Pittsburgh Steelers

Fantasy Football 2016 Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers running backs

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Big Ben and the Pittsburgh offense are definitely pass-heavy, but the Steelers running backs still make good fantasy football options at the right price.

For the second season in a row, the Steelers enter the season with uncertainty in the backfield despite having one of the best running backs in the NFL. The Steelers running backs are some of the best in the NFL, but you’ll have to be creative to get them onto your fantasy team since again they’ll be sharing time in the backfield.

Pittsburgh’s offense was one of the pass heaviest in the NFL last year partly by design and partly out of necessity. Le’Veon Bell started last year with a two-game suspension, and when he did return he only played six games before an MCL/PCL tear ended his season. Pittsburgh does pile up plenty of points when they’re healthy, though, so look out for the Steelers running backs to be solid contributors for fantasy football.

To help you get ready for the 2016 NFL season, we’ve been working our way through the NFL with a series of daily previews of each of the running back situations around the NFL. So far we have examined the Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Texans, Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, Panthers, Patriots, Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Redskins, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers, 49ers, Seahawks, Ravens, Rams, and Cardinals. Today, we’ll head back to the AFC North to check out things in Pittsburgh.

Over the last few days of preseason, we’ll continue to examine the important fantasy options on each NFL team. While most teams just have one quarterback and tight end that are noteworthy for fantasy, every team has multiple running backs and wide receivers that you need to know heading into the season.

You can find all our coverage throughout the season on the FanSided fantasy football hub or check out the related content box. For more running back coverage, make sure to check out my top Week 1 waiver wire pickups, my top 10 breakout RB candidates, and my full RB rankings.

Stay tuned to our FanSided fantasy football hub all season where you’ll find fantasy coverage including sleepers, rankings, injury news, and overall strategy tips. Another way to get all our coverage is to follow @FansidedFantasy on Twitter where I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have. I’ll also keep you up to date on all our latest coverage, and even help you through any draft-day dilemmas you find yours.

As we have for every team in our series, we start our look at the Steelers running backs with an overview of rushing offense on the next slide, and then we’ll take a look at each player on the depth chart individually. For each player, I’ll let you know their ADP (average draft position) and what their potential will be to contribute to your fantasy team.

Steelers Running Backs-Overall Outlook

Pittsburgh’s offense can be among the highest scoring in the NFL when they’re going at full-speed. However, the last few years they’ve been slowed by injury, suspension, and other issues. Last year, Pittsburgh finished 10-6 before beating the Bengals in the first round of the NFL Playoffs and then losing 23-16 to the Broncos in the Divisional Round.

Pittsburgh made their playoff run without all their top running backs after DeAngelo Williams was sidelined by an ankle injury after Le’Veon Bell’s season-ending knee injury. Instead, the Steelers running backs were limited to Jordan Todman and Fitzgerald Toussaint.

Using Bell when not suspended or injured, DeAngelo Williams, Todman, and Toussaint, the Steelers ended up ranking 14th in the NFL in rushing yards and eighth in rushing touchdowns. The Steelers ranked sixth in the NFL in yards per rush attempt, and they should be very productive again this year after returning a strong interior offensive line and getting back center Maurkice Pouncey who missed last year with a broken leg.

The personnel for the Steelers running backs is basically unchanged from last season although Jordan Todman has moved on and Daryl Richardson looks to start the season as the fourth running back.

Let’s take a look at each of the Steelers running backs coming into the season and what I think their fantasy potential is. We’ll examine the potential of each option, where they’re currently being drafted (according to fantasypros.com ADP), and what you can expect from them this season.

Le’Veon Bell

Bell would be easily one of the top-three running backs in the NFL if he could stay on the field. Bell played only six games last year running for 556 yards on his 113 carries and adding 136 yards on 24 catches. While his totals weren’t eye-popping, he had at least 100 total yards in all but one game he played in full.

Before you select Bell, make sure you know that he starts this season with a three-game suspension due to missing multiple drug tests. He was originally suspended four games, but now he will be back in Week 4.

This preseason he has looked healthy and back to 100%. If he’s back to a full workload when he returns, Bell will be a top-5 back the rest of the season. In his last full season he ripped off 1,361 rushing yards and added 854 receiving yards while scoring 11 total touchdowns.

There’s little question about Bell’s ability, but his durability is fair to question. He wasn’t thought of as injury-prone before last year’s injury, so I don’t see him as a huge injury risk this season.

Right now, the fourth-year back out of Michigan State is going as the sixth running back off the board at the beginning of the second round. At that point, he’s a great value, and he makes a ton of sense to build your team around. You will need to adjust your strategy, though, to make sure you have solid running backs for the first three weeks of the season when Bell will be sidelined.

Aug 18, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) warms up before playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

DeAngelo Williams

The Steelers grabbed Williams last year after he played the first ten seasons of his career in Carolina. In his first season as part of the Steelers running backs, Williams got more work than he planned on filling in early and late for the suspended then injured Le’Veon Bell.

Williams filled in admirably running for 907 yards on 200 carries. He ended up with 11 rushing touchdowns while finishing with at least 100 yards four times. Toward the end of he season, Williams faded a bit, though, dealing with foot and ankle injuries.

He’s one of the better backup running backs in the NFL, but he will be a fantasy non-factor when Bell is active. One of the better strategies to use with the Steelers running backs is trying to grab both of them, so that you can use Williams the first few weeks and then switch him out for Bell in Week 4.

If you don’t have Bell, you’ll want to bring extra depth on board if you draft Williams since there will be weeks where he’s a non-option. Williams showed last year that he still can be productive when he gets work, but his role behind Bell makes him too risky for me at his current ADP of 83rd overall as the 32nd running back taken. If you have Bell, Williams makes sense, but as a standalone option he’s being a bit over-drafted.

Aug 18, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (33) runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of their game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Other Steelers running backs

Fitzgerald Toussaint: Toussaint made a bit of a splash last season when he got a spot start against the bengals in the Wild Card Round of the NFL. He ran for 58 yards on his 17 carries and added 60 yards receiving on four catches. He struggled in the next round against the Broncos including a pivotal fumble, though, and was ultimately replaced by Jordan Todman.

Toussaint is clearly the third back on the team coming into this season after Todman headed to Indy. Since Bell and Williams have both played limited time, Toussaint has gotten lots of work this offseason, but he hasn’t been impressive getting just 53 yards on his 23 carries. Leave him on the waiver wire for now, but be ready if Williams or Bell goes down injured.

Daryl Richardson: Richardson also has been busy this preseason, but he’s been more productive. He totaled 124 yards on his 39 carries including a touchdown. He actually could have more upside than Toussaint in the long term, but he can be left on your waiver wire with Toussaint to start the season.