June 28, 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers are giving future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers one last shot to win a Super Bowl before he retires into his peculiar sunset. Rodgers' career post-Green Bay has been underwhelming, to say the least. He came into the 2023 season with high hopes of turning the historically poor New York Jets into a Super Bowl contender, and the Jets had the roster to do it, but sadly, Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon four snaps into his Jets career. Impressively, he was able to rehab and start the 2024 season despite suffering the devastating injury at the age of 40, but clearly, the A-aron of old who lit up the scoreboard and made plays no one else could was gone. Rodgers played all 17 games last year, and despite throwing to arguably one of the best wide receiver duos in the league in Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams, he put together a mediocre 3,897 passing yards (55% after the catch), 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, and finished as the QB23 in fantasy points per game. The decline was evident as the Jets were fourth in passing rate and first in red zone passing rate, but Rodgers finished 27th in adjusted completion percentage (72.3) and 38th in air yards per attempt (6.2). Reminder, there are only 32 teams in the league. Now he gets one last chance to prove that he still has what it takes, two years removed from the Achilles injury. As if there were still any uncertainty, Rodgers confirmed that this will be his last season, and we know that he will finish the year with at least a record of .500 or better because head coach Mike Tomlin has done so for 18 consecutive seasons. He'll be throwing to newly acquired stud receiver D.K Metcalf and has a very reliable tight end in Pat Friermuth, but offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's scheme is very run-heavy and relies on running back and tight end production in the passing game. There will undoubtedly be some explosive plays with Metcalf and burner third-year receiver Calvin Austin III, but all signs point to Rodgers mainly operating as a game manager behind a power running game and an elite defense. Fantasy managers should trust in the decline, and leave him undrafted, only to be considered as a possible start in favorable matchups, when there are no better options. His current ADP of QB26 is appropriate, but it is still wise to let him be someone else's headache and take a swing on players in the same range with more upside, like Cam Ward, Bryce Young, or even Sam Darnold.--Frank Dyevoich, Esq.