PITTSBURGH
• Inside the Locker Room
With Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Is Ben Roethlisberger an under- or overrated fantasy option at QB?
Depends on where you have him ranked. He is not going to put up big numbers consistently. But he is probably worthy of a middle-round pick, if you don’t have an elite fantasy QB, and then start him based on matchups.
Can we expect Mike Wallace to continue to improve his numbers in the magical third season, or did he top out in 2010?
The Steelers still expect Wallace, whom coach Mike Tomlin calls a “one-trick pony” as a means of motivating him, to improve. But his numbers could dip even as he evolves into a more complete receiver. Wallace has become such a deep threat that opposing defenses will try to take that away, but if you like his supporting cast, there is nothing to suggest that the speedster can’t build on what he did during a breakout season in 2010.
Emmanuel Sanders became a bigger part of the offense over the last half of 2010. Does that continue, and does it make Hines Ward irrelevant as a fantasy player?
Sanders is only going to get better after coming on following a slow start to his rookie season, but he’s probably a No. 3 fantasy WR at best with Wallace and Ward entrenched as the starters. His emergence will not make Ward irrelevant, but the “Dancing With the Stars” champ is a risky pick after scoring only 11 TDs combined the last two seasons. Ward’s greatest value in fantasy has been his red zone production, but unless he is close to double digits in TDs this season he is a borderline No. 2 fantasy WR — and even that may be charitable.
What’s the most intriguing question regarding fantasy football and this team in your opinion?
How much the Steelers are going to air it out this season. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians loves to throw the ball, but the Steelers re-committed to the run last season, and Rashard Mendenhall quietly had one of the best seasons by a RB in franchise history. It’s hard to see the Steelers moving away from the near 50/50 split they had as far as running and passing in 2010 unless age finally starts catching up with their defense and they are forced to play from behind this season.
• Fantasy Playoff Run — Weeks 14-16: CLE, @SF, STL
Well, the matchups are nice, but the scheduling isn't. All three fantasy playoff weeks see the Steelers playing on a day other than Sunday, including starting the playoffs on a Thursday. That's not an enviable place to be when you have to commit to a player that late in the season with it all on the line. And the matchups are all middle of the road, save for the 49ers giving up the second-most points to WRs last year (31 ppg).
• Athlon Best Bets
Sleeper: Emmanuel Sanders, WR
Deep-Sleeper: Isaac Redman, RB
Overvalued: Hines Ward, WR
Top Rookie: Cameron Heyward, DL
Bounce-Back: Ben Roethlisberger, QB
Top IDP: Lawrence Timmons, LB
• Try to Avoid
Hines Ward, WR
Despite being one of the best all-around players of this generation, Ward is clearly in decline after his worst season in a decade. Look for Emmanuel Sanders to start stealing his targets.
WAIT UNTIL: 16th RD
• Draft Class Fantasy Impact
With few needs, much of the attention in Pittsburgh’s draft focused on building depth in the secondary and upgrading the offensive and defensive lines. Heyward should be a rotational player this season, while Marcus Gilbert will have an opportunity to contend for a spot at guard or tackle. Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen figure to factor into the secondary mix immediately. Baron Batch was the lone skill player drafted, and the Steelers envision him as a third down back. Barring injuries, Batch isn’t likely to earn fantasy consideration this season.
More Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets and Rankings:
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 280
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 240 w/ IDPs
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defense/Special Teams
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Two AFC teams headed in different directions will meet on Monday Night Football, when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:30 pm EST on ESPN. The Steelers have won three in a row since starting the season 2-3, and they have won all three games at home in the Steel City this year. On the other hand, the Chiefs stand at 1-7 and amazingly still have not held a lead in regulation this season.
Two divisional foes coming off disappointing road losses will meet on Sunday Night Football, when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:20 pm EST on NBC. The Bengals dropped to 3-3 on the season last week with a surprising 34-24 defeat in Cleveland to the previously-winless Browns.
Two AFC teams hungry for a victory will clash in Nashville tonight, when the Tennessee Titans host the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:20 p.m. EST on the NFL Network. Pittsburgh got back to .500 last week with a hard-fought 16-14 win against the Eagles. Tennessee was blown out on the road for the second consecutive week, dropping to 1-4 on the year after losing a 30-7 decision to the Vikings.
He’s back. Peyton Manning will return to the NFL gridiron Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. EST on NBC, as the Denver Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a much-anticipated matchup that could set a regular-season ratings record. The four-time MVP quarterback has recovered from multiple neck surgeries and will try to lead Broncos back to the playoffs, where they ended the Steelers season a year ago.
