NFL · 2 hours ago

Countdown to Latrobe: Steelers Top 5 Ranked RBs via PFF Stable Metrics

Bo Marchionte

Host · Writer

Steelers Top 5 RBs: PFF Overall Rankings
PFF Stable Metrics | Top to Bottom
- Jaylen Warren (68th)
- Rico Dowdle (21st)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Missed Tackles Forced / Attempt
- Jaylen Warren (91st)
- Rico Dowdle (20th)
- Kaleb Johnson (18th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Yards After Contact / Attempt
- Travis Homer (96th)
- Rico Dowdle (64th)
- Jaylen Warren (52nd)
- Kaleb Johnson (2nd)
Gap Grade
- Rico Dowdle (66th)
- Jaylen Warren (40th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Zone Grade
- Jaylen Warren (73rd)
- Rico Dowdle (10th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Receiving Grade
- Jaylen Warren (94th)
- Rico Dowdle (32nd)
- Travis Homer (11th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
Missed Tackles Forced / Reception
- Jaylen Warren (98th)
- Rico Dowdle (26th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Yards Per Route Run
- Jaylen Warren (89th)
- Rico Dowdle (65th)
- Kaleb Johnson (17th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Steelers Top 5 RBs: PFF Stable Metrics
Countdown to Latrobe
- July 8 – Safeties
- July 9 – Offensive Line
- July 10 – Defensive Line
- July 11 – Cornerbacks
- July 12 – Inside Linebackers
- July 13 – Outside Linebackers
- July 14 -Running Backs
- July 16 – Tight Ends
- July 17 – Wide Receivers
- July 20 – Quarterbacks
- July 21 – Specialists (K, P, LS)
- July 22 – Final 53-Man Thoughts
The Steelers' backfield enters training camp with one established playmaker, one proven veteran addition, and two younger backs looking to carve out their roles.

While traditional statistics tell part of the story, PFF Stable Metrics focus on traits that consistently translate from season to season, offering a better indication of sustainable production.

Jaylen Warren headlines the room after finishing as one of the NFL's highest-graded running backs in 2025, while free-agent addition Rico Dowdle gives Pittsburgh another experienced option after eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards last season.

Second-year man Kaleb Johnson found himself in the doghouse last season under the direction of Mike Tomlin. All eyes will be on the former Iowa running back and if Mike McCarthy can unearth Johnson’s potential.

Travis Homer rounds out the position group, each bringing different skill sets as they compete for snaps. Warren and Dowdle project as one of the AFC's more physical backfield tandems entering 2026.

PFF Offensive Grades
- Jaylen Warren - 81.0 (10th of 59)
- Rico Dowdle - 63.5 (54th of 59)
- Travis Homer - 52.8 (DNQ)
- Kaleb Johnson - 40.2 (DNQ)
Steelers Top 5 RBs: 1) Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren - Pittsburgh's Complete Weapon

Undrafted Jaylen Warren remains the standard in Pittsburgh's backfield. His stable metrics reveal one of the league's most complete running backs, combining elusive rushing ability with elite receiving production.

Warren ranks in the 91st percentile forcing missed tackles as a runner, but what separates him is his impact through the air.

His 94th percentile receiving grade, 98th percentile missed tackles forced per reception, and 89th percentile yards per route run demonstrate why he is one of football's most dangerous dual-threat backs.

Jaylen Warren’s PFF Stable Metrics
- Rushing Grade - 68th percentile
- Missed Tackles Forced/Attempt - 91st
- Yards After Contact/Attempt - 52nd
- Gap Grade - 40th
- Zone Grade - 73rd
- Receiving Grade - 94th
- Missed Tackles Forced/Reception - 98th
- Yards Per Route Run - 89th
Steelers Top 5 RBs: 2) Rico Dowdle
Rico Dowdle - Another Physical Runner

Another undrafted star in Rico Dowdle arrives in Pittsburgh after proving he can shoulder a heavy workload, and his stable metrics reinforce a runner built on power more than explosiveness.

His best category is 64th percentile yards after contact, showing his ability to finish runs through contact, while a 66th percentile gap grade suggests he is most comfortable attacking downhill.

Where Dowdle trails Warren is in creating missed tackles and contributing as a receiver. His receiving metrics remain below average, and his 10th percentile zone grade. It might warrant Warren having a larger role in the passing game with Kenneth Gainwell now in New Orleans.

Rico Dowdle’s PFF Stable Metrics
- Rushing Grade - 21st percentile
- Missed Tackles Forced/Attempt - 20th
- Yards After Contact/Attempt - 64th
- Gap Grade - 66th
- Zone Grade - 10th
- Receiving Grade - 32nd
- Missed Tackles Forced/Reception - 26th
- Yards Per Route Run - 65^th
Steelers Top 5 RBs: 4) Travis Homer
Travis Homer - Veteran Depth

With 90 carries over the course of his seven year NFL career, one things Travis Homer has done is establish himself as a dependable depth player and special teams contributor.

His stable metrics reflect limited offensive opportunities more than consistent feature-back production.

The standout category is a remarkable 96th percentile yards after contact per attempt, demonstrating that when Homer has carried the football, he has shown impressive power through contact.

Travis Homer PFF Stable Metrics
- Rushing Grade - 0th percentile
- Missed Tackles Forced/Attempt - 0th
- Yards After Contact/Attempt - 96th
- Gap Grade - 0th
- Zone Grade - 0th
- Receiving Grade - 11th
- Missed Tackles Forced/Reception - 0th
- Yards Per Route Run - 0th
Steelers Top 5 RBs: 4) Kaleb Johnson
Kaleb Johnson - The 53-Man Roster Spot in Question

Kaleb Johnson enters his second season with limited NFL data, leaving most stable metrics without meaningful qualification. His current profile simply reflects an incomplete evaluation rather than a finished player.

The lone encouraging mark is a 17th percentile yards per route run, while the remainder of his profile awaits enough professional snaps to establish reliable trends.

Johnson's focus during training camp will be earning opportunities to build those metrics while learning Pittsburgh's offensive system.

Kaleb Johnson’s PFF Stable Metrics
- Rushing Grade - 0th percentile
- Missed Tackles Forced/Attempt - 18th
- Yards After Contact/Attempt - 2nd
- Gap Grade - 0th
- Zone Grade - 0th
- Receiving Grade - 0th
- Missed Tackles Forced/Reception - 0th
- Yards Per Route Run - 17th
Steelers Top 5 RBs: 5) Eli Heidenreich
Eli Heidenreich - The Wild Card

Every training camp has one player who arrives with little fanfare but steadily forces coaches to keep finding him more opportunities. Through rookie minicamp, OTAs, and early offseason work, that player has been Eli Heidenreich.

The seventh-round selection from Navy doesn't fit the mold of a traditional running back. More than once coaches addressed his power during drills at OTAs.

He spent his college career lining up all over the formation as a runner, receiver, slotback and blocker, becoming Navy's all-time leading receiver while showcasing the versatility that attracted Pittsburgh on Day 3 of the draft.

Heidenreich Player Outlook
- Seventh-round selection (230th overall) out of Navy
- Pittsburgh native and Mt. Lebanon graduate
- Navy's all-time leader in receiving yards
- Hybrid RB/WR with H-back and special teams versatility
- Third down option without Kenneth Gainwell
Steelers Top 5 RBs: PFF Overall Rankings
PFF Stable Metrics | Top to Bottom
- Jaylen Warren (68th)
- Rico Dowdle (21st)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Missed Tackles Forced / Attempt
- Jaylen Warren (91st)
- Rico Dowdle (20th)
- Kaleb Johnson (18th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Yards After Contact / Attempt
- Travis Homer (96th)
- Rico Dowdle (64th)
- Jaylen Warren (52nd)
- Kaleb Johnson (2nd)
Gap Grade
- Rico Dowdle (66th)
- Jaylen Warren (40th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Zone Grade
- Jaylen Warren (73rd)
- Rico Dowdle (10th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Receiving Grade
- Jaylen Warren (94th)
- Rico Dowdle (32nd)
- Travis Homer (11th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
Missed Tackles Forced / Reception
- Jaylen Warren (98th)
- Rico Dowdle (26th)
- Kaleb Johnson (0th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Yards Per Route Run
- Jaylen Warren (89th)
- Rico Dowdle (65th)
- Kaleb Johnson (17th)
- Travis Homer (0th)
Steelers Top 5 RBs: PFF Stable Metrics
Countdown to Latrobe
- July 8 – Safeties
- July 9 – Offensive Line
- July 10 – Defensive Line
- July 11 – Cornerbacks
- July 12 – Inside Linebackers
- July 13 – Outside Linebackers
- July 14 -Running Backs
- July 16 – Tight Ends
- July 17 – Wide Receivers
- July 20 – Quarterbacks
- July 21 – Specialists (K, P, LS)
- July 22 – Final 53-Man Thoughts
The Steelers' backfield enters training camp with one established playmaker, one proven veteran addition, and two younger backs looking to carve out their roles.

While traditional statistics tell part of the story, PFF Stable Metrics focus on traits that consistently translate from season to season, offering a better indication of sustainable production.

Jaylen Warren headlines the room after finishing as one of the NFL's highest-graded running backs in 2025, while free-agent addition Rico Dowdle gives Pittsburgh another experienced option after eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards last season.

Second-year man Kaleb Johnson found himself in the doghouse last season under the direction of Mike Tomlin. All eyes will be on the former Iowa running back and if Mike McCarthy can unearth Johnson’s potential.

Travis Homer rounds out the position group, each bringing different skill sets as they compete for snaps. Warren and Dowdle project as one of the AFC's more physical backfield tandems entering 2026.

PFF Offensive Grades
- Jaylen Warren - 81.0 (10th of 59)
- Rico Dowdle - 63.5 (54th of 59)
- Travis Homer - 52.8 (DNQ)
- Kaleb Johnson - 40.2 (DNQ)

Jul 14 11:00 AM

SpreadMoneyTotal

PDX

+2.5

+118

O 167.5

CON

-2.5

-144

U 167.5

Jul 14 7:00 PM

SpreadMoneyTotal

WAS

-2.5

-138

O 172.5

TOR

+2.5

+112

U 172.5

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