Week 9 at Baltimore
After sitting out two weeks ago against New England, Roethlisberger appears to be back on track to start against the Ravens - which I have been saying all along despite national reports to the contrary. Roethlisberger's road splits since the start of the 2014 season - 18 TD passes, 18 interceptions - aren't great. Part of that streak are a pair of games at Baltimore in which he's thrown no TDs with three interceptions with 217 and 220 yards passing. I would hold off on starting Roethlisberger this week and keep him primed up for a home matchup against Dallas. He has 51 TDs and 13 interceptions at home since the start of the 2014 season.
Week 6 at Miami
After throwing for 380 yards and four touchdowns last week, Roethlisberger remains atop the league lead in TD passes with 15. He hasn't been as good on the road as he has been at home the past couple of seasons, but when facing a bad defense, he's still solid. He has three TD passes in two of his last three road games - at Cleveland and Washington - so there's little reason to believe he won't tear up a Miami defense that just allowed Marcus Mariota to throw for three scores.
Week 5 vs. New York Jets
What do you give the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after he threw for 300 yards and five TDs against a good KC secondary? How about a struggling Jets secondary? Roethlisberger has now thrown at least three TDs in five consecutive home games. Considering the Jets have allowed 8 TD passes in four games and are allowing 285 yards per game through the air, Roethlisberger is a very solid start this week (despite some offensive line issues).
Week 4 vs. Kansas City
Roethlisberger was 12 of 18 targeting Antonio Brown last week and was 12-for-26 targeting everyone else as he struggled, throwing for 257 yards and no touchdowns with an interception and a lost fumble. Getting Le'Veon Bell back this week will help that tremendously. Kansas City is fourth in fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs, so it won't be easy this week, but since 2014, Roethlisberger has thrown 44 touchdown passes at home, where he plays much better. Roethlisberger is a QB1 this week, but there are some easier matchups available.
Week 3 at Philadelphia
With his 259 yards and three touchdown passes last week, Roethlisberger has now thrown three TD passes in three consecutive games. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has not allowed a TD pass yet this season. Of course, they have played the Browns and Bears, two of the worst teams in the league. Comparing the passing games of those two teams to the Steelers' attack is like comparing a high school basketball game to the NBA. Roethlisberger wasn't happy with his performance last week. And Pittsburgh wants to put pressure on young Carson Wentz to make him try to get into shootout. Roethlisberger should be a strong start in this one.
Week 2 vs. Cincinnati
Weapons? Who needs all of their weapons? Apparently, not Ben Roethlisberger. He threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns with Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton, Heath Miller and Le'Veon Bell. In their places were Jesse James, Sammie Coates and Eli Rogers, who had nine career receptions coming into the game. Cincinnati will offer a much stiffer challenge this week. The Bengals will play their umbrella defense much the same way they did against Roethlisberger in 2015, when they limited him to 262, 282 and 229 yards with two touchdowns in four meetings. The Bengals won't give up deep passes, period. Roethlisberger is still a top start, but keep your expectations in check.
Week 1 at Washington
Roethlisberger's 328 yards passing per game last season was the third-highest total in NFL history. Washington allowed the sixth most passing yards in the NFL last season, though it did add corner Josh Norman in the offseason. The Redskins also gave up 30 TD passes last season. Roethlisberger and the Steelers will score their share of points, but might lean on the ground game against a soft Washington run defense. All of that said, look for Roethlisberger to continue his aerial assault this week. He should be a No. 1 starter.
2016 Fantasy Outlook
Roethlisberger has been a yardage hog in the past two seasons, truly meshing with what offensive coordinator Todd Haley wants to do with the football -- work the short game and set up shots downfield. Roethlisberger lost a big downfield target with Martavis Bryant's suspension for the year, but he has other weapons. He had eight 300-plus yard games in 12 outings last season and was sacked just 20 times. The offensive line is solid. The supporting cast is excellent. Roethlisberger's interceptions were up a tick last season with 16, but that's been a point of emphasis this offseason. At 34, he's still on the back edge of his prime and should be poised for another big season, provided he stays healthy. And with Le'Veon Bell back this season, Roethlisberger has his safety valve back. The schedule isn't especially daunting and because the defense is somewhat shaky, the Steelers have to keep the pedal to the metal. He should easily be a top-10 fantasy quarterback, perhaps even a top-5, in 2016.
Week 19 at Denver
Roethlisberger threw for 231 yards and a touchdown despite missing most of the fourth quarter last week. Of course, he missed that time because of a separated shoulder. But he returned to the game to lead Pittsburgh's game-winning field goal drive. Mark it down now, Roethlisberger will play this week. And typically, when he plays hurt, he's a dangerous animal. Roethlisberger threw for 380 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in a win over Denver last month, the only time Denver allowed a 300-yard passer this season. Don't look for that kind of effort again this week, but I'll be surprised if he's not effective even in a tough matchup.
Week 18 at Cincinnati
In two games against Cincinnati this season, Roethlisberger threw for 262 and 282 yards. He had just one touchdown in those games, as DeAngelo Williams vultured off some easy scores. Williams won't be available this time around, so the Steelers are going to have to throw it. Roethlisberger should put up some good yardage totals, but this is a tough matchup.
