The October 26, 2025, Sunday Night Football matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers was a “stat-stuffer” dream for fantasy managers and sports bettors alike. While the 35-25 final score provided a clear winner on the field, the Packers vs. Steelers match player stats created a complex landscape for those playing the numbers. From a historic tight end performance to a passing-of-the-torch moment under the primetime lights, the analytical data from this game offers a masterclass in how individual player metrics translate to betting slips and fantasy rankings.
The DFS League Winner: Tucker Kraft’s “Perfect Storm”
In Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), value is found where high volume meets efficiency. Heading into Week 8, Tucker Kraft was priced as a mid-tier tight end on most platforms. However, his final line—7 receptions for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns—yielded a staggering 33.3 Fantasy Points in PPR (Point Per Reception) formats.
For bettors who took the “Over” on Kraft’s receiving prop (which was set at a modest 44.5 yards), the ticket was cashed before the third quarter ended. The key analytical takeaway was Kraft’s 131 yards after catch (YAC). In modern fantasy scoring, YAC is the ultimate “cheat code,” as it maximizes yardage totals without requiring additional targets. Kraft’s performance wasn’t just a high-water mark for his career; it was the third-most YAC by a tight end in a single game since the inception of Next Gen Stats.
Prop Bet Breakdown: Love vs. Rodgers
The quarterback props were the most heavily trafficked markets of the week. The “Mentor vs. Protégé” narrative drove significant action on both Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers.
- Jordan Love (Prop: 238.5 Passing Yards): Love obliterated the over, finishing with 360 yards. Bettors who focused on the “Over” were rewarded by Love’s 20-completion streak, which kept the Packers’ offense on the field and accumulated yardage at an elite rate.
- Aaron Rodgers (Prop: 219.5 Passing Yards): This was the “bad beat” of the night for many. Rodgers finished with exactly 219 yards, meaning those who took the “Over” lost by a fractional margin of 0.5 yards. His 101.5 passer rating was efficient, but the lack of explosive “chunk plays” in the second half prevented him from clearing his yardage ceiling.
The disparity in the two quarterbacks’ EPA (Expected Points Added) per play—+0.47 for Love vs. -0.21 for Rodgers—highlights why the Packers’ offense was the superior betting side in the second half.
The “Anytime TD” Market: Jacobs and the Rookie Surge
One of the most popular bets in the NFL is the “Anytime Touchdown Scorer.” In this matchup, three players provided significant returns:
- Josh Jacobs: Despite a low yardage output (33 rushing yards), Jacobs remained the goal-line priority, scoring on a 4-yard plunge to open the fourth quarter.
- Savion Williams: For deep-league fantasy players and “long-shot” bettors, rookie receiver Savion Williams provided the biggest ROI of the night, catching an 8-yard touchdown to record his first career NFL score.
- Roman Wilson: On the Pittsburgh side, Roman Wilson’s late 21-yard touchdown catch provided a “backdoor cover” for some alternate spreads and rewarded fantasy owners who started him as a flex play.
Defensive Props: Gary and the Sack Count
For those betting on defensive props, the Packers vs. Steelers match player stats favored the Green Bay pass rush. Rashan Gary’s 2-sack performance surpassed his 0.5-sack prop line. On the Pittsburgh side, the absence of high-end sack numbers from T.J. Watt (who was limited by Green Bay’s double-teams) caused “Under” bets on Steelers defensive props to hit, a rarity for a game played at Acrisure Stadium.
Kicking Efficiency: The Boswell Factor
Special teams often go overlooked in fantasy, but Chris Boswell’s performance was a “Kicker 1” showing. By going 4-for-4 on field goals, including two from 50+ yards, Boswell accounted for 13 fantasy points. For bettors, the “Over” on Pittsburgh’s team total field goals (1.5) was an easy winner, as the Steelers’ red-zone inefficiency forced them to settle for three points on four separate drives.
Final Fantasy Takeaways for the Season
Moving forward, the stats from this game suggest a shift in “Rest of Season” (ROS) rankings:
- Jordan Love is firmly entrenched as a top-5 fantasy QB due to his high-completion floor and vertical ceiling.
- Tucker Kraft has leapfrogged the “streaming” category and is now a must-start “Set and Forget” tight end.
- The Steelers’ Rushing Attack: Jaylen Warren (62 yards) outproduced expectations, suggesting he may be the more valuable fantasy asset over Najee Harris in PPR formats.
Conclusion
The 2025 Packers-Steelers match wasn’t just a classic on the field; it was a goldmine of data for the analytical community. Whether you were riding Tucker Kraft’s YAC-heavy night to a DFS victory or sweating Aaron Rodgers’ 219-yard finish, the player stats tell a story of a Green Bay offense that is currently the most efficient unit in the NFC.
