Big Ben: Steelers 'should get healthy'

Dec 26, 2016

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said after the win that he’d like the team to use this week to make sure that their key players are feeling well come the opening weekend of the playoffs.

“I don’t know what the situation or scenario is,” Roethlisberger said, via PennLive.com. “If we’ve got a spot and the [No. 3] clinched up then I think a lot of guys should get healthy.”

Given the lack of opportunity to move in either direction, it seems a good bet that the Steelers will exercise caution with anyone who is banged up when it comes to setting the lineup against the Browns.

Fantasy Impact:

The Steelers are locked into the number-three spot, just don't know who their opponent will be to open up Wild Card Weekend. While this was just Ben's opinion, it seems like the team may at least limit some of their stars in Week 17 against the Browns in what is a meaningless game.

yesterday

Dolphins trade for un-retired TE Darren Waller

Tom Pelissero

yesterday · 11:53 AM EDT

The Giants get a 2026 sixth-round pick from Miami for Darren Waller and a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder, per source.

Essentially a free pick for New York for a player who was retired, and a low-risk flier for Miami on a player who, at his peak, was one of the NFL’s best.

Related Players: Pharoah Brown, Julian Hill

Fantasy Impact:

Waller was a favorite of some as a cheap, late-round dart throw with the Giants last season before he unexpectedly retired. If the veteran were going to come out of retirement, this is about the best place you could land, but we'll see whether the time away from the game will make an impact on his effectiveness.

He certainly doesn't offer the type of upside we would have seen out of Jonnu Smith, but he should be on the radar as a low-end TE2 until we start to see how he looks/integrates during training camp.

Jun 30

TE Jonnu Smith heads to Steelers in trade with Dolphins

Adam Schefter

Jun 30 · 11:21 AM EDT

Steelers-Dolphins trade, Part II: Dolphins are trading tight end Jonnu Smith to the Steelers for a late-round pick swap, per ESPN sources.

Smith will get a one-year contract extension for $12 million.

Related Players: Pat Freiermuth, Pharoah Brown, Julian Hill

Fantasy Impact:

What's good for the Steelers offense isn't necessarily a good thing for fantasy. Freiermuth is coming off a career-high 65 receptions, but even with a lack of a bona fide WR2 in Pittsburgh, it's doubtful he hits that number with Smith in town. This obviously means Smith will have to fight for targets as well, and puts both of their TE1 outcomes in question. Jonnu, at least, has familiarity with Arthur Smith, so we can envision usable weeks, just not nearly as many as he would have had in Miami.

The TE options leftover in Miami can be safely avoided, unless they make a move for another guy. Malik Washington becomes slightly more palatable as a (very) late-round dart throw.

Jun 19

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice to be full participant at training camp

Ian Rapoport

Jun 19 · 12:22 PM EDT

Good news from Chiefs coach Andy Reid with minicamp set to wrap up: He expects both first-round OT Josh Simmons (knee) and WR Rashee Rice (knee) to be full participants at the start of training camp.

Fantasy Impact:

Great start to the ramp up to the regular season, as Rice should be in WR2 territory if he's fully healthy by Week 1. We saw how much a healthy Rice severely impacted Kelce's ceiling, as they both operate in similar areas of the field, so he should be closer to TE10 than his historical top-3 consideration.