Ben Roethlisberger Injury: Good Injury News for Fantasy Owners and Mike Wallace

Good news for fantasy owners of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Mike Wallace—the left foot of the quarterback, thought to be broken, is a sprain, according to MRI results made public today.

Roethlisberger injured the foot when tackled from behind in the fourth quarter of his team's Week 4 loss to the Houston Texans, and left the stadium in a walking boot and on crutches, in noticeable pain.

While his status for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans is as of yet unknown, what is clear is that Roethlisberger intends to take the field. He said yesterday of the injury and his Week 5 status, "You know me -- if I can be out there, I'm going to be out there. That's so for next week, too."

The quarterback played nearly half of the 2010 season with a broken right foot, which he kept in a cast supported by a specially-designed shoe, and led his team to their third Super Bowl appearance of his tenure.

Playing through injury is nothing new to the oft-sacked quarterback, and it's a fair assumption to say that come Sunday, Roethlisberger will be under center, especially considering the team's serious struggles through the first four weeks.

While those struggles have served to demote Roethlisberger from a risky starting fantasy quarterback to a backup at best, they haven't severely affected his top wide receiver, Mike Wallace.

The Texans game was the first in seven that Wallace was held below 100 receiving yards, but he managed four catches for 77 even with the heavy pressure the Houston defense put on Roethlisberger and the Steelers' troubled offensive line.

Rotoworld and I agree that Wallace has a bright fantasy future ahead of him this season, despite that terrible line, and he benefits most from Roethlisberger under center than from the play of backups Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon.

If you're a Wallace owner, Roethlisberger's stubbornness and relative durability are an advantage to you and your team. With Big Ben throwing the passes, Wallace is guaranteed not just looks but catches. And with his league-leading 19.5 yards-per-catch career average, he's sure to have big gains even if the Steelers fail to win many games.

For Wallace's fantasy owners, Roethlisberger's your best friend; with him on the field, your team is instantly better, without having to ever put the quarterback on your roster.