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Will Howard fantasy football news and podcast insights

Source-backed player signal from monitored fantasy football podcasts, shows, videos, articles, and social posts.

QBPIT40 insightsLatest Sep 17, 2026
10
Positive signals
13
Negative signals
5
Sources
Sep 17, 2026
Latest update
PositiveBreakoutSep 2, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Howard, drafted in the sixth round in 2025 by the Steelers, impressed in preseason camp and the third preseason game against the Bills. Rodgers observed that Howard looked comfortable throughout camp, never appeared overwhelmed, and was efficient in his movements and decision-making. Rodgers noted Howard is mentally grasping the offense, checks, and audibles, and is ahead of where Rodgers himself was in his first preseason. Rodgers praised Howard's development and expressed excitement about his future with the team.
NegativeDepth ChartAug 28, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
Will Howard is projected to make the Steelers' 53-man roster as the fourth quarterback despite underwhelming preseason performance. He led exactly one scoring drive longer than 30 yards across the preseason, coming in the opener against Green Bay. Reports indicate he's probably safe for the roster, and the source reflects this expectation in their projection, though carrying four quarterbacks is exceptionally rare in the NFL.
NegativeInjuryAug 28, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football
Howard was evaluated for a possible concussion during and after the final preseason game against Buffalo. The Steelers have the option to place him on injured reserve with a "designated to return" tag, which would force him to miss the first four games of the season but allow them to keep him without using a 53-man roster spot. Once cleared, a 21-day practice window would open, and the Steelers would need to activate him or move him to season-ending IR.
PositiveRoleAug 28, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football
Howard took first-half snaps in the final preseason game against Buffalo and went 9-of-15 for 69 yards with two TDs, one INT, and three sacks. He was evaluated for a possible concussion during and after the game. McCarthy's willingness to keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster appears driven largely by Howard's strong early camp performance, despite some tough moments in recent games (three INTs in the past two games combined). Howard is a candidate to stick around longer due to his early camp work.
NegativeProjectionAug 28, 2026Behind the Steel Curtain
Howard finished the preseason 26-of-40 with two touchdowns to three interceptions, comfortably the fourth-best quarterback for the Steelers throughout the summer. Both touchdown passes were essentially screen plays (one to Germie Bernard for 13 yards after the receiver made the first tackler miss, one practically a handoff to Lake McRee who dove over several players). His best throw was to Robert Tonyan on the goal line in Week 1 against the Packers, and he completed a 16-yard pass to Ben Skowronek over the middle in Week 2. The source argues Howard did not perform well enough to warrant a roster spot over contributors at other positions, and that keeping him on the 53-man roster instead of the practice squad represents roster-building malpractice.
NegativeRoleAug 28, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football
The source argues that keeping Will Howard on the active roster over practice squad is roster-building malpractice. The logical decision would be to cut him and sign him to the practice squad when no one claims him, as only 25-35 players total get claimed during roster cutdown (29 last year, 27 the year before, with a high of 44 since 2015 and low of 17 in 2020). Howard didn't do anything in exhibition play to warrant another team putting in a claim, and he would quickly have a home back on the Steelers' practice squad. If he gets a spot over contributors like Robert Spears-Jennings or Doneiko Slaughter, it represents poor roster construction.
NegativeProjectionAug 28, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football
Will Howard finished the preseason 26-of-40 with two touchdowns to three interceptions, with both TDs coming on screen passes and near-handoffs rather than quality downfield throws. His best throw was a goal-line pass to Robert Tonyan in Week 1, and he completed a 16-yard pass to Ben Skowronek over the middle in Week 2. However, he was comfortably the fourth-best quarterback for the Steelers throughout the summer and did not pop enough to justify keeping him on the active roster over practice squad alternatives.
NegativeProjectionAug 28, 2026Behind the Steel Curtain
QB in preseason battle finished with 2 TDs but 3 INTs total through three preseason games; stat sheet misleading as pass-catchers did bulk of work on TD scores after easy short completions; looked uncomfortable under pressure with rough sacks and poor composure/mobility; added turnover on miscommunication with rookie TE Lake McRee; neither performance nor trajectory suggests QB1 potential; likely headed to practice squad or injured reserve to start September.