Going into the NFL Draft, we’ll be assessing the fantasy assets of every team. We’ll cover past performances and look ahead for 2017 potential. We cover the Steelers, who may have the best skill position trio in the NFL.
Ben Roethlisberger
“Big Ben” is always capable of huge games, playing with arguably both the best running back and receiver in the league. He’s a QB1 candidate every time he plays, and has finished top ten in points-per-game in each of the last three years.
Despite playing hobbled in the last couple of seasons and missing six games, he’s likely to stay on track with his great numbers moving forward. While I’d advocate looking at a non-quarterback where he’s going to be drafted, within the position he’s a top ten option and you can do much worse.
Le’Veon Bell
With his unique running style of outstanding patience followed by bursts of elite speed and athleticism, Bell is the most talented back in the league. After a 170-yard rushing performance in the team’s playoff victory against the Chiefs, it was a real shame for him to miss most of the loss in New England after aggravating a groin injury early in the contest.
It was a tough way to end an astonishing year in which he scored a position-leading 26.5 points per game, scoring at least 24.2 in eight of the 12 games he played. There aren’t many fantasy assets more valuable than Bell, and he’s one of the few candidates to be taken with the first overall pick in your leagues. He will be my choice.
Antonio Brown
A 2010 sixth-round pick, Brown has proven to be the best fantasy receiver in the game (and perhaps of all time) in recent years, by finishing as the top scoring pass-catcher for three straight seasons. With the unbelievably high level of talent in this era of wideouts, it’s unheard of. You can argue Odell Beckham is the most talented, or that Julio Jones is “dominant” on the field, but neither have matched up to Brown in terms of fantasy scoring over a full season (let alone three). Draft him early, and don’t look back.
Martavis Bryant
With his reinstatement seemingly imminent, it’s time to take Bryant seriously as a fantasy asset with huge upside. He was explosive in his sophomore campaign in 2015, and you can expect him to shoot up fantasy drafts over the summer as we drool over his sky-high potential. However, he’s a receiver you may have to take in the fourth or fifth round to secure and I’m not sure I pay that price. Anything later, and he’ll be a strong option as a WR3 who could “go off” in any given week.
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The Best of the Rest
After Bryant’s suspension last year, Pittsburgh hoped the duo of Markus Wheaton and Sammie Coates would step up in his absence. Neither performed, and it was rookie Eli Rogers who put up the best statistical line. With Wheaton gone in free agency and the addition of another middling receiver in Justin Hunter, it’s not worth touching this crowded situation.
At tight end, Ladarius Green has disappointed owners who believed in his athletic ability for years. With worrying concussion issues, he’s not worth drafting.