Ahead of Week 4, the NFL is dealing with their first minor COVID-19 outbreak after several players (DT DaQuon Jones, LS Beau Brinkley, and TE Tommy Hudson) and a few staffers on the Titans tested positive for the coronavirus. The news put their upcoming Sunday matchup against the Steelers in jeopardy, and it was announced on Wednesday morning that the game has been postponed, possibly until Monday or Tuesday. This likely leaves fantasy football owners with many questions, including whether points scored in that matchup count toward their Week 4 totals.
We’ll explain what happens below and continue to update this post with further information. Check back here for the latest, or follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.
WEEK 4 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Do points scored in the Steelers-Titans Week 4 game on Monday or Tuesday count in fantasy matchups?
If the Steelers and Titans play on Monday or Tuesday, the points scored will count toward your Week 4 fantasy matchups. This has happened in the past with games moved because of weather-related issues (Vikings-Eagles played on a Tuesday night because of a snowstorm in 2010, Giants-Vikings played on a Monday night in Detroit because of a snowstorm in 2010), so all fantasy sites should be prepared to handle it.
If another positive test pops up or the NFL re-evaluates the decision to play this week, the game could be pushed into another week. As ESPN’s Brooke Pryor noted, the NFL could opt to reschedule the Steelers-Titans game for Week 7 and push the Steelers-Ravens game scheduled for that week into Week 8, as the Steelers and Ravens have a mutual bye. If that happens, Titans and Steelers players obviously wouldn’t score points this week, and Week 4 would effectively be turned into a bye week for them.
How does the Steelers-Titans postponement affect fantasy football leagues?
From a fantasy perspective, this also has an impact on some key injuries in this contest. WR A.J. Brown will have an extra day to battle back from a knee injury that is plaguing him, but that might be hard for him to do with the Titans’ practice facility shuttered until Saturday. Meanwhile, Steelers WR Diontae Johnson (concussion) will have another day or two to try and clear the NFL’s concussion protocol. He might not ultimately make it back in time, but the extra 24-48 hours should help his cause and could give fantasy owners another lineup option.
If we don’t officially know the status of the game by Sunday and you’re worried about further postponement, the smart move is to bench your Titans and Steelers this week, especially guys like Brown and Johnson. This will be especially difficult for Derrick Henry owners, but even a few points from a backup RB is better than a potential zero. This situation certainly is a fluid one, and it will bear watching as the weekend draws nearer.
