2012 Team Outlook: Pittsburgh

By Rob Warner, Monday, July 16, 2012 11:15:36 AM EDT

QB Charlie Batch, PIT - Not Draft Worthy

The Steelers re-signed QB Charlie Batch to a one-year contract. The 37-year-old has been a backup in Pittsburgh since 2003. His lone start of the 2011 season resulted in a a 27-0 victory over the Rams in week 16 when Batch completed 15-of-22 passes for 208 yards and a TD. He is obviously not on the fantasy radar unless Big Ben were to sustain an injury.

QB Byron Leftwich, PIT - Low Potential

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The 32 year old Marshall alum appears to have the upper hand over Charlie Batch to be the primary backup for Big Ben. Leftwich (7 overall pick of the 2003 draft) missed most of the 2011 season following ankle surgery last September. He has yet to top 100 passes in a season since 2006 and would be a major downgrade to the Steeler passing game if he is forced into action.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, --- - Solid/Safe Pick

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With RB Rashard Mendenhall likely to miss a large portion of the upcoming season, expect the Steelers to become a pass centric team in 2012. Reports have also surfaced that new OC Todd Haley could employ more no huddle packages. The draft day additions of OG David DeCastro (Stanford) and OT Mike Adams (Ohio State) should go a long way in improving Big Ben's pass protection. Roethlisberger has topped 4,000 yards passing in two of the past three seasons and remains a borderline QB1 / high end QB2 as he enters his 9th NFL season.

RB Jonathan Dwyer, --- - Deep-league Only

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The 2010 sixth-round pick out of Georgia Tech has failed to stay healthy in his first two NFL seasons (played in just 8 games) totaling only 25 carries for 151 yards. With Rashard Mendenhall likely to be sidelined for significant part of the upcoming season, Dwyer could be elevated to the #2 RB position (provided he's recovered from a broken foot). He might be worth a late round flier if he proves to be healthy in training camp.

RB Rashard Mendenhall, --- - Gamble (high risk)

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The Illinois alum suffered a torn ACL late in the 2011 regular season and there are rumblings that he will miss a significant portion of the 2012 season. Mendenhall topped 1,100 yards in the 2009/2010 seasons, but his production regressed in 2011 as he finished with 228 carries for 928 yards (62 YPG). He does have 30 touchdowns over the past three seasons, but with his season in jeopardy it is difficult to recommend taking him before round 10. Mendenhall is in the final year of his contract and (depending on his recovery) may have played his last snaps with the Steelers.

UPDATE: Surprisingly was activated from the PUP list on August 17th. Questions regarding his speed/burst are concerning considering he's averaged just 3.9 YPC since the start of 2010.

RB Chris Rainey, --- - Dynasty Only

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The Steelers used a 5th round pick on the Florida speedster and he could very well fill a slot WR / tailback slot in his rookie season. Some have compared Rainey to KC'S Dexter McCluster, as each back has top end speed but a smallish frame (under 5'9). Rainey ran an impressive 4.37 forty time and finished 9th in University of Florida history with 2,464 rushing yards. He's not worth considering except in deeper dynasty leagues as Rainey doesn't possess the size to be a starting RB at the NFL level.

RB Isaac Redman, --- - Sleeper (undervalued)

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Isaac Redman is still the heavy favorite to open the season as the feature back as the Steelers failed to add starting caliber depth via free agency or the draft. Rashard Mendenhall is recovering from a torn ACL and is a candidate for the PUP List (miss first 6 games). Redman finished 2011 with 110 carries for 479 yards (4.4 YPC). In a playoff start against Denver, Redman rushed 17 times for 121 yards and caught two passes for 21 yards. He'll be a solid RB2 for as long as Mendenhall is sidelined and is currently being drafted in rounds 5-6.

UPDATE: He has been battling a groin injury and the activation of Mendenhall from the PUP list is a major negative for Redman's fantasy value heading into week 1. Look for his ADP to follow in the coming weeks.

WR Antonio Brown, --- - Solid/Safe Pick

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The second-year WR from Central Michigan was one of the true breakout performers in 2011. He finished with 69 catches for 1,109 yards (69 YPG), but only had two TDs. Brown is very explosive WR (16 YPC in 2011) and is locked in as the WR2 for a Steelers offense expected to more passing friendly in 2012. Brown posted three 100+ yard games over the final 10 weeks of last season and is a borderline WR2 worth considering in rounds 6-7.

UPDATE: Brown intends to continue as the Steelers' punt returner, but that could change if the Mike Wallace holdout continues into the regular season and Brown enters week 1 as the Steelers' top WR.

WR Emmanuel Sanders, --- - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)

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Sanders has battled injuries during his first two NFL seasons, but remains a solid sleeper coming into 2012. He's missed 8 games due to leg/foot injuries and has just 50 catches during the past two seasons. For leagues that reward punt/kick return yardage, Sanders will have elevated value as he's penciled in as the primary kick/punt returner for the Steelers and will likely serve as their #3 WR. Sanders' current ADP has him going in rounds 15-16, but he's worth considering in dynasty leagues as he could get a chance at the starting job as early as 2013 if Mike Wallace prices himself out of the Steelers' budget.

WR Mike Wallace, --- - Stud (low risk)

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Wallace is expected to play on his restricted tender in 2012. He set a career-high with 72 catches last season but regressed in the final seven games (25 catches for 325 yards and two touchdowns). Wallace should be ultra motivated in a contract year and his top end speed makes him one of the most dynamic WR after the catch (averaged an eye popping 19 YPC over his brief career). The Mississippi alum has 24 TD catches over his first three seasons and remains a borderline WR1 worth considering in rounds 3-4.

UPDATE: Contract dispute is ongoing and Wallace could miss the entire preseason (raises risk of potential injury). Wallce appears likely to play out the season on a $2.7 million contract and could enter next season as an unrestricted free agent.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, --- - Deep-league Only

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Cotchery signed a two-year contract and will battle Emmanuel Sanders for the #3 WR job. The 29-year-old WR Cotchery appeared in 13 games last season, but caught just 16 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He posted his only 1,000 yard season with the Jets in 2007 and has just 20 TDs over his first eight years in the NFL. Cotchery's upside is limited and he's not on the fantasy radar except in the deepest of PPR leagues.

TE Heath Miller, --- - Bye Week Fill-in

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Miller has played all 7 of his seasons with the Steelers and has been a model of durability (only missed 4 games over his career). Miller is used mostly as a blocking TE, but is a Big Ben favorite in the red zone. Over his career, Miller has averaged just 36 YPG with 31 touchdowns. He's a lower end TE2 at best.

TE Leonard Pope, --- - Low Potential

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The 28 year old TE from Georgia signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh after spending the past three seasons in KC with new Steeler OC Todd Haley. Pope has impressive size (6'8, 260), but he is not on the fantasy radar considering that he has never topped 250 yards in his six NFL seasons (has just eight TDs over his career).

PK Shaun Suisham, --- - Bye Week Fill-in

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Suisham missed eight field goals (23 of 31 attempts - 74%) in 2011 but will be the Steelers kicker in 2012. The 30 year old enters his 8th NFL season hitting a less than impressive 36% percent from 50+ yards over his career (4 for 11). Suisham's accuracy issues (especially from distance) make him a low end option.

Pittsburgh - Solid/Safe Pick

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The Steelers defense ranked first against the pass and 9th against the run in 2011 allowing just 14 PPG. Despite being one of the more stout defenses in the NFL, their fantasy production was lacking (finished in the bottom 10 defenses for fantasy points scored in 2011). The Steel Curtain totaled just 35 sacks (down 13 from 2010) with only 11 INTs (also down 10 from 2010). LB Lamarr Woodley battled a hamstring injury last season but should be 100% recovered providing a boost to the Steeler pass rush in 2012. Provided they can stay healthy - the Steelers could regain their 2010 form when they scored the 3rd most DST fantasy points.