As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the 2024 NFL season, the main focus is on themselves more than their opponents. The Steelers have to get things right in their own house before they can begin to focus on what to do to stop the team they face each week.

But as Pittsburgh Steeler fans, we have the luxury of looking ahead at the Steelers schedule and their opponents. Being able to slow down the opponents offense will be key each and every week. When it comes to being able to stop the run, a statistic in which is always important to the Steelers defense, who are some of the best rushers they will face this season?

Keeping this in mind, let’s take a look at the top rushers from 2023 who are scheduled to face the Steelers in 2024. Of course, there could be holdouts, injuries, or trades which could make these players not able to see the field when they face the Black & Gold. But for now, these things can’t be known for sure. This list consists of players who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in 2023, their overall rank in rushing yards last season, and the week in which they will face the Steelers.

Note: Last season the Steelers faced the top three rushers from the previous year and eight rushers who had over 900 yards the previous season (as 1,000 yards only yielded one result). This year is a much different story.

Derrick Henry (2nd)
Baltimore Ravens
Week 11, Week 16

After only facing Derrick Henry three times since he entered the league in 2016, the Steelers are set to face him twice now that he is in Baltimore. Henry is the only player the Steelers face in 2024 who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2023 as he rushed for 1,167 yards on 280 rushing attempts. Possibly the biggest reason Henry rushed for so many yards was that he appeared in all 17 games as he only rushed for over 100 yards four times last year with two of them being for 101 and 102 yards. The Steelers faced Derrick Henry last season and gave up 75 rushing yards on 17 attempts in a 20–16 Steelers win in Pittsburgh. In the three games the Steelers have faced Derrick Henry, he has not rushed for more than 75 yards as he also hit that mark in 2020. Additionally, Derrick Henry has never played in a game in which he was victorious over the Steelers.

An interesting note from 2023 when it comes to Derek Henry, he never rushed for more than 75 yards away from Tennessee but rushed for more than 75 yards in every home game with the exception of their Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans where he rushed for only 9 yards on 16 attempts.

Breece Hall (13th)
New York Jets
Week 7

Coming up just shy of 1,000 yards on the season, Breece Hall Rush for 994 yards on 223 rushing attempts in 17 games for the New York Jets in 2023. Hall faced the Steelers in 2022 where he rushed for 66 yards on 17 attempts in a 24–20 victory in Pittsburgh. Set to take on the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Hall is one of only two running backs the Steelers face in the first half of the 2024 season who had over 900 rushing yards in 2023.

Bijan Robinson (15th)
Atlanta Falcons
Week 1

In a rookie season where Bijan Robinson rushed for 976 yards on 214 carries while appearing in 17 games, he is the other player who the Steelers face in the first half of their season who rushed for 900 yards last year. Opening up in Atlanta, it will be very interesting to see if Arthur Smith shows the Falcons what they are missing in his offensive scheme with the Steelers or if Robinson tries to prove to Smith that he was not utilized properly during Smith’s tenure as head coach.

Saquon Barkley (16th)
Philadelphia Eagles
Week 15

After rushing for 962 yards on 247 attempts in 14 games for the New York Giants in 2023, Saquon Barkley left in free agency to join the Philadelphia Eagles. While the Steelers have not won a game in Philadelphia since The AFL–NFL merger, Saquon Barkley has not had much success against the Steelers in the one game he faced them. Playing in New York in Week 1 of the 2020 season, Barkley only had 6 rushing yards on 15 attempts.

Isiah Pacheco (18th)
Kansas City Chiefs
Week 17

Racking up over 1000 yards if the playoffs were included, Isiah Pacheco rushed for 935 yards on 205 attempts in 14 games for the Kansas City Chiefs last year. Although he lands on the list as the 18th best rusher in the NFL last season, the Steelers will likely have higher priorities to worry about than Pacheco when they face the Chiefs on Christmas Day.