Steelers 53-man roster prediction: Post-preseason game vs Eagles
By Tyler Jaggi
Steelers Running Backs (4)
Najee Harris, Anthony McFarland, Kalen Ballage, Derek Watt
Steelers have a bunch of names in the running back room that might not make the final 53. It’s a given that Najee Harris will be the lead back following his 1st round selection. Anthony McFarland has been the “best of the rest” so far in camp, as he’s been averaging more yards per carry and brings a big play threat to the backfield.
With only one fullback on the roster, Pittsburgh is obviously going to keep Derek Watt in 2021. I don’t see the Steelers cutting T.J. Watt’s brother in the middle of contract talks so Watt is a safe bet to be on the team (even if I don’t think fullbacks are worth a spot on an NFL team in 2021).
That 4th spot for the “running back” position comes down to Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels, and Kalen Ballage. For me, it’s easy. Ballage has outplayed both Snell and Samuels in camp thus far. Snell was a plodding back for the Steelers in 2020 who averaged a mere 3.3 yards per carry, and he has been banged up over the past few weeks. While Samuels stepped up his game against the Eagles, there just might not be room for him on the roster if Pittsburgh elects to go with a bottom-of-the-roster player who adds more special teams value. Samuels just never lived up to the do-it-all status he had entering the 2018 NFL Draft.