Editor’s Note: This Matchup was written by John Daigle, with input from Evan Silva.

Sunday Night Football

Pittsburgh @ L.A. Chargers

Team Totals: Steelers 21, Chargers 24

Even in being pressured at the lowest rate (12.8%) of any QB in Week 9, Aaron Rodgers completed one pass of 10+ Air Yards including 5.6 yards per attempt against zone coverage, which the Chargers and DC Jesse Minter scheme on 80% of snaps (fifth). There are better streamers available on waivers — Marcus Mariota, J.J. McCarthy, Justin Fields — than settling for Rodgers in Superflex leagues. … Jaylen Warren’s out-touched the rest of Pittsburgh’s backfield 53-21 the last three games with 100% of their RB carries inside the 10. It’s an easier spot for Warren this week, too, since the Chargers, Bengals, and Giants are equally permitting a league-worst 2.9 yards before contact per run. Kenneth Gainwell remains an elite stash if Warren were injured, as Rodgers has targeted this backfield on 24.6% (third) of throws.

All signs point to a WR1 bounce back for DK Metcalf, given L.A.’s play-calling: His 26.2% target share (12th) for 2.75 Yards Per Route Run (seventh) against zone coverage plummets to 12.7% (94th) and 0.79 (97th) against man. … Calvin Austin III’s second game back from injury resulted in him overthrowing Roman Wilson as Pittsburgh’s WR2 (for a route on 64% of dropbacks). Van Jefferson (one 21-yard catch), Jordan Addison (3/26/1), and Alec Pierce (5/98/0) all spiked big plays across from their WR1 teammates against the Chargers since Week 7. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Wilson are merely cheap punts (if needed) on one-game slates with no ceilings: Los Angeles has limited WR3s to 19.8 yards per game. … The only three TEs to score double-digit fantasy points across from L.A. all scored TDs, Tyler Warren (4/69/1) included. In other words, none of Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington should be FLEXed. Washington’s TD-or-bust outlook is interesting for single-game slates, out-targeting Freiermuth 6-3 inside the red zone since Week 4. For what it’s worth, two of Conner Heyward’s three targets in that time also came inside the end zone.

The Chargers acquired OT Trevor Penning at the deadline to aid their ailing offensive line, but the early results without Joe Alt (season-ending surgery) are bad: L.A. sank from fourth in EPA/dropback to 22nd for 6.7 YPA (23rd) in 198 plays without their stud LT. Justin Herbert at the very least led the team in rushing in Week 9 (9/57/1), and has 30+ rushing yards in six of nine games as a high-floor QB1. … Mike Tomlin’s defense has puffed their chests about stopping the run (for the sixth-fewest yards before contact per carry) while consistently getting blasted through the air. It’s a concerning trend for Kimani Vidal, who remains an RB2 if only for out-carrying Jaret Patterson 35-22 with 100% of the team’s RB targets sans Hassan Haskins (I.R.) the past two games. Run-stopping S DeShon Elliott’s trip to I.R. may help the Chargers.

No team has allowed more weekly targets to WR1s (10.2) than Pittsburgh, keeping Ladd McConkey locked in as a top-12 play. … Keenan Allen’s route participation (50%) has dipped the past two weeks as Oronde Gadsden II has run more routes from the slot (23-16) in both games. Practically the team’s new WR2, Gadsden leads his position in receiving yards (as the better overall play to Allen) since first being active in Week 3. The veteran has fallen to WR4 territory behind Quentin Johnston for Pittsburgh’s trend in allowing the second-most points (19.9 per week) to receivers from out wide, where Johnston leads their starters with 86% of his routes. … Tre’ Harris has run just two fewer routes than Allen inside the 20 the last two games as Los Angeles’ best blocking WR, highlighting his capability of spiking a low-owned TD in showdown.

Score Prediction: Chargers 21, Steelers 13