Jonathan Dwyer: Updated Fantasy Outlook & Analysis After Isaac Redman Injury

Despite not playing on Thursday Night against Tennessee, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer has a big task ahead of him.

Thanks to injuries suffered by Rashard Mendenhall and Issac Redman during the Steelers' 26-23 loss, Jonathan Dwyer as well as Chris Rainey and Baron Batch are going to be relied upon to carry the ball for Pittsburgh's running game.

So far this season, Dwyer has 70 yards on 24 carries and is averaging 2.9 yards per carry. He also has four receptions for 24 yards. His most productive game came in Week 1 against Denver, when he ran for 48 yards on nine carries and caught two passes for 11 yards.

Next week Pittsburgh plays Cincinnati; a team with a defense that is ranked 19th in the league in stopping the run. Teams on average gain 118.2 rushing yards per game against the Bengals, and it would behoove the Steelers to pound the ball as much as possible to set a physical tone for the game.

Here's where Jonathan Dwyer comes in, just in case neither Mendenhall nor Redman are available in the next few weeks. At 5'11", 229 lbs., Jonathan Dwyer is a big, bruising running back that can punish anyone who attempts to tackle him.

Pittsburgh is primarily a passing team, but running the ball is essential. With Rainey and Batch being used more in the passing game than on the ground, the Steelers will need someone to keep defenses honest so they can use more of those beautiful Roethlisberger-to-Wallace passes that have been very successful for them.

Dwyer can be the man carrying the rock, and can also close out teams by running out the clock. Not only would he pick up yards for the Steelers and their fantasy owners, but goal-line touchdowns are in play as well.

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