Fantasy Football Preview: Five Reasons to Draft Ben Roethlisberger

It’s been a turbulent offseason for Big Ben to say the least. After receiving a suspension that will cost him at least the first four games of the ’09-’10 campaign, owners in leagues across the world have been awfully weary about drafting him.

But why?

Not only is Roethlisberger one of the better discounts come draft day, but also he could very well produce QB1 stats come fantasy playoffs. Let’s take a look at five reasons to draft the Steelers’ man.

1. WR Mike Wallace

Let’s not be foolish here. The Steelers are one of the better teams in the league with Roethlisberger under center.

While it’s true that the team lost WR Santonio Holmes via trade to the Jets, the team places a lot of trust in breakout candidate Mike Wallace. Often described as a deep threat who has had trouble with route-running at times, Wallace has elite speed.

He and Roethlisberger should have no trouble developing immediate chemistry. Remember when owners were concerned about Big Ben’s production after Plaxico Burress went to New York? Holmes was drafted to fill his spot opposite ageless Hines Ward, and that seemed to work out just fine for the black and yellow.

2. Production

Even when he’s eligible for the whole season, Roethlisberger (for some reason, unbeknownst to me) continues to get constantly overlooked as one of the top-flight options. We’re talking about a guy who threw for over 400 yards in a game twice last season, including a 503-yard effort in a critical Week 15 matchup against the Packers. He would’ve done it a third time had he not been just two yards shy @ KC in Week 11 as well. The behemoth beast is good for a 20 spot (usually more) just about every week and this year should be no different once he returns. 

3. The Steelers' Gameplan 

In a season where the team’s offensive line and defense both declined in production, the Steelers often found themselves in a hole that could only be escaped from with a potent aerial attack. Cue Big Ben, as his cannon of an arm is the exact weapon that they needed.

Despite the fact that he was sacked a league-high 50 times, Roethlisberger simply shook it off and kept on grinding, posting career numbers in passing numbers, exceeding his previous total by more than 800 yards. With many questioning how effective RB Rashard Mendenhall will be this year, don’t be surprised to see Ben air it out quite a bit in an effort to win some critical games throughout the season.

4. ADP

ADP means Average Draft Position for those of you new to the fantasy football lingo. Roethlisberger’s current ADP sits at about 116. For those of you in standard, 10-team leagues that means he’s lasting until the 12^th or 13^th round!

He is being taken after guys like Carson Palmer and just before the likes of Chad Henne. Wouldn’t you rather take a QB you can pair with Big Ben rather than gamble on a Kevin Kolb type early in the draft?

It may not be sexy, but someone like Kyle Orton could be the perfect fill-in until your real starter, Big Ben, makes his triumphant return. Roethlisberger will most certainly be a Top-10 fantasy starter by season’s end, and how many of those can you find that late in the draft? None. 

5. Dedication

After the tumultuous timeline of events that Roethlisberger made the team suffer through, it truly seems as if he’s re-dedicated himself to the game of football. Teammate Hines Ward who is never afraid to criticize his gunslinger said that the quarterback is making a “valiant effort to get his life right, he’s night and day”.

In addition, fellow WR Mike Wallace had also said that Big Ben is helping out all of the team’s young receivers as a teacher, something he’s never bothered to do in the past. It seems that everyone from team President Art Rooney to Coach Mike Tomlin has been satisfied with his renewed sense of self, so owners will be hoping that his extra work translates to increased production when he finally takes the field. 

Roethlisberger is a valuable fantasy commodity in any format, so don’t let personal views of him stand in your way on the quest for the crown. Come playoff time, owners will be thankful that they have him. 

Questions or Comments? Leave a note for Ethan down in the comment section.