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Ravens Week is always a fun week to be a Steelers fan. You are guaranteed of great smack talk, fun bets with your friends that are misguided enough to root for the purple menace, and a great game.
But as important as this game is, you need to forgo the blind faith and be rational on which of your favorite Steelers are the best players to start or sit on your fantasy football roster. hopefully, you can celebrate with two victories this week. Unless you are like legendary singer Meatloaf and are in upwards of 60 leagues, then you can celebrate like a Rock God.
Speaking of Meatloaf, ponder this. You'll do anything for a fantasy win, but you won't do what?
For Week Four against B-More, here is how certain Steelers project for fantasy purposes. I have chosen to use point projections from NFL.com Fantasy, Yahoo Fantasy Football and ESPN.com Fantasy Football.
QB Ben Roethlisberger
Week 3 Stats: 20/24 192 yds 1 INT
2015 Stats: 67/89 912 yds 4 TD/2 INT
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: First thing first, Don't cut Ben Roethlisberger. If you have an IR, stash him on it.
QB Mike Vick
Week 3 Stats: 5/6 38 yds
2015 Stats: 5/6 38 yds
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: As far as fantasy play, I would be hesitant to start him right out of the gate. With a short week of practice, he will have a watered-down playbook. The best thing to do in regards to Vick and your fantasy team is to add-and-stash him, if possible, and reserve decision and judgement until after the Baltimore game. Right now, you have no idea what you're going to get and you may already have an option at quarterback with whom you know where you stand.
RB Le'Veon Bell
Week 3 Rushing Stats: 19 car/62 yds 1 TD
Week 3 Receiving Stats: 7rec/70 yds
2015 Rushing Stats: 19 car/62 yds 1 TD
2015 Receiving Stats: 7rec/70 yds
Verdict: Start
Analysis: Le'Veon Bell is just warming up. If defenses stack the box, he can burn them as a receiver. Last week Bell put up 62 yards on the ground and xxx catching the ball out of the backfield. Most likely you spent a top five pick on him, two games were small price to pay for what potential he has.
The Ravens are number eight against the run, but that won't matter this week. Expect Bell to pick up the slack with Big Ben sidelined.
RB Deangelo Williams
Week 3 Rushing Stats: 1 car/2 yds
Week 3 Receiving Stats: NA
2015 Rushing Stats: 42 car/206 yds 3 TD
2015 Receiving Stats: 5 rec/20 yds
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: As expected, the clock struck midnight and the glass slipper is not going to be returned in regards to the fantasy play of Deangelo Williams.
With Bell back, #34 is not 1A... He's a clear number two. Williams may get some action, but it won't be to the extent it was when he was the number one guy.
WR Antonio Brown
Week 3 Stats: 11 rec/118 yds
2015 Stats: 29 rec/438 yds 2 TD 1 2pc
Verdict: Start
Analysis: Roethlisberger's injury might be the worst thing that could happen to you if you are an Antonio Brown owner. It will be interesting to see if Brown loses production with Michael Vick as the signal caller.
Brown is too talented to keep on the bench and my guess is that he is itching to take over the role as team leader. If anybody can keep the team afloat during the absence of their leader, it is without question Antonio Brown. He is still a WR1, regardless of who is trying to get him the ball.
WR Markus Wheaton
Week 3 Stats: 2 rec/16 yds
2015 Stats: 7 rec/138 yds 0 TD 1 2pc
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: I thought this year was going to be a great opportunity for Markus Wheaton to show his stuff. He hasn't shown much at all and has completely failed to take advantage of the Martavis Bryant suspension. Keep him on your roster for a bye week start, but that's about it.
WR Martavis Bryant
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: One more week and the beast will be unleashed. Your patience will pay off then.
WR Darius Heyward-Bey
Week 3 Stats: 3 rec/19 yds
2015 Stats: 11 rec/154 yds 1 TD
Avg Position Rank: 27
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: DHP broke out against San Francisco, but did very little against the Rams. With defenses doubling up trying to stop Antonio Brown, Heyward-Bey is going to get some balls thrown his way. But with the transition to Vick, not this week.
WR Heath Miller
Week 3 Stats: 2 rec/17 yds
2015 Stats: 12 rec/116 yds 1 TD 1 2pc
Verdict: Start
Analysis: Miller is a valuable safety valve for any quarterback. But for lesser passers, the likes of Miller are essential.
Vick has always made good use of the tight end position. Look for Miller to continue his solid play and start him in deeper leagues.
K Josh Scobee
Week 3 Stats: 2 FG/2 FGA
2015 Stats: 4 FG/6 FGA 4 XP/5 XPA
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: This guy had early growing pains with the Steelers. But after Week 3, the consensus among many a talking head is that he is settling in and coming into his own. I'm not quite there yet. But I do agree that there will be more field-goal opportunities in Pittsburgh without Ben Roethlisberger there to lead a high-scoring offense.
Therefore in deeper leagues, Scobee may be worth a shot if you're not getting the production you want out of the kicker on your roster. But I'd give it at least another week.
Steelers D/ST
Verdict: Sit
Analysis: The defense is starting to settle down and improve. Overall, the Steelers are ranked 14th defensively, allowing 342 yards-per-game. Giving up only 84 yards-per-game on the ground, the Steelers are 9th against the run, 18th against the pass and sixth in points allowed with an average of 17.3 per game. Their average fantasy rank has climbed to 14th. But the sacks and turnovers aren't accumulating, so you're not going to get many points from this defense.
The special teams aren't anything special either, so I wouldn't add the D/ST until they get Shazier on the field and they improve a whole lot more.