Fittipaldo: Steelers Make Surprising Release At The Running Back Position During Roster Prediction

The Pittsburgh Steelers lived up to the hype in the first preseason game of 2023. The unit got off to a hot start when the first-team offense bulldozed its way down the field during an 83-yard drive. The end result was quarterback, Kenny Pickett finding wide receiver, George Pickens for a 33-yard touchdown. That would be it for the majority of the top offensive starters and the rest of the contest saw several players on the bubble perform well. The next two preseason games will determine which guys are able to crack the 53-man roster for September.

Steelers Have A Clear Favorite To Assume Third-String Running Back Role

A very big topic of conversation heading into the matchup was the team's third-string running back situation. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are the unquestioned one-two punch in the backfield, but after the front office decided not to bring back Benny Snell Jr. for another year, the competition for the spot behind the top two guys began to heat up.

The clear-cut favorite to be the third option on the depth chart is Anthony McFarland Jr. The ball carrier and fourth-year pro has only seen action in three games since the beginning of the 2021 season, but Snell Jr. departing leaves him with a phenomenal opportunity. He showed on Friday evening that he is capable of being productive as he ran the ball three times for 18 yards and a score.

Darius Hagans and Greg Bell averaged less than two yards per carry against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason opener, which won't help their case going forward. It seems as if, at this point, McFarland Jr. is leading the way to be the number three RB, while Hagans or Bell could end up on the practice squad once the regular season rolls around.

Not everyone is buying stock in McFarland Jr., however. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter and insider, Ray Fittipaldo released his early 53-man roster predictions and left the ball carrier off of the depth chart. It didn't come down to his running ability, but rather, the third phase of the game that the Steelers used Snell Jr. for quite often.

"Benny Snell made the roster last year, but he played a role on special teams. Anthony McFarland has played well again in August, but he doesn’t have Snell’s special teams skill set. The Steelers can keep their No. 3 running back on the practice squad, whether that’s McFarland or someone else."

One of the other reasons for Fittipaldo only having two true running backs on the depth chart was because of the de-facto one that the team has in hybrid player, Connor Heyward. 

"Connor Heyward can play halfback in an emergency in the unlikely event Harris and Warren are injured in the same game."

While Fittipaldo makes a good point, McFarland Jr. is familiar with the offense and looked solid in his first preseason action of 2023. He didn't receive a carry after his 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The Steelers know what they have in him, but also removing him from the offensive scheme in the first half could hint at the fact that Head Coach, Mike Tomlin already has plans to keep him around.

It will be interesting to see how the running back situation plays out. Harris and Warren are safe, and it could be argued that McFarland Jr. should be too. Fittipaldo has him off the 53-man roster because of Heyward's abilities, but if McFarland Jr. can show a little bit of special teams prowess throughout the remainder of 2023 training camp, he will be on his way to locking up a spot on the depth chart and roster.

Do you think McFarland Jr.'s spot on the 53-man roster is guaranteed? Let us know in the comments below!

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