By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones
RB: Le’Veon Bell, James Conner, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Stevan Ridley
WR: Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Martavis Bryant, Justin Hunter, Darrius Heyward-Bey
TE: Jesse James, Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble
2018
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QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones
RB: Le′Veon Bell, James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Stevan Ridley
WR: Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Martavis Bryant, Justin Hunter, Darrius Heyward-Bey
TE: Jesse James, Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The Steelers haven’t made any moves on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. They did rank fifth in points and third in yards last season, and they haven’t lost any big pieces to their offense, so the lack of movement makes sense and goes with the Steelers’ overall strategy of building their team through the draft and not overpaying free agents.
Post-Draft Update
The Steelers decided to look to the future in the 2018 NFL Draft, as they scooped-up Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph in the third round. With Ben Roethlisberger contemplating retirement last season, the Steelers must have felt pretty vulnerable with Landry Jones as the next guy up, and Rudolph is a strong pick, but one who could benefit from being the backup for a couple years.
Before they took Rudolph, the Steelers traded away Martavis Bryant to the Raiders and then took Rudolph’s teammate, wide receiver James Washington as Bryant’s likely replacement. Unlike Rudolph, Washington should be ready to step into the No. 3 receiver position behind Antonio Brown and Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster this season. Rudolph’s fantasy upside will be limited behind those two and with Le’Veon Bell catching a wide receiver’s share of passes, but Rudolph has long-term upside and should help Roethlisberger and the passing game overall.
Pittsburgh also added running back Jaylen Samuels out of N.C. State. Samuels was a hybrid running back/tight end/fullback/wide receiver and would likely fit in as relief for Le’Veon Bell in the receiving game. And if Bell moves on, Samuels could have an even bigger role in the future.
The Steelers didn’t address their linebacker need and took some iffy defensive backs, so there is a good chance their defense takes a step back this season with the loss of Ryan Shazier. I have a feeling this offense is going to put up huge numbers.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Solid: Ben Roethlisberger, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Sleeper: Vance McDonald
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
More 2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Nov. 17
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 13
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 12
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
