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Davis Mattek fantasy football takes on Jaylen Warren
Every source-backed video insight STACKED has extracted from Davis Mattek about Jaylen Warren.
30
Insights
19
Positive
6
Negative
Insight ledger
All Davis Mattek insights about Jaylen Warren
PositiveUsageOct 29, 2026
Warren posted 39 fantasy points in his best game after playing every snap; coaches designated him as their featured offensive player despite earlier workload concerns. The Steelers throw the ball at high rates and use running backs heavily in the passing game, similar to the Bears and Rams in terms of offensive pie available for backs, though the lack of red zone touchdowns limits ceiling. DFS projection expected to adjust down slightly, but ownership should also decline, keeping him in play.NegativeRoleOct 20, 2026
Warren was forced into a 50/50 time share last week, prompting Davis Mattek to move him down to 33rd overall. The reduced role and usage indicate significantly diminished confidence in his fantasy outlook going forward.NegativeUsageOct 19, 2026
Warren's 34% carry share is unsustainable; the Steelers intentionally placed him back into a 50-50 time share with Rico Dael before the fourth quarter and overtime in their most recent game, signaling the team's reluctance to commit to Warren as a workhorse despite his strong early-season production. The source regrets having too much exposure to Warren in their draft strategy.PositiveMatchupOct 18, 2026
Davis Mattek selects Jaylen Warren for DFS running back lineups in Week 6, indicating strong conviction on his matchup value this week.PositiveUsageOct 15, 2026
Davis Mattek views Jaylen Warren as a strong fantasy option, projecting a 70-30 split in his favor over Rico Dowdle. Mattek highlights Warren's elite pass-catching ability and notes that despite the Steelers' lack of goal-line carries, his potential for a high-ceiling performance makes him a 'golden' play at 8-12% ownership.PositiveValueOct 12, 2026
Warren was identified as the source's favorite play of the day in DFS but he did not get enough exposure due to his preference for Luther Burden. He was a want play for week 18 DFS but was difficult to fit into cash game lineups on DraftKings due to salary constraints; the source considered Warren a better play than DeAndre Swift and described him as 'so good and such a smash,' but ultimately played him on FanDuel instead where salary construction was more flexible. Warren was locked into the GPP lineup after the 1pm games as part of a core group. He was included in a winning 20k tournament lineup at 22% ownership; the source notes Warren's ownership was 'crazy low' compared to DeAndre Swift despite being the superior play after Rico Bostic ruled out, as late injury news caused widespread confusion and people missed how strong a play Warren became.PositiveValueOct 11, 2026
Davis Mattek describes Jaylen Warren as a must-play option for this week. Warren moved significantly up in rankings due to Rico Dowdle's absence; now ranked directly below Toutton in the running back tier, indicating elevated role and opportunity. Mattek actively targets Warren in DFS cash games, noting that getting Warren requires specific lineup construction (e.g., not playing McBride). Mattek expressed strong preference for Jaylen Warren in tournament DFS play, stating conviction on Warren's value in tournament formats. Mattek notes that Jaylen Warren is projected for 'a million points' in the slate, indicating strong projected production. Mattek built tournament lineups featuring Jaylen Warren alongside Swift and Gibbs, indicating confidence in his slate performance.NegativeValueOct 8, 2026
Davis Mattek lists Jaylen Warren as pretty high on his want-to-trade-for list, indicating strong interest in acquiring Warren for the rest of the season. However, Mattek prefers D'Andre Swift over Warren (TuTu) in a trade scenario. If Rico is practicing, Warren's ADP is "as bad as it gets" according to Mattek; he states "I'm probably good on Jaylen Warren in round three," indicating avoidance at current ADP. Mattek is passing on Warren in round three, indicating he views the running back as overvalued at that draft position.PositiveRoleOct 8, 2026
Jaylen Warren is an elite play if Rico Dowdle doesn't play due to his toe injury. Davis Mattek describes Warren as 'absolutely mega stone chalk' if Dowdle is out, and 'probably very good chalk' even if Dowdle plays, making Warren one of the core plays from the Colts-Steelers game. Dowdle was working off to the side on Wednesday with uncertain status heading into the game.PositiveUsageOct 7, 2026
Jaylen Warren is the second-best running back play on the slate behind Jahmyr Gibbs if Rico Dowdle is out. Warren has dominated the Steelers' backfield, accounting for 87% of designed carries over the last two weeks and seeing his route participation climb to 82% last week.NegativeRoleOct 5, 2026
Kenneth Walker describes Jaylen Warren's situation as 'a tough tough tough tough tough scene,' noting he played the first three third downs of the game before being benched, suggesting significantly diminished role and playing time concerns going forward.PositiveProjectionSep 28, 2026
Warren projected for exceptional value in Week 3 with Rico Dowdle out, giving him a full workload for the first time in his career. This was the only time Jaylen Warren had a full workload in his entire career, yet he had shown efficiency time and time again in limited usage historically and finally had 'the reins pulled off' him. Warren was projected extremely high all week and was a decision point vs. Chuba Hubbard at RB3. He nearly scored an additional touchdown but was 'turf monstered' walking into the end zone, which would have made his performance even more dominant on a 123x pick'em parlay. Mattek looked at all ownership and determined he was 'probably behind enough Jaylen Warren teams' that he needed to pivot away from Tyler Shuck, indicating Warren was the sharper play from an ownership-adjusted perspective. Warren offered better value than Hubbard in cash games, with players paying $400 more for Hubbard despite similar production profiles. In a 400K contest lineup, Warren achieved 221% Sim ROI with 5% top 1% finish rate.PositiveRoleSep 27, 2026
Mattek expresses strong conviction on Jaylen Warren, noting he just played his most amount of snaps in a game ever last week, making it a really good spot for him in Week 3. Warren projects for significant fantasy production; Mattek would not do Hubbard over Warren and states Warren projects for 'like a billion.' Mattek allocates 28 gold to Warren at running back with no Rico Dowel, includes him in tournament lineups, prefers him over Lad and Judkins in head-to-head comparisons, and chooses him in first touchdown prop bets over Mike Evans. However, Mattek also notes Warren is expected to be heavily owned ('Giga Mega Chalk'), and in one DFS context suggests Hubbard may be preferable to Warren at his price point.PositiveUsageSep 24, 2026
Jaylen Warren is highlighted as a top running back play for the slate, coming off a career-high 50 offensive snaps. Mattek projects him for 16-17 carries, 5-7 targets, and all goal-line work, noting he is a superior play to Aaron Jones due to the Steelers' willingness to throw to backs.NegativeUsageSep 10, 2026
Davis Mattek suggests fading Jaylen Warren in favor of Rico Dowdle, noting that while Warren is talented, the game script favors a lead back like Dowdle.NegativeValueJul 24, 2026
Davis Mattek reports an 18% draft share for Jaylen Warren in 1,269 total drafts, indicating consistent but moderate draft priority across his sample. Warren appears in Mattek's autodrafted team sorted by ADP score as a running back option.PositiveValueJun 27, 2026
Mattek selected Jaylen Warren as part of a running back strategy, building a roster with Swift, Warren, and other complementary pieces. Mattek plans to draft Warren as part of a multi-quarterback strategy for the Pittsburgh Steelers, indicating confidence in Warren's role and availability at his draft position.PositiveValueJun 13, 2026
Davis Mattek identifies Jaylen Warren as a missed opportunity at pick 74, suggesting he should have been prioritized earlier as a running back option. Warren represents a better value than the quarterback selection (Dak Prescott) that was made at that spot.NegativeDepth ChartJun 7, 2026
The source notes that Jaylen Warren went off the board, indicating he was selected in the draft before the source's turn.NegativeRoleMay 8, 2026
Davis Mattek identifies Jaylen Warren as the type of running back profile that could serve as running back one on a zero RB team, representing the ambiguous backfield archetype that zero RB strategies target.NegativeRoleNo date
Davis Mattek drafted Jaylen Warren as running back two on a mock roster; however, the source notes that other analysts frequently call Warren 'the most flaccid pick on the board,' suggesting skepticism about his draft value despite being drafted in the eighth round. Warren was also included in the source's final draft roster graded 'B+ grade' for advancement, 'B minus ADP grade,' and 'B+ uniqueness.'NegativeDepth ChartNo date
Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are both handling all first-team running back work for the Pittsburgh Steelers with alternating touches; the split appears relatively equal, with Warren getting the first touch yesterday and Dowdle today, suggesting neither has differentiated yet and the workload will remain split until one emerges in season.PositiveRoleNo date
Davis Mattek selected Jaylen Warren in active mock draft and projects him as part of a zero-RB team construction thesis alongside Henderson, Pollard, and Hubbard. Mattek indicates this roster archetype 'is going to win,' suggesting confidence in Warren's role and value as a complementary back in a zero-RB strategy.PositiveValueNo date
Davis Mattek takes Jaylen Warren in a best ball draft spot, calling it maybe controversial but justified because running back scarcity is severe. Warren is more additive to the Steelers offense than Caleb Williams would have been, and he provides flex value and 2v2 stack upside with Bo Nix.PositiveRoleNo date
Warren is viewed as the better player compared to ETR and more likely to be the goal line back between the two, despite ETR being draftable.PositiveValueNo date
Author disagrees with having Dowel ahead of Warren, stating he thinks Jaylen Warren is definitely the better option.NegativeUsageNo date
Warren has been limited by running back competition throughout his career, being 'cucked basically by every running back he's ever played with.'PositiveRoleNo date
Warren is viewed as the better player and more likely to be the goal-line back compared to Jaylen Warren, with strong disagreement that ETR has doubt ahead of him.PositiveValueNo date
Author strongly disagrees with having Dowel ahead of Warren, indicating he prefers Jaylen Warren in the draft hierarchy.PositiveValueNo date
Analyst suggests Jaylen Warren would have been a better pick than Trevor Lawrence at picks 84-85.