Fields has been just what the doctor ordered for the Steelers. He’s completed 73.3% of his passes, thrown only one interception in 75 pass attempts, been sacked only six times and has helped lead the team to a 3-0 record.
What he’s been best known for throughout his career, though, has been the rushing prowess. Entering this season, he had rushed 356 times for 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns. So far this season, Fields has rushed 28 times for 90 yards and a touchdown.
In Week 1, he rushed 14 times for 57 yards. In Week 2, he received eight carries for 27 yards. Last week, he had six rushes for six yards and a touchdown. The trend has not been friendly.
Will the trajectory remain downwards, or will Fields get back to the running ways?
Out of the 28 rushes, 12 have been designed runs. Lamar Jackson leads the NFL with 18 designed quarterback runs. In Week 2, Malik Willis rushed six times for 41 yards, many of those designed runs.
The Colts play at the second-fastest pace and the Steelers defense is one of the best in the league, so there could be plenty of possessions for Pittsburgh. The Steelers, though, play at the ninth-slowest pace and they will likely ground and pound the Colts run defense to shreds. Joe Mixon rumbled 20 times for 159 yards, while Josh Jacobs carried 32 times for 151 yards.
I don’t like Fields to exceed 40 yards in this one. The Steelers running backs will likely have success while the defense should bottle up the Colts offense. Fields will get some schemed runs, but he is most dangerous when he needs to drop back to pass to chase points and scramble. I just don’t see the need for that in this one, which skews me towards the under.
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