Eli Heidenreich Rest-of-Season Outlook

Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.

Pittsburgh spent a seventh-round pick (230th overall) on Heidenreich, and that draft slot tells the story: he lands behind a crowded backfield with a projected ADP near 285 overall and a roster rate around 1 percent. His Navy tape is genuinely intriguing, splitting time as a runner (44 percent of snaps in the backfield), a slot weapon (15 percent) and a perimeter receiver (33 percent). In 2025 he stacked 1,157 rushing yards on minimal volume, posting a 6.5 per-carry clip, and added 79 catches for 941 yards and six scores at 18.5 yards a grab.

The problem is fit and opportunity. He profiles as a slot receiver more than a tailback, yet he is buried on a depth chart that gives him almost no path to early snaps. Treat him as a dynasty taxi-squad stash who needs a role to materialize before he matters in redraft. For 2026, expect minimal touches and effectively zero standard-league value.