Steelers need to start Anthony McFarland this week vs Ravens

The Steelers will need to turn to a new running back with Conner testing positive for COVID-19

News broke that started running back James Conner tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the game against the Ravens this week. This means the Steelers will have to turn to a new back to take over lead duties in his place. While the Steelers have typically utilized Benny Snell as their top reserve, this is the week to let Anthony McFarland Jr. start.

The simple reasoning behind this is that this is a prime opportunity to see what the Steelers have in the Maryland rookie. Snell is a lot more of a defined and known player with the team. The Steelers have seen what he has to offer, and while it certainly isn’t bad, McFarland should be afforded the opportunity to show what he can do as a lead back.

Snell is what most big bruising backs are: a tough as nails power runner that won’t go down on first contact. He plays similarly to Conner, but seemingly lacks explosiveness when he runs. This is a double edge sword though. He struggles early in games as the defense is fresh and can stop him. However, later in the game, he is still running as hard as he did before despite the defense being more worn down. This was evident in week one, as some of his earlier carries against the Giants were stuffed but he continued to run hard for the rest of the bout.

Why McFarland then?

Simply put, the Ravens will be expecting a heavy dose of Snell on Tuesday. They will structure their defense to plug up a power runner which will allow them to focus more on stopping the pass. McFarland would open up a whole new style of offense, as he is the opposite style of running back that Snell and Conner is.

McFarland is noted for his speed. That was his calling card in college, and it is the trait he has best displayed at the professional level. People will look at his lowly stats so far and claim his speed isn’t translating onto the field. The opposite is true though, as he seems to not be able to settle when he carries. This is likely due to him being a rookie and seeing so few opportunities.

Besides his first game against the Texans, McFarland hasn’t carried more than three times. He seems to hesitate and trip over himself as he tries to find his hole to go through. This has led to less than stellar results, but more carries could fix that. Right now, McFarland is trying to make the most out of a little. He knows that his carries will be limited, meaning he tries to hit the home run at all costs.

If he was ensured 10 plus carries in a game, he would be able to settle down knowing that he will have the opportunity to run later on. This will allow him to settle into a routine and run knowing he will have another shot to run later on. Considering his game-breaking speed, this could lead to quite a few big gains if afforded the opportunity to start.

This wouldn’t mean ignoring Snell either. He should still see a healthy amount of snaps in short-yardage and on the goal line. As well, if the Steelers get a lead, the Steelers could turn to Snell to close out the game in a punishing style. Snell will still have a role on the offense, but he should play second fiddle to McFarland.

Finally, this game would have major implications moving forward. Conner is likely to leave after this season in free agency. That means the team will be looking for a new starting back. While a new draft pick or even a cheap free agent could fill that need, it would be even better if the team had confidence in one of their current depth options. Again, Snell has shown what he is, so seeing what McFarland can do with a bigger load would go a long way in determining his long-term value with the Steelers.

With Conner out this week, the Steelers have a great opportunity to see what they have in McFarland. Given his dynamic speed, extra carries could go a long way in him becoming a more prominent starter next year. While Snell shouldn’t disappear because of McFarland, he should still play second fiddle to the rookie this week.