Projections (9/02/03)

Passing Stats

Rush Stats

Receiving Stats

Fantasy

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Quarterbacks
Starter - Tommy Maddox
Backups - Charlie Batch, Brian St. Pierre

Starting Quarterback: What a wonderful story Tommy Maddox provided a season ago. If there wasn't a tear in your eye watching his rise back to glory in football then it is doubtful you are human. Nobody expected to see Maddox back on the field as a starting NFL quarterback, let alone a quarterback who was causing opposing defenses fits on a weekly basis. At 31 years of age and many seasons removed since he was a 1st round bust, Maddox stepped back into the lights of the NFL and lit the stadium up. He played in twelve games last year, completed 62.1% of his passes, threw for 236 yards per game and ignited a passing attack that was feeble in the opening weeks. The only concern with Maddox is his durability. Because he is no threat to run with the football, and has durability questions, Maddox should slot in as a backup quarterback on your fantasy roster. Don't rely on him as your starter for 2003.

Backup Quarterback(s): One of the biggest surprises so far during the offseason has been all of the positive stuff coming out of Pittsburgh in regards to QB Charlie Batch. He has looked awesome in camp so far and may be the quarterback of the future for the Steelers. If Maddox gets hurt this year, look out for Batch and what he can bring to the field. He is only 28 years old and could be ready to blossom into a solid NFL quarterback. He already enjoyed some success as a very green player with the Lions from 1998 to 2001.

Update - 8/27: Neither Maddox nor Batch has been overly impressive in the preseason. Maddox is still firmly entrenched as the starter.

Running Backs
Starter - Amos Zereoue / Jerome Bettis
Backups - Jerome Bettis, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala
Fullbacks - Dan Kreider, Verron Hayes, J.T. Walls

Starting Running Back: The picture at starting running back in Pittsburgh is ugly for fantasy enthusiasts in 2003. There is no clear-cut #1 option in Pittsburgh heading into training camp. The old war-horse Jerome Bettis is still around, while supercharged slasher Amos Zereoue showed flashes of brilliance in his 2002 campaign. Tommy Maddox throws the ball a ton (as a team, the Steelers threw the ball 550 times in 2002 vs 454 attempts in 2001, while rushes dropped from 580 attempts in 2001 to 512 in 2002 (for 654 fewer yards on the ground last year)) so our old image of the Steelers as a run-first team is not really true any more. Further complicating the picture is Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, a heavy-load plunge-back who may nevertheless vulture touchdowns from whoever does end up the starter in Pittsburgh. Whoever is the starter may not necessarily get enough action to qualify as a "featured" back in this running back by committee situation - fantasy owners beware. We're putting our money on Zereoue to get the lion's share of the duty in 2003 - 235 carries for 987 yards, 6 rushing scores and 37 receptions for 296 yards and 1 score. Those numbers make him the 23rd ranked running back as of 6/29/03 - a marginal #2 RB or a solid #3.

Backup Running Back(s): Jerome Bettis should be a very active back-up and situational player, who'll see significant duty. We think he'll tote the rock about 150 times, for 615 yards and 6 scores, while adding 10 receptions for 76 yards. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala should get his hands on the ball ~50 times (40 carries for 160 yards, 10 receptions for 68 yards).

Fullback(s): Dan Kreider is the #1 FB, and he has scored 2 touchdowns in three seasons with the Steelers. Last year he caught 18 balls for 122 yards and 1 score - all career highs - there is not much fantasy potential here. Verron Haynes and J.T. Walls are #2 and #3, respectively.

Update - 8/27: Amos Zereoue was named the opening day starter, but we still expect a lot of running-back-by-committee there in Pittsburgh. Fuamatu-Ma'afala was injured during training camp (again). The Steelers offensive line is a mess as of late August, and that may be a problem for the running backs unless the line gets their act together, quickly.

Wide Receivers
Starters - Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress
Backups: Antwaan Randle El, Lee Mays, Leonard Scott, Khori Ivy

Starting Receiver(s): Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress combined for 2,654 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, making them the most prolific WR duo in the league. Ward is the complete package: a quick, physical receiver with good hands, and he is perhaps the best blocking WR in the league. While Ward had better numbers than Burress last year, that could change with Maddox as the full-time starter. All of Burress's seven touchdowns came from Maddox, and Burress also had four games with 120+ yards with Maddox at the helm. Burress is one of the bigger receivers in the league; and while he is not a true burner, he has enough speed to get by corners who don't give him enough cushion.

Backup Receiver(s): Antwaan Randle El, who played quarterback in college, made a successful transition to WR last year as a rookie and was more productive than most people would have expected. Randle El has exceptional quickness and is a dangerous open-field runner after the catch; his role in the offense should expand this year. Lee Mays, a physical possession receiver who lacks great quickness, will not get much playing time unless somebody ahead of him is injured.

Update - 8/27: The Steelers will start Amos Zereoue over Jerome Bettis at RB and Jay Riemersma over Mark Bruener at TE - perhaps signaling that OC Mike Mularkey will trade in his power running game for more of a spread offense. If so, that should mean more playing time and a bigger role in the offense for the #3 WR, Antwaan Randle El.

Tight Ends
Starter - Jay Riemersma
Backup(s) - Mark Bruener
The Steelers brought in Jay Riemersma to add a pass catching element to their tight end position. The Steelers have yet to come to a contract agreement with Mark Bruener as they are asking him to take a large pay cut. They would like to keep Bruener on the roster because he is considered to be one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL. The tight end hasn't been utilized in the Pittsburgh offense for years, but that may change this season with Riemersma added to the mix. He could represent decent value as a backup fantasy tight end in 2003.

Update - 8/27: Riemersma was named the starter after the second preseason game. There's talk of a larger role for the TE in this year's offense. That remains to be seen. Riemersma will likely be undrafted in your league, but he's a guy to keep an eye on.

Place Kicker
Jeff Reed: Jeff Reed and Todd Peterson would have been the number 7 kicker during 2002 if you combined their stats. By himself, Reed averaged 10.2 points per game over the last 6 games of the season and didn't seem to have the same issues that have plagued other kickers in Heinz field. Reed might be available later in your draft and represent good value in 2003.

Offensive Line
C-Jeff Hartings; G-Kendall Simmons; G-Alan Faneca; T-Marvel Smith; T-Todd Fordham
The Steelers have a solid core led by Hartings but this unit will really miss the skills of Wayne Gandy (signed by Saints). Fordham was brought in to replace Gandy and the team needs him to do well. The four returning veterans are young, talented, still improving and should continue to grow as players. The interior three are as good as they come. Hartings, Simmons and Faneca are very talented and will control the inside. The tackle positions are a big question mark and only time will tell if Smith and Fordham can get the job done. Look for another strong performance from this line.