Dennis Dixon Supplants Ben Roethlisberger at QB | NFL Fantasy Football Rankings

Last week, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a concussion in an overtime loss to the Chiefs . Once Roethlisberger left the game, the team turned the reigns over to steady veteran Charlie Batch to finish the game.

Unfortunately, for the Steelers, Batch suffered a wrist injury and will be out for the rest of the regular season. Because of this key injury, the team is now left with inexperienced but talented young quarterback Dennis Dixon to backup Roethlisberger.

Likely In, Likely Out

For most of the week, it looked like the Steelers would have their star quarterback under center for an all-important game on Sunday night against the Ravens. Roethlisberger passed all medical tests and was given a clear bill of health to play but in spite of all that on Friday Big Ben told his coach that he might not play.

Roethlisberger needed to sleep on his decision to play and on Saturday mourning Fox Sports' Jay Glazer broke the news that the Steelers would be without their star quarterback for this week's game.

Now Pittsburgh is faced with starting second year quarterback Dixon, who has thrown one completion (last year) in his short NFL career.

In the Heat of the Night

While Dixon had a fabulous career with the Oregon Ducks , he will now be tested against one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer in his first career start. The Ravens thrive on playing offenses that have problems stretching the field with the deep passing game.

If the Steelers are not able to make the Ravens' respect the passing game down the field then Ed Reed and the secondary players will sit on the Steelers short passing routes.

Not only that but when the Ravens are able to play that kind of game you can forget about running the football with regular effectiveness.

One of Dixon's weapons that should give the Ravens problems is his ability to move out of the pocket and pick up first downs with his legs.

The main question for Dixon is will he be able to handle playing at the NFL speed?

Fantasy Outlook

Unless you don't have good options on your bench, I would suggest you bench your Steeler fantasy players for this contest. We don't know what Dixon will be able to do, but in a game like this, on the road, the odds are that it won't be good.

That is not to say that Dixon can't be a good quarterback in the future but in this game, I'm not sure he can sustain drives down the field to give fantasy owners the stats they need for success.

Next week the Steelers will face the Raiders in Pittsburgh and in that game if Dixon is in you should definitely get your main players in.

NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com