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2016 Steelers Fantasy Preview

By Remy Retro

Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) leads the offense onto the field to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field. The Buccaneers won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) leads the offense onto the field to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field. The Buccaneers won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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A look at which Steelers players should be targeted for your Fantasy Football team.

Organized team activities are underway, as is the infinite amount of speculation regarding the coming 2016 NFL season. So what better time to start looking at the 2016 Fantasy football season and where the Steelers players are on Fantasy draft boards? When evaluating a player for your team, other important factors – outside of their own skill set – is whether they play for a successful team, and, more specifically, a successful offense. The Steelers had the No. 3 offense in 2015 and just like Steeler fans, Fantasy fans are hoping for more of the same this season.

 Antonio Brown / Le’Veon Bell

 Whether you pick a Running Back or Wide Receiver first, both of these players are Top 5 picks next season by most people’s rankings. Personally, I think Brown is a Top 2 pick (along with Odell Beckham Jr., with a slight edge to Brown) while Bell’s injury could slow his season’s start a little. With Bell’s recent injury history you will want to make sure you have Running Back depth in case the unthinkable does occur. DeAngelo Williams is the obvious handicap and you may want to get him a round or two earlier than projected to ensure you are covered.

 Ben Roethlisberger

 I currently have Ben in the 7th Round on my board (in a 12-team league). He would be higher, but history tells us that he may miss a couple of games due to injury. In the games he does play he should do very well, so the strategy is picking a second QB that has a good matchup during the Steelers bye week (Week 8). Quarterbacks who have good matchups that week are Andy Dalton against the Redskins and Marcus Mariota against the Jaguars.

 Ladarius Green

 Green is the new kid on the block, and his projections by many are for his best season yet. Many fantasy rankings have him as the 6th or 7th Tight End, and while I am hopeful, I am always reluctant with new players on new teams/systems. He may be explosive, but I fear there will be a lack of consistency at least for the first two to four weeks as he gets acclimated.

 Kickers, DST, Other Receivers

 Marcus Wheaton should be the Steelers’ No. 2 Receiver and outside of two big games last season was an inconsistent Fantasy player. He should be No. 2 after Antonio Brown, and therefore the potential is there, it is just too hard to say how much. He will probably be a later-round pick as a bench player and may well be good value there. Last year the Steelers defense exceeded expectations, but the safe approach this year is to keep those expectations low. With significant turnover it is hard to predict their level of success for 2016.

Lastly, we are still not privy to who will be kicking for the Black and Gold this season, but Boswell was excellent last year. Couple that with a high scoring offense and you have a Top-5 Kicker.

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