Dynasty Capsule: Pittsburgh Steelers

As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re also going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.

We continue our path through the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger

In 2012, Roethlisberger had his third best statistical season while battling his new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.  For the first nine games, the soon to be ten-year quarterback had 19 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.  After he went down with injury against the Chiefs, Roethlisberger was not the same player as he threw eight touchdowns and four interceptions in his final four games.  The former Miami of Ohio University star may not be the fastest or most mobile athlete, but he does a good job moving around in the pocket and uses his big body to ward off would-be tacklers.

The quarterback did not launch the ball downfield as much as he did in years past, but the design of the offense had a drastic improvement in regards to turnovers.  His career best interception total was in 2010 (five), a season that Roethlisberger only played 12 games.  This dink and dunk approach frustrated the signal caller at times, but it was effective when the Steelers running game sputtered. He is a borderline fantasy QB1, who will be most effective as a QBBC player on your dynasty team.

Byron Leftwich

This grizzled vet was brought into duty to finish out the game vs. Kansas City when Roethlisberger went down and the old guy literally gutted out a decent effort against the Ravens the next week.  Leftwich’s single carry for a 31 yard touchdown was quite the sight to see, especially in that bumblebee uniform.  The Steelers lost the hard-fought game against Baltimore; however, it was later revealed the quarterback broke ribs during the game. With his age, crazy long wind-up, and injury history, the Steelers will look to move on without both Leftwich and Charlie Batch together on the roster. He is not draft or roster worthy in any format.

Charlie Batch

The 38-year-old former Lions starter looked abysmal against the Browns by throwing three interceptions and then found redemption beating the now Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens in Week 13.  Batch won’t win any games with his arm, but he will do his best to put the Steelers in position to win most games he starts.  There has been some speculation he might retire to become a quarterbacks coach, but I suspect that he will return for another year with Pittsburgh and that Leftwich will not return.  He is a backup in a fantasy league with 50+ roster spots and over 14 teams.

Running Backs

Rashard Mendenhall

I’m not sure whether it was his mis-informed tweeting or his Achilles injury that caused more suffering for Steelers Nation. Regardless, Mendenhall only appeared in five games last year and while he had an inspired week five game against the Eagles (16 touches for 101 yards and a touchdown), the rest of his season was dismal.  He will be turning 26 years old in June, but has only had major carries (228 or more) three out of the last five seasons.  There is not a lot of tread on his tires, but no one is certain if he’ll be with the Steelers.  He has always been more of a finesse runner with a flair for spinning and turning his back to the defense when it isn’t in his best interest.  To be fair, this isn’t exactly polar opposite of what Todd Haley likes.  I wouldn’t count him out of a the black and yellow just yet.  I like picking him up later as a RB4 or later due to the uncertainty in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.

Issac Redman

Unlike Mendenhall, Redman is no dancer – he is as blue-collar as Pittsburgh is. Unfortunately, his impact games are few and far between.  The running back was relevant against the Titans in week six with four catches for 104 yards and when the Steelers played the Giants after Hurricane Sandy when he rushed 26 times for 147 yards and one touchdown.  Injuries that came from physical play and mental mistakes were his undoing.  Redman will be a cheap tender for Pittsburgh to keep, but I wouldn’t count on more than 700 total yards and 3-4 touchdowns.  It’s hard to be more than a fantasy RB3-4 with that limited upside.

Jonathan Dwyer

Dwyer is such an intriguing running back.  In a few games, he reminded many fans of Jerome Bettis with his portly belly and quick feet.  Mike Tomlin never seemed to trust him completely after his costly fumble against the Raiders in week three, though.  Much like Redman, Dwyer does not look like a starting NFL running back, but can be effective as a committee member.  The danger with him is that he does not have the short yardage role that Redman may have.  He is a RB5 at best, but could blossom into a RB3 if you get lucky.

Wide Receivers

Mike Wallace

On five more targets in 2012, the contract seeking wide receiver caught eight fewer passes for 355 fewer yards and the same amount of touchdowns (eight) compared to 2011.  Wallace seemed distracted as a result of not practicing with the team during the Summer as he was a restricted free agent. Roethlisberger did not throw the ball downfield as often as he did with Bruce Arians as his offensive coordinator, which is partly to blame for his yardage struggles.  On the other hand, Wallace had several games where he mentally checked out in the second half.  His game speed is hard to replace, but the wide receiver needs to work on catching the ball with his hands instead of his body if he ever wants to become elite.  There is virtually no chance he remains in Pittsburgh.  Hopefully he will find happiness in sunny Miami as a WR1.

Antonio Brown

The Steelers rewarded him in the off-season with a big contract extension; however, the only statistic he showed improvement was at scoring touchdowns, from two to five. Brown is a hard worker much in the same mold of former Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward.  He is a good blocker, runs good routes, and is a talented returner.  The problem is that he is not a burner and struggles with double coverage which all number one wide receivers need to be effective against.  Last year Brown was the third read in the passing game behind Wallace and tight end Heath Miller.  With Wallace sure to be gone and Miller coming back from a knee injury, it will be the young, well paid wide receiver’s time to shine.  I hope Pittsburgh can find a burner in the NFL Draft so Brown can continue to work the underneath and emerge as a fantasy WR2.

Emmanuel Sanders

This fourth year wide receiver got a bigger role with past year with the sputtering of the running game and injuries to the Steelers passing targets.  As he is another restricted free agent, Sanders is expected to stay with the team and win the WR2 spot. The former Southern Methodist receiver  has a decent blend of Wallace’s speed and Brown’s toughness, but is not as impactful a player.  Unless he improves dramatically, expect Pittsburgh to have him as their WR3 and draft a WR1-2.  Sanders is a target in leagues with larger benches, but as a WR5-6 with upside.

Tight Ends

Heath Miller

“HHEEAATTHHH” is what the Steelers fans scream (his exaggerated name) when he makes a catch and they all got a huge treat last year.  Miller posted career highs in touchdowns (eight), yards (816), and targets (101).  He acted as a piece of the running game and losing him in the second game against the Bengals was devastating.  Todd Haley found ways to take advantage of Miller’s speed, agility, and toughness against opposing safeties and the occasional linebacker.  He was a matchup nightmare and depending how his recovery from his knee injury will either better or worsen the Steelers chances at the post-season.  I would not have him higher than a TE2 due to his current injury and he will turn 31 during the 2013 season.

David Paulson

The former move tight end from Oregon saw limited action in his rookie season.  It doesn’t seem that he is physical enough to take over Miller’s role if the veteran is not ready to return from injury when the season starts.  I see Paulson as a limited role player that fantasy owners should not be concerned about regardless of opportunity.