3 Steelers could surprise us with terrific seasons in 2021

Steelers RB Anthony McFarland

Everyone seems to be writing Anthony McFarland off -especially now that he will begin the season in the reserve/injured list. McFarland certainly has an uphill battle this year as he will have to regain his role when he returns to the field, but during the summer, he looked much more comfortable than he did last year.

As a rookie, McFarland saw limited opportunities (just 33 carries) and missed a few big holes when he did have a lane. However, during training camp, the young running back was often playing in two-back sets with Najee Harris with the first-team offense.

I am very familiar with how Matt Canada used McFarland during their time together at Maryland, and I think that the Steelers offensive coordinator likes him much more than most realize. I think when he returns to the field, McFarland could be used frequently as a change of pace runner and with Harris in Pony sets thanks to his elite speed. McFarland won’t have a ton of touches this year, but he could be much more efficient with his looks in 2021.

It will be interesting to see which other players will emerge into the spotlight this year, but these three Steelers could be better than anyone gives them credit for.