Depth Chart Battle: Steelers Wide Receivers

For nearly the whole thing of Ben Roethlisberger’s profession, the Pittsburgh Steelers have persistently churned out elite fantasy large receivers. Final season was no exception, with the Steelers large receiver trio of Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Chase Claypool all ending as top-24 fantasy wide receivers in half-PPR. All three stay on the group this 12 months, making a cloudy scenario relating to who will assume the position of the primary possibility within the Pittsburgh passing sport. In 2020, Johnson led the way in which with 144 targets, adopted by Smith-Schuster with 128, and Claypool with 109. Nevertheless, this hierarchy may definitely change this season, resulting in an vital query for fantasy managers: Which Steelers receiver must you absorb your draft?

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Diontae Johnson (Underdog ADP: 49.7, WR25)

Johnson goes the very best among the many Pittsburgh receivers in drafts, being taken because the WR25 based on Underdog ADP. Whereas he had the bottom fantasy end among the many Pittsburgh receivers final season (WR22), he had probably the most targets (144) and yards (923). Early on within the season, Johnson was marred by accidents, exiting two video games early. Nevertheless, he completed the season very sturdy, and from weeks 9 to 17, was the general WR7. Fantasy managers won’t have fond recollections of Johnson’s league-leading 13 drops final 12 months, however because the smart Zachary Krueger put it, drafters are focusing on the wrong thing. Generally, having a excessive variety of drops merely implies that a participant is being focused quite a bit:

As you’ll be able to see, virtually each participant with a minimum of 10 drops in a season since 2018 noticed a minimum of 100 targets that very same 12 months, save for Calvin Ridley (near 100) and Dawson Knox (I do not know what occurred there). Drops are additionally not a really sticky stat–of the top-10 drop leaders in 2018, simply two remained within the top-10 the next 12 months (Julian Edelman and Travis Kelce, each of whom obtained north of 130 targets). From 2019 to 2020, the quantity was really zero. If he stays wholesome, Johnson ought to simply obtain a minimum of 100 targets, giving him a really excessive flooring in fantasy.

Chase Claypool (Underdog ADP: 58.5, WR29)

After being chosen within the second spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Claypool had a standout rookie season. He tallied 873 receiving yards and 11 complete touchdowns, ending because the WR19. He proved to be a deep-ball machine, rating top-5 within the league in each air yards and deep targets per PlayerProfiler.com. Due to this, Claypool gives week-winning upside and might detonate in any sport.

Nevertheless, one challenge with proudly owning Claypool final 12 months was that he was a feast-or-famine kind participant. He had 4 video games with underneath 5 fantasy factors, and did quite a lot of his injury in just some weeks. The truth is, if we take away Weeks 5 and 10 (the place he scored a mixed six touchdowns) from his output, Claypool’s fantasy end goes from WR19 all the way in which all the way down to WR39. This volatility may make him irritating to personal in fantasy leagues this season.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (Underdog ADP: 79.8, WR40)

Maybe overshadowed by his off-the-field/on-the-logo antics, Smith-Schuster really had the most effective fantasy end of the Pittsburgh receivers final 12 months, ending because the WR18 simply above Claypool. Within the aforementioned stretch from Weeks 9 to 17 the place Johnson completed because the WR7, JuJu was shut behind him because the WR11. Regardless of this, he’s being drafted nicely under his teammates, going across the eightieth choose in fantasy drafts.

Because the de facto slot receiver within the offense, JuJu ought to see targets galore. Moreover, given the issues surrounding the Pittsburgh offensive line–the Steelers misplaced 4 of their 5 offensive starters from final season–JuJu may also be a benefactor of Ben Roethlisberger having to get the ball out in a short time. Per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Huge Ben had the bottom common time to throw in 2020, and it’s straightforward to see him ending close to the highest once more. Merely put, JuJu goes far too low for a participant who has completed as a top-24 fantasy large receiver in each single season the place he has performed greater than 12 video games.

Who Ought to You Draft?

Deciding between these three is a troublesome process. All three confirmed that they might be very related for fantasy final season, and so they may simply achieve this once more. With this being stated, it’s arduous to think about that Ben Roethlisberger has over 600 passing makes an attempt once more this 12 months, particularly following the drafting of working again Najee Harris.

I believe that Diontae Johnson is the surest shot of the three receivers. He’s locked right into a excessive quantity of targets and may cement his position because the primary possibility within the passing offense. His ADP of WR25 is suitable, and when you may snag him within the late fourth or fifth spherical as your group’s WR2, it could be a fantastic pickup. At his ceiling, he may carry out as he did within the house stretch of final season and end as a top-10 receiver.

JuJu is my subsequent favourite possibility, and he’s a improbable worth at his ADP of WR40. He’ll see loads of targets because the slot receiver and can produce within the fast passing sport. Whereas he won’t have top-10 receiver upside, the chance that he isn’t a Prime-40 receiver in fantasy this 12 months could be very low. JuJu will be capable of present a excessive flooring week in and week out, and particularly in half-PPR and PPR codecs, he is an effective goal afterward in drafts.

Whereas Claypool is the flashiest and may need the very best ceiling of the three receivers, his volatility makes me cautious. If Ben Roethlisberger continues to regress as a passer, Claypool’s big-play upside might be broken. He has the makings of a touchdown-dependent fantasy possibility in 2021. At his ADP, I’d fairly go after extra dependable receivers like Robby Anderson, or chase quantity with guys like DeVonta Smith or Courtland Sutton.