Eli Heidenreich
22-Year-Old
2025 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
0
YDS
0
TD
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YDS
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TD
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2026 Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
The Steelers selected Heidenreich in the seventh round of April's NFL Draft and initially listed him as both a WR and RB on their roster page. That both points to his versatility and suggests that there may not be a clear role for the Navy product early on. The best-case scenario for the 6-0, 198-pounder's fantasy stock may be that he's able to use his speed and pass-catching chops to find a niche as a versatile back in the mold of Kenneth Gainwell while also contributing on special teams. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a four-year contract with the Steelers in May of 2026.
Works mostly at RB during OTAs
Heidenreich, who is currently listed as both a running back and wide receiver on the Steelers' official website, "overwhelmingly lined up in the backfield" in team drills and worked mostly with the running backs for individual drills during OTAs, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Heidenreich excelled as both a wideout and running back in college with Navy, and Steelers running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. has fittingly referred to the rookie as a "Swiss Navy knife." That seemingly boosts Heidenreich's chances of making the opening 53-man roster, but DeFabo still sees the seventh-round draft pick as more likely to begin his NFL career on the practice squad. Still, Heidenreich is an intriguing young player due to his unique skill set, which also includes the ability to return kicks. Should Pittsburgh decide to open up the playbook more, Heidenreich could fit in as a change-of-pace weapon, though he's probably going to need to prove capable in pass protection -- something he was rarely asked to do while at Navy.
Heidenreich excelled as both a wideout and running back in college with Navy, and Steelers running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. has fittingly referred to the rookie as a "Swiss Navy knife." That seemingly boosts Heidenreich's chances of making the opening 53-man roster, but DeFabo still sees the seventh-round draft pick as more likely to begin his NFL career on the practice squad. Still, Heidenreich is an intriguing young player due to his unique skill set, which also includes the ability to return kicks. Should Pittsburgh decide to open up the playbook more, Heidenreich could fit in as a change-of-pace weapon, though he's probably going to need to prove capable in pass protection -- something he was rarely asked to do while at Navy.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Eli Heidenreich lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2025 Eli Heidenreich Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Eli Heidenreich's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* The Shuttle Time, and Cone Drill metrics are from his Pro Day. All others are from the NFL Combine.
Height
6' 0"Weight
198 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.44 secShuttle Time*
4.22 secCone Drill*
6.55 secVertical Jump
35.5 inBroad Jump
120 inBench Press
16 repsHand Length
9.50 inArm Length
29.25 in
More Fantasy News
Listed as both RB and WR
The Steelers list Heidenreich as both a running back and wide receiver on their official website, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Finds home with Steelers
The Steelers selected Heidenrich in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 230th overall.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Fifth-round pick in Reuter's mock
Friday's seven-round mock draft from Chad Reuter of NFL.com has Heidenreich going 171st overall to the Patriots in Round 5.
ANALYSIS
Heidenreich rushed 169 times for 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 109 catches for 1,994 yards and 16 touchdowns in three years at Navy. That production includes 941 receiving yards and 499 rushing yards in 2025, as Heidenreich joined Tavon Austin as the only FBS players since 1956 to reach 925 receiving yards and 475 rushing yards in a season. Heidenreich's pass-catching prowess out of the backfield makes him an intriguing Day 3 draft target.
Heidenreich rushed 169 times for 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 109 catches for 1,994 yards and 16 touchdowns in three years at Navy. That production includes 941 receiving yards and 499 rushing yards in 2025, as Heidenreich joined Tavon Austin as the only FBS players since 1956 to reach 925 receiving yards and 475 rushing yards in a season. Heidenreich's pass-catching prowess out of the backfield makes him an intriguing Day 3 draft target.