Are Steelers fans ready for an increased role for Benny Snell Jr.?

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to navigate the next month or so without Jaylen Samuels as the primary backup running back behind James Conner. After having his knee scoped after the loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, Samuels will miss about a month before he is ready to return to the team, in the meantime fans are wondering if it is time to see more of Benny Snell?

You know, Mr. Benny Snell football himself?

The rookie from Kentucky is looking forward to an increased role vs. the Chargers on Sunday Night Football, and possibly moving forward.

“I’m here to fill my role. I will do my best,” Snell, the Steelers’ fourth-round pick, told Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I feel like at this point I have been prepared by James and J-Sam; they prepared me.”

Through the team’s first five games, Snell has flashed more on special teams than he has running the football. Snell plays on all four special teams units, kickoff, punt, punt bock and kickoff return units. As a running back he has only carried the ball 6 times for 30 yards, and one of those runs was for 23 yards.

In other words, not a very promising resume for a player who will be granted a golden opportunity to prove he is worth all the third person comments and slogans. Regardless of how well Snell has played so far in 2019, he is till having fun playing the game of football.

“Every day I come to my job, it’s fun every day,” Snell said. “I just come in and do what I love.”

Snell has only had one run over 4 yards, and that is the 23 yard gain he had against the Seahawks in Week 2. Some might say he never had a chance to really get accustomed to the offensive line, and vice versa, but that won’t be the case going forward with Samuels out for the next few games.

One option fans should prepare themselves for is a heavy dose of James Conner, and Snell only being used when absolutely necessary. Think about how the Steelers utilized their backups when Le’Veon Bell was with the team. It doesn’t mean Snell won’t see an increased role, compared to what he was doing prior to Samuels’ injury, but you might want to think twice about picking Snell up on your fantasy team expecting him to get you quality points on Sunday Night Football.