Three Steelers that can give the Steelers offense a boost.
With the Steelers defense shaking out to be one of the best in the NFL, the offense will need to increase it’s production if the Steelers are going to grab an AFC wildcard spot. This week the offense will be down two pro bowlers as JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner will sit out against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals. Here are three Steelers that need to step up and help Mason Rudolph put points on the board this week in Cincinnati:
WR James Washington
It’s well known that Washington and Rudolph were teammates at Oklahoma State University so the lack of a connection between the two has been somewhat surprising in 2019. Washington seems to be on the verge of a breakout performance every week, but a landmark performance hasn’t been in the cards for the second-year wideout. Washington led the team in targets, receptions and yards two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Rams. He also scored the Steelers lone offensive touchdown. But a lost fumble late in that game seemed to stymie Washington’s growth and confidence.
Last week against the Browns he only had three receptions for a team-high 49 receiving yards on five targets. Washington has good game speed and while he isn’t the biggest receiver, he has a knack for making big plays downfield. Look for him to bounce back against a Bengals defense that is 24thin passing yards surrendered.
It doesn’t sound like RB James Conner will be ready this weekend.
James Conner tells @ThePoniExpress@ChrisMuellerPGH that his shoulder injury is a “day by day thing” but won’t need surgery. No time table, but he’ll come back “when I feel like me again.”
Several weeks ago, Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner suffered an AC joint sprain. After missing two games Conner tried to return against the Cleveland Browns. But five carries in Conner re-injured the shoulder and the run game never recovered.
Conner was on 93.7 The Fan and proclaimed his injury to be considered “day to day” but when he says he’ll come back when he feels like himself this doesn’t bode well. Conner is a physical runner and does nothing to avoid contact. This makes an injury like this especially problematic when you consider his shoulder is typically the first thing to make contact with opposing defenders.
If Conner cannot go this week against the Bengals, it will once again be up to the coaches, running back Jaylen Samuels and the offensive line to find a way to manufacture enough rushing yards to keep the Cincinnati defense honest.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Yards
TD
Josh Allen
256-56
4
Jimmy Garoppolo
424-7
4
Lamar Jackson
222-86
4
Dak Prescott
444-18
3
Sam Darnold
293-(-3)
4
Running Backs
Yards
TD
Mark Ingram
85
2
Ezekiel Elliott
73
2
Christian McCaffrey
191
0
Todd Gurley
133
1
Marlon Mack
109
1
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
John Brown
137
2
D.J. Chark
104
2
Calvin Ridley
143
1
Stefon Diggs
121
1
Randall Cobb
115
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Ryan Griffin
109
1
Mark Andrews
75
1
Ross Dwelley
14
2
Kyle Rudolph
67
1
Dallas Goedert
36
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Steven Hauschka
4
3
Brandon McManus
2
3
Justin Tucker
5
2
Will Lutz
4
2
Younghoe Koo
2
3
Defense
Sck-TO
TD
Falcons
5-4
1
Browns
4-4
0
Ravens
7-2
0
Saints
2-4
1
49ers
4-2
1
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
RB Marlon Mack – Hand
WR Auden Tate – Neck
QB Jameis Winston – Ankle
WR Phillip Dorsett – Head
RB James Conner – Shoulder
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – Concussion
WR Diontae Johnson – Concussion
QB Mitchell Trubisky – Hip/futility
Chasing Ambulances
A light week is always great to see. But it also means fewer new options for free agents. Winston is expected to be fine, so there was just one injury that will force a depth chart change.
RB Marlon Mack – Is reported to have fractured his hand which means multiple weeks. Jordan Wilkins is out with an ankle injury and never practiced last week. That forced the Colts to rely on fourth-year scrub depth player Jonathan Williams who is already on his third team and only totaled 32 career carries before this week. He ran for 116 yards on just 13 carries thanks in part to a 48-yard gain. Nyheim Hines remains the third-down back. Williams will fill in until either Mack or Wilkins returns.
RB James Conner – While he was off the injury report, Conner re-injured his shoulder last Thursday and hurt is fantasy owners while preventing Jaylen Samuel owners from knowing that they should start their guy. This is a situation worth tracking since the Steelers play @CIN, CLE, and @ARI next. The Bengals next week is particularly appealing. Trey Edmunds stepped in and ran for 11 yards and caught three passes for 27 yards in relief last week. That was a blowout loss – there should be more work for the backfield this week.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – Both he and Diontae Johnson left wrestle mania the game with concussions and Johnson seemed to be somewhat severe. If either receiver (or both) is still out, James Washington becomes the No. 1 wideout but that doesn’t mean much will happen. It certainly did not last week.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
QBDeshaun Watson – Only passed for 169 yards and no scores at the Ravens. Fortunately, DeAndre Hopkins (7-80) still had a decent game, unlike all other receivers. Watson is a top fantasy quarterback but has to face IND, NE and DEN next though all are at home.
RB Gus Edwards – He ran for 112 yards and a touchdown on eight carries but he only had two rushes by halftime and Mark Ingram already had eight. Edwards broke off a 63-yard scoring run at the end of the fourth quarter but there’s no change in the backfield. Ingram remains the primary and thanks to Lamar Jackson, that still doesn’t mean that much work.
RB Brian Hill – Not only was he limited to only 30 yards on 15 carries, but it was against the No. 27 defense versus running backs. Kenjon Barner (2-15) and the rookie Qadree Ollison (4-11, TD) both looked better. The next two games face the Buccaneers and Saints which both sport Top-5 defenses versus running backs so there is no right answer here,
RB Ezekiel Elliott – Only ran for 45 yards on 16 carries but did score once and added two catches for 28 yards and a second score. He ran for 152 yards against the Lions last year. Considering the “Got Paid” eras for David Johnson, Le’Veon Bell and Todd Gurley, and now Elliott struggles, have to wonder if that feeds into the next wave of running backs looking to cash in on that second contract.
RB Bo Scarbrough – Was originally drafted by the Cowboys last year and then cut, the ex-Alabama back was called up from the practice squad for his first NFL action. He ran for 55 yards and one score on 14 carries (better than, ahem, Ezekiel in the same game). Ty Johnson has proven to be a non-factor and J.D. McKissic is just a third-down back. Scarbrough will face the Redskins next week and that holds at least a low-level opportunity for a fantasy start.
QB Nick Foles – His return as a starter didn’t cause a win, but at least he threw for 296 yards and two scores. DJ Chark ended with eight catches for 104 yards and both touchdowns, so the switch may actually help Chark. Just not, apparently, anyone else.
WR DeVante Parker – Caught a team-high seven passes for 135 yards in the loss to the Bills. With Preston Williams on injured reserve, Parker is about all the Fins have as wideouts. Allen Hurns turned in four catches for 53 yards replacing Williams and they just signed him to a two-year extension. But Parker holds the only fantasy value on this entire team.
WR Courtland Sutton – The Broncos season is already over and Brandon Allen took the start in Week 9 after Joe Flacco left. That hasn’t proven to be a benefit for anyone – except for Sutton. In Week 9, he caught five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown at the Colts, and then this week he led the team with five receptions for 113 yards in Minnesota. The schedule is not that kind but he comes off one of his worst matchups looking great.
TE Cameron Brate – The Buccaneers played the Saints who were without CB Marshon Lattimore but still managed to handle Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. As perhaps the final middle finger to fantasy owners, O.J. Howard bobbled an easy catch and ended up benched because it was picked off his back for an interception. That left Brate to reel in a career-high ten passes for 73 yards. Why didn’t they trade Howard?
TE Ryan Griffin – The Jets put Chris Herndon on injured reserve so Griffin is still best of the bunch. And that was pretty good against the Redskins. Griffin ended as the top receiver with 109 yards on five catches. Oddly, his last three home games total 27 yards on five receptions. His last three road games add up to 215 yards on 15 catches. He’ll play at the Bengals in Week 13.
RB Derrius Guice – Adrian Peterson remains the primary back, but that only meant nine runs for 25 yards versus the Jets. Guice gained 24 yards on seven rushes and he added one catch for a 45-yard touchdown. The 1-9 Redskins are already trying new things like seventh-round rookie wideout Kelvin Harmon (5-53) and Guice showing up in the box score should get him more work. Not so great for Adrian Peterson.
RB David Johnson – Say goodnight, DJ. He was healthy(ish). He was active. And he never had a touch. Kenyan Drake took them all – 16 carries for 67 yards and six catches for 13 yards at the 49ers. Barring some encouraging words from HC Kliff Kingsbury, that first-round pick has to take the bench and watch.
WR Deebo Samuel – Granted, both games were at home but the rookie turned in eight catches for 112 yards in Week 10 versus the Seahawks and then eight receptions for 134 yards on Sunday against the Cardinals. He’s offering far more consistency and production than any other wideout.
RB Joe Mixon – Too little, too late, but at least Mixon showed up in Week 10 with 151 total yards against the Ravens. On Sunday, he ran for 86 yards on 15 carries (5.7 YPC) and scored in Oakland.
QB Tom Brady – He only threw for 216 yards and no scores at the Eagles and he ended with a QB rating of just 67.3. He had nearly no deep ball and really hasn’t this season. I realize that he is only 42, but he looked slow and old.
Huddle player of the week
John Brown – This was a low-scoring week for fantasy players other than quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Jimmy Garoppolo, Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott. Brown was the top wideout and higher scoring than any running back when he caught nine passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He suffers from playing in an offense that is all about the run, but he doesn’t suffer every week.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
The Steelers winner for the Art Rooney Award is running back James Conner.
The NFL announced the 32 team winners of the Art Rooney Award. This is an award given to a player who displays outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The candidate from the Pittsburgh Steelers is running back James Conner. The winner is given the award based on a vote of NFL players.
Here’s the full list of the 32 finalists.
» Arizona Cardinals C A.Q. Shipley
» Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones
» Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
» Buffalo Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander
» Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey
» Chicago Bears DB Kyle Fuller
» Cincinnati Bengals DE Sam Hubbard
» Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb
» Dallas Cowboys CB Byron Jones
» Denver Broncos LB Von Miller
» Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford
» Green Bay Packers CB Tramon Williams
» Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson
» Indianapolis Colts WR T.Y. Hilton
» Jacksonville Jaguars DL Calais Campbell
» Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
» Los Angeles Chargers LB Thomas Davis Sr.
» Los Angeles Rams S Eric Weddle
» Miami Dolphins C Daniel Kilgore
» Minnesota Vikings DE Danielle Hunter
» New England Patriots WR Matthew Slater
» New Orleans Saints T Terron Armstead
» New York Giants DL Dalvin Tomlinson
» New York Jets DL Steve McLendon
» Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr
» Philadelphia Eagles QB Carson Wentz
» Pittsburgh Steelers RB James Conner
» San Francisco 49ers T Joe Staley
» Seattle Seahawks LB K.J. Wright
» Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Lavonte David
» Tennessee Titans C Ben Jones
» Washington Redskins RB Adrian Peterson
The Steelers offense was decimated by injuries in the first half.
Steelers said JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion), Artie Burns (knee), Ola Adeniyi (concussion) and James Conner (shoulder) all have been ruled out of tonight’s game.
If you don’t laugh you might cry. ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter is reporting the Steelers are currently down four players including two starters for the rest of the game. The two big ones are running back James Conner (shoulder) and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion).
The Steelers are also down two of their best special teamers as linebacker Ola Adeniyi (concussion) and cornerback Artie Burns (knee) are out for the rest of the game as well.
It was clear early in the game against the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner was holding back. He wasn’t running with the physicality or aggressiveness we are used to. And perhaps we know why. According to the team, Conner has been taken to the locker room to have his already injured shoulder evaluated. His return is questionable.
The Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers are holding your first and second AFC wild card slots, respectively, heading into Week 11.
The Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers are holding your first and second AFC wild card slots, respectively, heading into Week 11.
Running back James Conner is going to play a big part in that.
The Steelers and Cleveland Browns will open Week 11 on Thursday Night Football. It’s looking like Conner will return from a shoulder injury. He’s one of the primer rusher in the NFL.
Along with Conner, offensive lineman Ramon Foster (concussion) is also expected to return to the Steelers’ fold. He’s their starting guard.
With the Baltimore Ravens having a strangle hold on the AFC North at this time at 7-2, the Steelers and Bills, with the AFC East leading New England Patriots also in mind, are two teams that will be squarely facing off in the wild card battle.
The Bills and Steelers will also faceoff against one another in Week 15 in Pittsburgh.
Things are looking up for the Steelers on the injury front.
[jwplayer 5nmiAoLM-ThvAeFxT]
On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers got together for what is essentially their only real workout of the week. The team will do a Friday walkthrough on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s game with the Cleveland Browns but this is the one shot to truly evaluate the health of the roster. And the good news from practice is injured running back James Conner was back and was a full participant.
Additionally, guard Ramon Foster was a full participant as he continues to deal with a concussion. However, there’s been no official word from the team that Foster is out of concussion protocol so his status is still unknown.
Running back Benny Snell Jr., fullback Roosevelt Nix and wide receiver Ryan Switzer were all DNP on Tuesday and their status is in jeopardy. Linebackers Ola Adeniyi and Anthony Chickillo were both limited on Tuesday but could see more reps on Wednesday.