Fantasy Football Team Preview: Steelers

With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet the...
Team with more Super Bowl titles than any other franchise in existence. Fresh off of their sixth Super Bowl title, the Steelers return in 2009 with a solid shot at a repeat performance. The stellar defense is still around and the main keys to the Pittsburgh offense are back and healthy.

While the NFL version of the Steelers is a force to be reckoned with, the Steelers, as fantasy assets, are just average.

Ben Roethlisberger isn't a top ten quarterback as he was only good for 17 touchdown passes in 2008. Willie Parker, while hampered with injuries which caused him to miss five games, doesn't make it onto the top-30 running backs on draft boards. His yards per carry average has slipped lower in each of the past five seasons, foreshadowing further drop-off. Neither Santonio Holmes or Hines Ward are top-20 options at wide receiver, either, going into 2009 drafts.

So, watch the Steelers and marvel as a fan of great football. But, wait for the middle to late rounds to draft these guys onto your fantasy team.

The Breakout
Rashard Mendenhall was the first round draft pick for the Steelers in 2008 and learned a harsh lesson in his rookie campaign. Never, ever talk trash in the week leading up to the Baltimore Ravens game. Mendenhall had his shoulder busted up by Ray Lewis in week four and didn't take another hand off in 2008. At 3.1 yards per carry in the 19 rushing attempts Mendenhall did see, he didn't exactly light up the eyes of the coaching staff. Expect Mendenhall to get some more "on the job" training as the number two back prior to earning more reps in the Steelers offense. And, if Willie Parker continues to decline, Mendenhall could take over as the main running back at some point in 2009.

The Bust
Ben Roethlisberger, only once in his five year career has thrown more than 18 touchdowns. And only once has he amassed more than 3,200 passing yards. All that being said, he's proven that he's a leader and can win Super Bowls. But he's probably not going to be the driving force to your fantasy football championship. You're probably going to have to draft Roethlisberger too high for him to show proper value to your team. He's more of a second string fantasy quarterback and should only be drafted in that role. If you grab him as your first QB or any higher than the middle to late rounds, you're setting yourself up for a rough fantasy season.

The Depth Chart
QB1 - Ben Roethlisberger
QB2 - Charlie Batch / Dennis Dixon
RB1 - Willie Parker
RB2 - Rashard Mendenhall
RB3 - Mewelde Moore
WR1 - Hines Ward
WR2 - Santonio Holmes
WR3 - Limas Sweed
WR4 - Shaun McDonald
TE1 - Heath Miller
TE2 - Matt Spaeth
K - Jeff Reed

The D/ST
Steel Curtain still means something in Pittsburgh. In fact, it still means something to every offense in the NFL. The Steelers gave up only 13.9 points per game last season, which was almost a point and a half lower than any other NFL team. They ranked first against the pass (156.9 YPG) and second against the run (80.3 YPG). If you can't pass against them and you can't run against them, it's tough to beat them.

James Harrison, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley, and Lawrence Timmons all together amassed 37 sacks in 2008. The entire Steelers defense ranked second in the league with 51 sacks. The defense brings pressure in droves and the front seven provide the strength and drive to this fantastic fantasy defense.

Troy Polamalu is the heart and soul of this secondary. And while he intercepted seven passes last season, he only had 73 tackles, which is abnormal for a starting strong safety on a top-notch defense. The front seven don't let too many running backs through for Polamalu to shine with his tackle totals.

If the D/ST for Pittsburgh has a weakness, it's fantasy productivity from their corner backs and kicker. The starting cornerbacks Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend combined for only three interceptions in 2008. While kicker Jeff Reed's statistics (36-for-37 in extra points and 27-for-31 in field goals) are sound, he's only a second tier kicker in fantasy venues.

The Skinny
- If Santonio Holmes is going to overtake Hines Ward as the go-to option on this receiving corps, he's going to have to reverse the negative trending of his yards per reception average. He took a big hit in 2008 gaining only 14.9 yards per reception after an 18.4 yards per reception average in 2007.

- Not only do the Steelers hope to get more production out of their 2008 first round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall, but with the departure of Nate Washington, they hope second year receiver Limas Sweed will also step up. Sweed is going to be given every opportunity at the slot position made vacant when Washington went to Tennessee.

- Charlie Batch is back from the broken right collarbone that caused him to miss 2008. He's ready to continue on as Roethlisberger's backup. But, if Batch isn't completely ready and/or Dennis Dixon continues to shine in training camp, there might be a battle for that backup spot.

- Did you know that Roethlisberger was sacked 46 times last season; only one shy of the league leader Matt Cassell who was sacked 47 times? The offensive line for the Steelers is porous, at best. Keep that in mind at your fantasy draft.

- Tight End Heath Miller missed two games with an ankle sprain and was still targeted almost as much in 2008 as he was in 2007. His 48 catches were the most in his short NFL career, as well. He's not a huge part of the Steelers offense moving down the field. But, he's a popular target for Roethlisberger in the red zone. Miller could improve on his numbers in '09 and become a top-ten tight end before all is said and done.