The Pittsburgh Steelers have played two games since they traded starting wide receiver Chase Claypool during the bye week. They are 1-1 since then, which is better than their overall record, and they put up 30 points—10 more offensively than in any other game this year—in the game that they lost.
What really has changed? Obviously it wouldn’t be accurate to say that taking Claypool out of the lineup is the reason that the offense has been better—gradual development from younger players and new pieces would have been expected anyway—but many will point to a greater concentration on rookie wide receiver George Pickens, even if the numbers don’t necessarily bear that out.