Steelers fantasy football: Players to start and sit in Week 1 vs. 49ers

Week 1 brings a tough matchup for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they take on the San Francisco 49ers. Today we will look at the fantasy football players to start and sit in for the Steelers in this Week 1 showdown.

1. RB Najee Harris

I understand Harris was a high pick for you in your fantasy football draft, which means you’ll likely have to start him this week. I expect him to finish better than his ADP this season, but this is a brutal Week 1 matchup.

The 49ers have one of the best defensive units in football, and arguably the best front seven. No team in the league allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing running backs last season. This spells bad news for Najee Harris and the Steelers ground game. I suggest looking elsewhere if you can afford to put him on your bench. Recommendation = SIT

2. TE Pat Freiermuth

As I mentioned above with Harris, the 49ers have one of the best defensive units in football. Their linebacking core was ranked #1 heading into the 2023 season, along with some great safety help. I don’t love this matchup for Freiermuth going against the studs in the middle of the field for the 49ers who will be checking him all game.

It would be wise for the Steelers to try attacking the 49ers out on the perimeter instead, which you will see with the next player recommendation below. I suggest looking elsewhere for a better tight-end matchup this week. Recommendation = SIT

3. WR Diontae Johnson

Given the reasons above about the 49ers stout front seven, I believe the Steelers will have success targeting the perimeter of the field in this Week 1 matchup. Pickett loves getting the ball to Johnson, as he has 147 targets this past season.

With this, the targets will be there in this week 1 matchup, and I would bet that results will follow. In Week 1, look for Johnson to get into the endzone for the first time since the 2021 season. Recommendation = START

4. K Chris Boswell

Boswell is more of a matchup-dependent kicker for fantasy football, and Week 1 is not a good one for him. The 49ers allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to kickers last season, allowing just 16 field-goal conversions. I suggest looking elsewhere for a better kicking matchup this week. Recommendation = SIT

5. Steelers team defense

Yes, I realize this is not a “player” like the title suggests, but I wanted to show the defensive unit some love. The Steelers have absolutely rattled and terrorized elite quarterbacks in Week 1 of the last 2 seasons (Josh Allen and Joe Burrow).

Week 1 this year features a non-elite Brock Purdy coming off of a severe shoulder injury in late January, which is cause for concern in terms of how he will play to start this season. Also, George Kittle has not been practicing and may not be suiting up in Week 1. Look for a fully healthy TJ Watt and others to wreak havoc on the 49ers offense this week. Recommendation = START

Final thoughts on Steelers vs 49ers

Overall, I expect this to be a tough matchup for the Pittsburgh Steelers not only in terms of fantasy football matchups, but in general. Week 1 has provided these grueling matchups for the Steelers in the last few years, but Tomlin usually has the boys ready to roll.

My hope is that I am wrong about my recommendations for the Steelers players to sit, as I would love for everyone on the team to do well, but I need to throw my Steelers biases aside and be realistic.

My goal is for these recommendations to come in handy when setting your Week 1 lineup with the hope of securing a Week 1 fantasy football win.