3 reasons Steelers must sit Claypool for the rest of season

Chase Claypool has had an impressive rookie year for the Steelers, but here’s why he must sit in the final games of the season.

There is little argument that the Steelers have hit lightning in a bottle since drafting Chase Claypool in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While he has put on some great performances in his rookie season, his recent games have been less than desirable. With the Steelers securely in the playoffs, here are the three reasons the team should sit Claypool for the final stretch of regular-season games.

This isn’t a benching

Obviously, I’m not advocating for Claypool to be benched and see no playing time over the final two games. He is a threat and should still be used as one, but the team would be wise to lighten up his workload for the final few weeks. This would ensure that he gets rested before the vital stretch of playoff games. As will be argued below, the issue isn’t him, it is the other factors surrounding him.

As well, assuming he is still performing at a high level, it should be expected that Claypool returns as one of the top receivers on the field. Out of the entire crew of receivers, Claypool arguably has the highest potential. While many may think that getting the younger rookies involved after securing a playoff spot makes sense, Claypool has already played far more snaps than many projected him to. The Steelers will want him ready for the playoffs, and giving him a few games to rest up could aid in his overall play.