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Editors Note: Dale really knows the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s covered the team professionally, full-time for 10+ seasons. Dale has full access to the Steelers. He goes to all of their games, both home and away, and also works out of their offices during the season. Dale works for the Observer-Reporter in Pennsylvania and regularly attends team practices and interviews some of the games greats.
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While a lot of the focus on fantasy sleepers nationally has dealt
with teams other than the
Steelers, that doesn't mean the Steelers aren't a team loaded with
sleepers.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being undervalued after his
23-interception season in
2006. But the people who are undervaluing him are forgetting that he
produced more than
3,500 yards, 18 touchdown passes and two more rushing. And he did
that in only 15
starts in Bill Cowher's ultra-conservative offense.
The Steelers plan to unleash Roethlisberger a little more this season
and that will be a
good thing for those astute enough to draft him. Charlie Batch
remains Roethlisberger's
backup and is as solid a No. 2 as there is in the league.
Willie Parker won't get as many carries this season as he did last
year, but he will get more
receptions. Don't expect another 1,494-yard rushing season, but
Parker will still produce
about 1,800 yards of offense.
Najeh Davenport will be Parker's primary backup, with Verron Haynes
and first-year pro
Carey Davis likely holding down two of the other spots. Davis, in
fact, is looking like he'll
be the team's starting fullback once the season begins, pushing
longtime starter Dan
Kreider off the roster. Davis is a combination back in the mold of
Haynes, playing both
fullback and halfback.
The wildcard will be rookie Gary Russell, a back who has the most
pure running ability on
the roster behind Parker. The rookie has flashed plenty of natural
ability in this camp and
will beat Kevan Barlow out for the final roster spot. In fact, don't
be surprised if something
happens to Parker that Russell - who split time with Laurence Maroney
at Minnesota - gets
a good share of the carries.
If I were drafting the Steelers' running backs, Parker is the obvious
No. 1, with Davenport
and Russell being my numbers two and three.
At wideout, the starters will be Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, with
Holmes poised for a
breakout season. In fact, if Holmes doesn't surpass Ward as the
team's No. 1 receiver this
year then it will definitely happen next season. Cedrick Wilson will
be No. 3, with Nate
Washington and Willie Reid being the likely fourth and fifth
receivers.
Tight end Heath Miller will improve on last year's reception total of
39 and should be right
around 50 or more this season. He remains a nice red zone option as
well and should rank
among the top 10 tight ends drafted.
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