Rashard Mendenhall 's 324 carries last season were just 10 short of the league lead. But hey, he'll be just 24 years old this fall, so Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin sees no reason to cut back on Mendenhall's workload. "That's why you draft running backs, to hand them the ball," Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "Wear and tear is part of the game, specifically at that position. You worry about it but it doesn't dominate your thought, it's just part of the game. I ain't been around many backs who don't want [the ball]." Tomlin also said Mendenhall's crucial fumble in February's Super Bowl doesn't concern him because his man fumbled just four times all season. Tomlin said Mendenhall has continued to improve, but is still in the developmental stages of becoming a truly great NFL running back. Mendenhall gained 1,273 rushing yards on 324 carries during the 2010 regular season. He recorded 13 touchdowns.

Fantasy Analysis:

There are certainly areas where Mendenhall's game needs to be better, specifically his work as a receiver. I'm sure you'll hear noise about Rashard focusing on just that during the preseason; I'll believe it when I see it. But let's focus on the positives: He's young, he's made it through the last two 16-game seasons, he's the unquestioned man in Pittsburgh's backfield, he gets the goal-line carries and is a beast in that area. He should be a top-10 pick in fantasy drafts.