2015 Fantasy Football Outlook for Pittsburgh Steelers Stars
The Pittsburgh Steelers stars are jelling under fourth-year offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s balanced attack, forming a fearsome fantasy football machine in 2015. Ben Roethlisberger leads young superstars Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell into what is certain to be another dominant campaign.
The Steelers offense ranked in the top 10 in scoring (seventh) and yards (second) in 2014 for the first time since 2002. Pittsburgh finished fifth in standard fantasy scoring.
The success was keyed by healthy starters at the skill positions and along the offensive line, which finished 2014 ranked eighth, according to Pro Football Focus. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the Steelers signed Haley to a two-year extension as a result.
There is little doubt Pittsburgh’s offense will build on its accomplishments in 2015, to the benefit of fantasy owners fortunate enough to harness its star power.
Players are shown in ascending order from least to most valuable from a fantasy perspective in 2015.
Honorable Mention
1 of 9
Darrius Heyward-Bey
Pittsburgh re-signed Heyward-Bey for his ability on special teams. But his role isn’t as a returner, so his fantasy value is null.
Josh Harris, RB
Harris saw his opportunity to start once Le’Veon Bell injured his knee in Week 17 get eclipsed by journeyman Ben Tate. Tate is gone, but the Steelers added DeAngelo Williams, virtually ensuring the 2014 undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest remains the fourth running back on the depth chart.
Jessie James, TE
It’s debatable whether or not Pittsburgh targeted Minnesota’s Maxx Williams in the second round, but the Steelers ended up with Penn State’s James in the fifth.
He has the size and speed—6’7”, 261 pounds, 4.83 40-yard dash—to be a receiving tight end in the NFL, but he didn’t show the potential in college, according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
Mark Dulgerian of the NFL Network believes he replicates blocker Matt Spaeth’s skill set more than Heath Miller’s, which means his fantasy prospects aren’t even dynasty-worthy.
Sammie Coates, WR
Pittsburgh drafted Coates out of Auburn in the third round for his size and speed—6’1”, 212 pounds, 4.43 40-yard dash. Zierlein compared him to Martavis Bryant, whom Coates will likely back up while pushing Markus Wheaton for playing time at the third wide receiver slot.
Coates could wind up a decent dynasty stash, but he probably won’t be much more than a developmental project on an already well-stocked offense in 2015.
Dri Archer, RB
2 of 9
Archer torched all comers at the 2014 combine with a 4.26-second 40-yard dash, according to NFL.com. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Mark Kaboly reported Todd Haley wants to get the speedster more involved in the offense:
"The important thing is that we do have a role for him if he is going to have a helmet on Sundays and he gets his five and six touches a game. Any one of those plays he has the chance to take it to the house with that speed. Let’s just have a little patience and let him continue to develop and we will definitely have a plan to get him touches throughout the season.
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The 2014 third-rounder from the Kent State Golden Flashes saw spotty opportunities because of Le’Veon Bell’s dominance in all aspects at running back. Archer's size (5’8”, 173 pounds) is a concern, but his speed dictates he deserves more than 17 touches in a season regardless of where he lines up.
If Archer is going to play a bigger role, the Steelers will need him early in the season while Bell is suspended. If his touches don’t rise dramatically in the first three weeks, the rest of his 2015 campaign will be as disappointing as his rookie effort.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 60 combined touches for 300 yards and two touchdowns.
Markus Wheaton, WR
3 of 9
Martavis Bryant supplanted Wheaton as Pittsburgh’s No. 2 wide receiver by the end of 2014. At 5’11”, 189 pounds, Wheaton is more suited to a slot role and will be off the field in two-receiver sets.
The 2013 third-round pick out of Oregon State played well in his first full season of action, but there aren’t enough targets to go around, with Heath Miller, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown being more deserving of Ben Roethlisberger’s attention.
Wheaton brings limited value to fantasy drafts in 2015; he's at most a fantasy reserve thanks to Pittsburgh’s offensive potency.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 35 receptions for 420 yards and two touchdowns.
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DeAngelo Williams, RB
4 of 9
Pittsburgh signed Williams as a free agent after the Carolina Panthers released the nine-year veteran, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter:
"Former Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Good move for both.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2015
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The Pro Bowler is expected to start for the Steelers while Le’Veon Bell serves a three-game suspension to start the season.
This would be great news for Williams owners except Pittsburgh faces three stout run defenses in its first three games: at the New England Patriots (15th), the San Francisco 49ers (seventh) and at the St. Louis Rams (sixth)—rankings based on ESPN.com’s fantasy points against running backs.
Also, the 32-year-old wore down with the Panthers, dropping from 5.4 yards per carry in his 2011 comeback to 3.5 in an injury-shortened 2014.
As such, Williams won’t be a good daily option in Weeks 1-3. If he’s not handcuffed to Bell in redraft leagues, Williams shouldn’t be on your roster unless you forgot to take a running back in the first 12 rounds.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 120 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns.
Heath Miller, TE
5 of 9
Baltimore traded up in the second round to take 2015’s top tight-end prospect Maxx Williams one place ahead of Pittsburgh. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the Steelers were seeking a replacement for Miller, who turns 33 in October, and settled for Jesse James in the fifth.
According to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (h/t Bryan DeArdo of SB Nation’s Behind the Steel Curtain), Pittsburgh had targeted Williams at No. 56:
"Steelers tried to move up to take TE Maxx Williams. Couldn't work out deal. Wasn't happy when Ravens picked him.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) May 2, 2015
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General manager Kevin Colbert refuted those reports in a post-draft press conference, according to Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot:
"In deference to what was reported, Senquez [Golson] was targeted to be picked in the second round. Without a doubt, we were going to come out of that round with a corner, and that was never a discussion. In fact, we tried to trade up to secure Senquez Golson, just to set the record straight.
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The Ravens believed Pittsburgh coveted Williams, according to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com.
Regardless of the draft, Miller has been one of Ben Roethlisberger’s top targets since the two paired up in 2005. The Pro Bowler finished third on the team in targets (91) and receptions (66) last year, proving he’s still relevant after 10 seasons.
He finished 11th in fantasy scoring among tight ends in 2014 due to relatively low yardage (761) and touchdown totals (three) versus those in the top 10. But Miller ranked seventh in receptions (66), demonstrating an elevated value in points-per-reception leagues.
There’s no doubt Pittsburgh is searching for Miller’s replacement, but that guy isn’t going to surpass the veteran in 2015 even if he is already on the roster. Thus, he makes for a reliable TE2 in standard formats who should still be available deep in upcoming fantasy drafts.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 62 receptions for 713 yards and three touchdowns.
Martavis Bryant, WR
6 of 9
Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Todd Haley’s expectations for Bryant are high in 2015.
“We are looking for him to come in and make a push against Markus Wheaton for that No. 2 spot and continue give us big-time production, specifically in the red area where a big target like that can make a big impact,” the offensive coordinator said.
Haley lobbied Kevin Colbert to draft Bryant out of Clemson in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, according to Kaboly. Chairman Dan Rooney and head coach Mike Tomlin’s conservative approach made a perfect match for a talented underdog with disciplinary concerns.
"Bryant has a crazy wide receiver skill set, but he's a one-year wonder," NFL Network’s Mike Mayock wrote. "This guy has some scary talent, but also some immaturity issues."
Bryant struggled for playing time early in his rookie season but came on late, building a 26-catch, 549-yard, eight-touchdown stat line capped by a five-catch, 61-yard, one-touchdown performance in the loss to the Ravens in the Wild Card Round.
No player caught more touchdowns with fewer opportunities than Bryant in 2014, who snagged a score every 3.25 receptions, according to ESPN.com. At 6’4”, 211 pounds with 4.42-speed, he will be Pittsburgh’s home run threat in 2015 on an already loaded offense.
His skill set tends toward streaky fantasy performances, which means Bryant should still be available in the fourth round. He’ll also make an excellent WR2 in daily leagues when facing weak secondaries.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 45 receptions, 900 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB
7 of 9
Roethlisberger made his 11th season his best one as a pro, tying Drew Brees for the league lead with 4,952 passing yards—10th all-time. He achieved his second-best passer rating with just nine interceptions to 32 touchdowns.
The Pro Bowler is still in his prime for quarterbacks at 33 years old and is coming off his second-straight 16-start season for the first time in his career. There were growing pains when Todd Haley took over for Bruce Arians at offensive coordinator in 2012, but Roethlisberger is happy with the relationship now, according to Jim Corbett of USA Today:
"Todd and I just understand each other from working together—whether in meetings, talking through texts at night or at dinner—[asking], 'Hey, what do you think about this?' ... We've just been able to continue and grow our relationship both on and off the field. And that's really transitioned into us playing better football.
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Pittsburgh signed Roethlisberger to a five-year extension in March, making him the second-highest-paid quarterback in the league. It’s a player-friendly deal, indicating the Steelers consider him an elite talent and the driving force behind the powerful offense, as outlined by NFL Media’s Albert Breer on Twitter:
"Full rundown on the Roethlisberger deal ... $65M over the first 3, $60.75M guaranteed for injury, $31M signing bonus pic.twitter.com/qxe1UkS2tS
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 16, 2015
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Fantasy owners are quicker to follow Roethlisberger’s upward trend than the experts, drafting him ahead of higher-rated quarterbacks Cam Newton and Matt Ryan by three to four picks on average.
Follow the masses on this one and trust Big Ben to flirt with the top five in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks in 2015.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 4,515 passing yards for 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Antonio Brown, WR
8 of 9
Concerns that Brown might hold out halfway through his current deal were squashed when he showed up for team workouts in late April, tweeted Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
"Antonio Brown in Steelers facility today. So much for that.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) April 27, 2015
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Brown’s desires for more compensation aren’t unfounded, since PFF graded him tied for third-best among wide receivers in 2013, which rose to first in 2014. The Rooney family simply does not renegotiate contracts outside of the final two years.
It’s unlikely the All-Pro will suffer any performance setbacks as a result, given the mountain the 5’10”, 186-pound had to scratch and claw up to become the most unlikely of fantasy studs at wide receiver. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Brown does not appreciate the “small” label despite the obvious size disparity.
"Everyone wants to call me small," Brown said. "I may not be the tallest guy, but I hit the weights and I got a little strength. I like sometimes to be underestimated. It's been working sufficiently."
He finished tops among wide receivers in fantasy scoring in 2014, adding two completed passes for 20 yards and a touchdown to 129 receptions for 1,698 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. The five-year veteran is still Pittsburgh’s No. 1 punt returner as well, tacking on an additional score on special teams to total 15 touchdowns overall in 2014.
Given Brown’s recent track record and the talent around him, there’s no doubt he should be the first wide receiver drafted in all formats in 2015.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 120 receptions for 1,608 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Le’Veon Bell, RB
9 of 9
Bell will miss Pittsburgh’s first three games unless he wins an appeal, tweeted Adam Schefter of ESPN:
"Pitt RB LeVeon Bell suspended 3 games, fined additional game check for violating substance abuse policy, per league sources. He is appealing
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 9, 2015
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The All-Pro told ESPN The Magazine's Josina Anderson he’s hoping classes, community service and an expunged record will influence the league to reduce his sentence.
The net effect is a reduction in Bell’s draft value despite the fact he was the best all-around running back in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus. The 2013 second-round pick out of Michigan State finished 2014 with 2,215 yards from scrimmage, second only to DeMarco Murray (2,261).
He tied for fifth in yards per carry among running backs (4.7), second in yards per reception (10.3) among running backs who caught at least 20 passes and second in running back receptions (83).
Bell ended 2014 as the second-ranked fantasy running back (eighth overall), according to ESPN.com.
His average draft position as the fifth player off the board seems reasonable considering he’s currently scheduled to miss three games. Bell averaged 17.9 fantasy points per game in 2014, which would have put him in fifth place had he missed three starts.
But Bell is younger (23) and sees more action (58.9 snaps per game, according to Pro Football Focus) than the four backs going ahead of him: Jamaal Charles (28, 44.3), Eddie Lacy (25, 43.6), Adrian Peterson (30, 48.9) and Marshawn Lynch (29, 45.5).
Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported how Todd Haley summed up Bell’s immense value to the Steelers explosive offense:
"We have a guy in Le’Veon who is capable and you really want on the field as much as possible. In a lot of places where you have running backs coming off the field, Le’Veon tends to get stronger as the games goes on. You hate to ever take him off the field. He’s going to get the majority of the touches on all downs.
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Fantasy owners should ignore whatever consequences Bell ultimately pays for substance abuse violations and take the best player in the league first overall. It’s a bold move, but it should pay dividends in December.
All-Too-Early 2015 Projection: 250 carries for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns, plus 75 receptions for 674 yards and three scores.
NFL statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference, fantasy stats provided by CBS Sports.com, fantasy draft projections courtesy of Fantasy Pros, contract and salary-cap information provided by Over the Cap and h/t to Rotoworld for tweets and quotes unless otherwise noted.
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