After much deliberation, Aaron Rodgers has decided to return to Pittsburgh, culminating in a reunion confirmed Saturday night. Reports indicate that the veteran quarterback has inked a one-year contract, which could reach a value of $25 million for the 2026 season.
Fantasy football enthusiasts should approach Rodgers, now 42, with caution in standard one-quarterback leagues, where he remains a last-resort option and likely not worth drafting. However, in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, he could be a smart mid- to late-round selection.
The hope is that Rodgers will thrive under the leadership of Mike McCarthy, who took over as head coach this offseason, succeeding Mike Tomlin. McCarthy and Rodgers share a history, having worked together for 13 seasons in Green Bay.
The synergy between Rodgers and McCarthy could potentially boost the Fantasy prospects of Pittsburgh’s receiving corps, particularly DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, and Germie Bernard. More details on these players will follow.
Focusing on Rodgers’ performance, he showed flashes of brilliance in 2025 with the Steelers, though his Fantasy output was modest, averaging 17.2 points per game. He accumulated 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, along with 61 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Out of 17 games, including playoffs, he surpassed the 20 Fantasy point mark just six times.
The offensive scheme under McCarthy should suit Rodgers better than the 2025 system led by previous offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. In their time together with the Packers from 2006 to 2018, McCarthy helped Rodgers consistently achieve an average of at least 21.5 Fantasy points per game. Additionally, McCarthy’s tenure with Dak Prescott in Dallas saw the quarterback average over 20.4 Fantasy points per game in four out of five seasons.
That version of Rodgers and Prescott was in their prime, so it’s hard to have high expectations for Rodgers in 2026. But the Steelers improved their receiving corps with the addition of Pittman and Bernard, and Rodgers could surprise us now that he’s back with McCarthy.
I still like Metcalf more than Pittman, but both should be considered No. 3 Fantasy receivers at best. Metcalf had a down season in 2025 in his first season in Pittsburgh with 12.5 PPR points per game, which was his lowest total since his rookie campaign in 2019.
Metcalf, with Rodgers, had 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns on 99 targets. I expect Metcalf’s targets to rise, but the earliest he should be drafted is Round 8 in the majority of leagues.
Pittman is also worth drafting as early as Round 8, and he just averaged 11.9 PPR points in his final season with the Colts in 2025. He had 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns on 111 targets.
Pittman might get more targets and receptions than Metcalf, given the expected routes for both. But Metcalf still offers more upside given his big-play ability.
As for Bernard, the second-round rookie from Alabama is worth drafting as a late-round flier in seasonal leagues. In rookie-only drafts for dynasty leagues, Bernard is worth a second-round pick. He just had 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games in 2025.
The Fantasy value for the tight ends (Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth) and running backs (Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle) doesn’t change much with Rodgers back. Either Washington or Freiermuth could become a streaming option during the season, but neither is worth drafting. And Warren and Dowdle should be considered high-end flex options on Draft Day.
I like Warren slightly better than Dowdle since Warren should have a larger role in the passing game. But Dowdle and McCarthy were together in Dallas, and their history could help Dowdle emerge as the No. 1 running back in Pittsburgh this season. I would draft Warren as early as Round 6, and Dowdle should be selected in Round 7.
We’re glad Rodgers is back in 2026. Hopefully, he can have one more productive season with McCarthy before he likely retires after this year.
