5 bold predictions for the Steelers vs. the Browns in week 8

5 Bold predictions for Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland

3. Steelers Claypool is unleashed

There was a lot of excitement when it seemed like Chase Claypool was going to move into the slot due to JuJu Smith-Schuster’s season-ending injury. The big, bodied receiver can bully smaller corners and has the athleticism to make the big play. The Seahawks held him in check though, and his first outing post-Smith-Schuster wasn’t a great look.

All of this should be caveated with the fact that the Steelers didn’t put Claypool in the slot as often as most expected. Instead, he stayed at his usual outside spot and Ray-Ray McCloud saw a lot of burn in the slot. This week should change that, as Claypool should see a flurry of targets in the slot. As well, getting him involved in some more creative routes should be helpful.

Expect to see him running more routes out of the slot and also some unique routes like the shovel pass that the team had used with Smith-Schuster before. Finally, Claypool and the rest of the receiver room could benefit from a few sweep plays, something the Steelers haven’t done enough this season. That said, I think Claypool gets a lot of action out of the slot this week, and his wide array of talents are put on display.