The Bears’ offense leads the NFL with 101 plays in the red zone this season, and Loveland’s combination of volume and skill suggests touchdowns should come soon.
Luther Burden III ran 18 routes in Week 6, well below teammates Rome Odunze’s 40 and Loveland’s 33. Burden’s snap count reflects his fluctuating role as the third receiver on a team that deploys two-tight end sets frequently. Though he caught all eight of his targets last week, his limited red-zone snaps (only three out of 18) and route runs may curtail his consistency. Williams completed 30 of 36 passes in Week 6, but Burden’s restricted involvement in critical moments could limit his fantasy upside, though an increase in snaps might elevate his status.
DeVonta Smith commanded 31.8% of the target share in his first full game with backup quarterback Tanner McKee. McKee targeted Smith 14 times, building on a small sample size where Smith was targeted on over half of McKee’s 11 pass plays in his previous appearances. The Eagles have shifted their offensive approach with McKee at quarterback, passing more frequently due to the absence of Jalen Hurts and a diminished running game. McKee’s high-volume passing has made him one of the more promising backup quarterbacks, though his success may depend on matchups without Hurts under center.
Puka Nacua’s fantasy production per route soared to 0.89 points when Davante Adams has been off the field since 2025. Last season, Nacua led the NFL with 0.78 points per route despite limited routes due to Adams’ presence. This season, Nacua’s connection with Matthew Stafford has been inconsistent; his catchable target rate dropped from 85.9% to 76.9%, yet he still averaged 23.0 PPR points per game with only one receiving touchdown. Should Adams miss time, Nacua is positioned to become an elite fantasy option comparable to Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson.
The Rams’ running back red-zone snaps have been split between Kyren Williams and Blake Corum over the past two weeks, with Corum seeing nearly half the snaps and two touchdowns. Williams’ workload remains significant but has shifted from the bellcow role he held earlier in the season. Corum’s snap share and rush attempts have edged up slightly, altering Williams’ fantasy profile from a top-five RB to more of a lower-end RB1.
Ja’Kobi Lane returned from a wrist injury in Week 6, immediately becoming a target focus after Rashod Bateman aggravated a shoulder injury. Lane’s targets per route stand at 23% this season, including multiple red-zone looks. The Ravens rank inside the top 10 for red-zone drives per game with Lamar Jackson, and Lane is positioned as a contested-catch option in the red zone, with Zay Flowers handling much of the designed underneath work.
Omar Cooper Jr. made a notable return, running 82% of routes in his latest outing, reflecting increased involvement as the Steelers navigate their injury challenges.
According to Yahoo Sports.
