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.
Avoid overuse
For the past three weeks, the Steelers have run a stale and predictable offense which has aided in their overall struggles. The team has stopped running the ball for the most part and has relied on short and quick passes to move the ball. While Claypool is billed as a deep threat, he has proven to be dynamic in the short passing game as well. That said, he has failed to make much of an impact on the offense in recent weeks.
To be fair, the entire offense has regressed in recent weeks, but Claypool has really seen a dip in production. He had such a nose for the endzone early in the year, but his scores are becoming much more inconsistent. Worse yet, despite having some success on the ground in the red zone, he seems to have been mostly figured out. His lack of yards and touchdowns in recent weeks are a clear sign that defenses are starting to figure him out.
Throw in the possibility of an injury, and suddenly keeping Claypool out as one of the top receivers makes little sense. Give him a couple of lighter weeks ahead of the playoffs and hope that he gets well rested and can reinvigorate the offense when he returns as a starter. While playing rookies more often in games that aren’t as important is common, Claypool has played a large number of snaps already. Keeping him healthy should be the priority over getting him additional playing time at this point.
The dreaded rookie wall
While the idea of a trap game is more in questioned due to the talent differences amongst NFL teams, the rookie wall is a lot more legitimate of a concern. Typical rookies go from playing a full college season, to prepping for the draft, to training camp, to then playing in the season. It’s a grueling stretch for these young players, and it isn’t uncommon to see some of these rookies fade down the stretch.
While Mike Tomlin recently claimed that Claypool’s snap decrease was in hopes of preventing him from hitting the rookie wall, it seems likely that Claypool is wearing down after playing far more snaps than most thought he would. This isn’t a negative on Claypool by any means, it just proves that he is worn down from non-stop football for over a year.
These next two weeks could be a great opportunity for Claypool to rest up before the playoffs. Perhaps for the Colts, he plays in a minimal role, and then during the finale at Cleveland, he is off the field completely. Out of all of the receivers, Claypool has proven that he can be the biggest threat when on the field. That said, his role with the team has shrunk, and it may be to him hitting the wall. The Steelers have a good opportunity to give him some well-earned rest
Steelers can get Washington more playing time
While his opportunities have been limited, James Washington certainly has made the most of his chances. In recent weeks, he has earned the respect of Steelers Nation, as he has made some tough catches and has provided a spark when the offense needed it. While a lot of fans are calling for him to get the nod over Diontae Johnson due to Johnson’s recent drops issue, that fact of the matter is, Washington and Claypool play a much similar role at receiver.
Both are prototypical Z receivers, and if the Steelers want to maximize Washington while he is on the field, it would be at the same spot that Claypool has been playing in. While Claypool has been the bigger threat overall, his recent dip in production could give Washington a clear opening to start for the next few weeks. Likewise, giving Washington the lion’s share of snaps would allow for Claypool to rest for the reasons outlined above.
If the Steelers want to get Washington more involved right now, it should come at the temporary expense of Claypool. This doesn’t mean that the Steelers should keep Claypool on the bench for the playoffs, but for now, getting Washington more snaps makes sense. He gets the playing time he has earned due to his solid play recently and Claypool gets to rest himself before the playoffs.
While Claypool has had one of the best Steelers rookie seasons in recent years, his slipping play makes resting him the right move. The team is in a rare position that they have claimed a playoff spot this early, so resting one of their best weapons is a logical move. Claypool has earned the rest, and the Steelers need to have him at his best for the playoffs.