The Steelers didn’t get to play last week due to a COVID outbreak, but week five is a go. Here are the fantasy players worth starting in this matchup
With the Steelers receiving an early bye week in week four, all sights are suddenly on the interstate rival Eagles matchup this week. All signs point to the Steelers and Eagles game being a blowout, as these teams don’t seem evenly matched on paper. Even with a looming mismatch, there are still some intriguing fantasy options that fantasy owners should monitor this week.
While last week’s predictions never came to fruition, this week is a likely go for the Steelers. Their obvious starts are a repeat of the past through weeks, as Ben Roethlisberger, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and the Steelers defense should be all over your starting lineups this week. Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster are about to face a soft secondary and could be in for a big matchup. As for the defense, the Eagles line is a wreck right now, meaning the Steelers defense should get a large number of sacks and turnovers.
The Eagles obvious starters are a lot harder to predict. I have Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz listed here, but neither are slam dunk fantasy studs. Sanders can get a decent fantasy outing due to his ability to catch passes out of the backfield, but his total yardage output will likely be limited by the Steelers defense. As for Ertz, he is a top TE in the league, but he has struggled through a bad offense. That said, if an Eagles receiver were to have a decent game, he is the safest choice.
Finally, Diontae Johnson is still in question for this game due to a concussion. I have him off the list right now, but if he does suit up, his style of play makes him a mismatch against the Eagles secondary and he is a starting option. With everything else considered, here are the start ‘em and sit ‘em for the Steelers week five matchup.
Greg Ward
Verdict: Sit ’em
While Greg Ward may be the top target for the Eagles, his style of play makes it hard to trust him as a fantasy starter. He is a physical route runner that lacks the true speed to make deep plays happen. While it’s fine to have a receiver like this, it should favor the Steelers defense that has struggled to stop deep passes. Ward won’t be a threat deep but should get a couple of shorter catches over the middle.
The issue with relying on him in fantasy is that while he may have five or more catches, he won’t have the yardage to back it up. He makes a living catching mid-range passes and earning some YAC. The Steelers secondary has struggled with deep passes, but they are great tacklers. Ward could be facing a stat line of five catches for 35 yards. If that’s the case, he won’t be worth a fantasy starting spot.
The only hope for him is scoring at some point. There are plenty of other targets in this Eagle’s passing game that strike more red zone fear though, so it shouldn’t be counted on. Ward is a fine complementary receiver, but he will likely be a fantasy dud against the Steelers. Keep him off your starting spots this week.
Chase Claypool
Verdict: Start ’em
This is my bold prediction this week, but I think Chase Claypool has himself a game. With the questions surrounding Johnson’s health this week, Claypool could see a lot more opportunities to produce a big play. While he looks like a traditional deep threat, he has also proven to be an asset from all over the field. He has made some big plays by turning short passes into big plays.
Given the woes of the Eagles secondary, Claypool could be in for a great game. While the deep passing game is still shaky, if Claypool can see a couple of short to medium passes, he could make the most of them. As well, he has shown his ability to take an end-around and be a threat as a runner. Claypool could be a sneaky good start if he receives five or so touches. A few big plays and a possible score could leave him as the second-best fantasy receiver by the end of the day.
While it will certainly be a risk starting him, Claypool could provide the Steelers with a big final stat line if he gets going against this bad secondary. Don’t be surprised if he takes an end-around for a decent gain as well. He’s a risky play, but if you have an open spot on your roster, consider putting Claypool in for high risk, high reward play.
James Washington
Verdict: Sit ’em
While James Washington will likely see more snaps than Claypool if Johnson remains injured, his floor is not great. The problem with Washington is that he is a true deep threat. While he can make catches elsewhere, his best potential is to hit a home run deep. The problem is, Roethlisberger has struggled with connecting deep so far, as evident by his couple of misses on open deep plays against the Texans.
While Washington will still nab a couple of catches, his ceiling is limited until the deep passing game starts connecting. He can make plays over the middle, but his lacking true speed and agility make him more of a possession receiver. He makes plays deep due to his impressive hands and great body control, but that doesn’t lead to big YAC on short plays, unfortunately.
While Washington will be a threat for a big splash play, the deep passing game needs to be worked on before he can be counted on for consistent fantasy production. Keep Washington on the bench this week and look for some better fantasy players elsewhere to start this week.
James Conner
Verdict: Start ’em
James Conner looked like a runner reborn against the Texans, showcasing his big-play ability and powerful running style. As well, he chipped in as a pass-catcher, once again showcasing his complete back ability. He has clearly established himself as the lead back once again, and even though injuries are still a concern, there is a lot of hope for Conner going forward.
Frankly put, the Steelers mixed in other runners to save some wear on Conner. Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland each saw some decent playing time, allowing for Conner to rest and avoid over-usage. Assuming the Steelers continue to employ a more committee backfield, Conner could stay healthy longer and allow for a strong overall performance.
While the Eagles front seven is very talented and has found some success stopping the run, Conner and the Steelers backfield should be able to get going early in this game. Assuming the Steelers jump to a lead, the second half could be a big dose of the running game as well. If the Steelers are playing clock control and focusing on the run, Conner could be in for a great final fantasy score in week five.
Carson Wentz
Verdict: Sit ’em
Carson Wentz was once a budding superstar in this league, but he has fallen off in a major way recently. While injuries have been a constant issue, he is suddenly playing behind a weak offensive line and has almost no targets to throw to. Worse yet, Wentz has been a turnover machine recently, aiding in the Eagles woes.
Facing the daunting Steelers defense, Wentz is likely in for a long day. Expect a handful of sacks and the potential of bad throws turning into interceptions. His ceiling this week can’t be high, as most of his receiving targets are either injured or struggling to produce. That mixed in with an offensive line that resembles swiss cheese likely means Wentz will be in for a long day.
While the former first-rounder has the talent to go off at any time, this week doesn’t seem like the week for him. Expect another disappointing output from him and another strong showing from the Steelers defense. Keep Wentz off your starting roster right now and be ready to look for a new QB if his struggles continue.
Eric Ebron
Verdict: Start ’em
My love him, hate him affair with Eric Ebron has led me to week five against the Eagles. George Kittle just had a huge day against this group, but options like Logan Thomas and Tyler Higbee have also found a lot of success against this unit. That’s why Ebron could be in line for his breakout performance for the Steelers this week, as he is facing one of the worst groups at defending the TE.
Now, Ebron finally had a solid showing in week five, catching five passes and finding the end zone. While he is no Kittle in terms of production, it isn’t unthinkable that Ebron could lead the Steelers in receptions and yards. Assuming the Steelers move the ball well, he could be in line for more red zone opportunities as well. This could mean multiple touchdowns and a huge fantasy outing this week.
Assuming he has worked on his connection with Roethlisberger, Ebron should be in line for his best game of his Steelers career so far. He is a threat for 100 receiving yards and multiple scores this week, meaning he should be well worth the fantasy start. If he is on your bench right now, find a way to get him on your starting roster.
While it was disappointing not to see the Steelers play in week four, week five looks like it is going to be a good matchup for fantasy points. The Steelers have the potential to have a huge day against the Steelers, and multiple starters should benefit from this. Listen to the advice above and be prepared for a good week from your fantasy football team.