NFL Betting: Who Will Be the Steelers' Starting Quarterback in Week 1?

After moving on from Kenny Pickett, the Pittsburgh Steelers are exploring other options at quarterback.

Over the recent offseason, Pittsburgh revamped their signal-caller room. Russell Wilson -- a former Super Bowl champion -- has joined the Steelers on a one-year deal after being cut by the Denver Broncos. From there, Justin Fields was acquired via trade from the Chicago Bears.

For the 2024 campaign, FanDuel Sportsbook is offering myriad NFL betting markets. Of those futures, the "Starting QB" tab features betting lines for several position battles at the quarterback spot.

When it pertains to Pittsburgh, the Week 1 starter will more than likely be Wilson, which the odds point to. Be that as it may, Fields is bigger, faster and younger when compared to Wilson -- is there any chance Fields can take over the featured role?

Let's dive into both players' respective odds to start Week 1 (Sep. 8) against the Atlanta Falcons.

All NFL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, and they may change after this article is published.

Pittsburgh Steelers Week 1 Starting QB

*Void if Neither Quarterback Starts Week 1

Russell Wilson (-1000)

For a quarterback selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Russell Wilson has made a very fine career for himself. However, he is now entering Year 13 as a professional -- does "DangeRuss" still have the juice?

Unfortunately for Wilson, his prolific years with the Seattle Seahawks have been clouded by his more recent play as a Bronco. Still, this is a quarterback who has twice guided his team to the Super Bowl, logging nine Pro Bowl accolades along the way.

Transparently, last season went much smoother for Wilson compared to his inaugural campaign in Denver. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilson received a 77.5 overall grade in 2023, which was up from 66.2 (career-worst) in 2022. Despite the Broncos' lackluster record under head coach Sean Payton, Wilson's 26-8 TD-INT ratio was among the best in the NFL.

Wilson will turn 36-years old in his first season with Steel City, which means he was born more than a decade before Fields. Regardless, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has continually expressed confidence with Wilson at the helm.

Before teams head to training camp, FanDuel Sportsbook has Wilson labeled with -1000 odds to be the Steelers' Week 1 quarterback. Simply, that is the sturdiest favorite that FanDuel is offering when it pertains to QB position battles.

Justin Fields (+560)

Another player eager for new surroundings, Justin Fields is approaching his fourth year in the NFL.

Seemingly, it was not all that long ago that he was selected by the Bears with the 11th overall pick. Of course, Chicago chose to move on from Fields in lieu of 2022 Heisman Trophy-winner Caleb Williams, trading the former Ohio State Buckeyes star to Pittsburgh -- can that light a fire under the 25-year-old Fields?

Per PFF, Fields has improved with experience. He produced a dismal 64.2 PFF grade over his rookie campaign (2021). However, Fields completed last season with a 74.6 grade.

Given his age and athletic traits, Fields can still have a bright future in the league. Since arriving in the NFL, he's been one of the most prolific quarterbacks in terms of ground production, averaging 55.5 rushing yards per game throughout 40 career contests.

Fields has two major areas where he can improve: passing accuracy and avoiding sacks. Over three years, he's never reached a 62% completion clip (60.3% lifetime on 7.0 yards per attempt). Fields has also been tackled for a loss on 99 occasions over the past two seasons.

With everything considered, Fields is a +560 underdog at FanDuel to start for the Steelers' Week 1 bout in Atlanta. That makes Fields a real long shot, with him carrying a 15.2% implied probability in this market.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.