Does Steelers RB Jaylen Warren belong in OPOY conversations?

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Does Steelers RB Jaylen Warren belong in OPOY conversations?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 25, 2026 2:30 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers knew fifth-year running back Jaylen Warren was good, but they probably didn't know he was this good.

Warren carried the Steelers again in a 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in Paris. The RB had 101 yards on 18 carries and 36 yards on three receptions. He now has four games with 125-plus scrimmage yards. That puts him in elite company.

Jaylen Warren is beginning to enter elite conversations

Pro Football Focus shared that Warren and Kansas City Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III have the same number of games with 125-plus scrimmage yards. The site shared this stat before the Chiefs faced the Seattle Seahawks on "Sunday Night Football."

Regardless, it showcases he's the top weapon for a Pittsburgh offense that would be hapless without him. The Steelers averaged just 5.4 yards per play against the 2-5 Saints. Entering Week 7, the Steelers ranked 21st in the NFL in yards per play (five). Despite that, the team is 5-2 and has a decent chance to win the AFC North for a second consecutive season. It should thank Warren.

Most games with 125+ scrimmage yards this season

Jaylen Warren 4
Kenneth Walker 4
James Cook 3
Jahmyr Gibbs 3
Bijan Robinson 3
Jaxon Smith-Njigba 3 pic.twitter.com/aUKTanh9HJ
— PFF (@PFF) October 25, 2026

Jaylen Warren's numbers raise an interesting question

With all of this in mind, does Warren deserve more Offensive Player of the Year consideration? He remains a long shot to win the award. Entering Week 7, ESPN listed Walker as the OPOY favorite (+200), and deservedly so (h/t DraftKings Sportsbook).

Walker rushed for 665 yards in his first five games with the Chiefs, the most in a player's first five games with a team in NFL history. If he maintains this pace, the Super Bowl LX MVP will rush for 2,261 yards, the most in a season in NFL history. He probably won't, but it's worth watching.

So, Warren probably won't win OPOY, given that Walker's on a historic pace and other stars are having productive years. But there's no doubting he's the Steelers' OPOY thus far.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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