Three and Out: Impact of Roethlisberger's injury

Each week, TSN.ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen and NFL Editors Ben Fisher and Mike Hetherington discuss three hot fantasy football topics.

With Ben Roethlisberger out for the next six weeks, what are the fantasy implications for Steelers’ stars Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell?

Cullen:  Until we see if Michael Vick is up to the task of orchestrating the Steelers’ passing game, it’s fair to expect that he won’t be as good as Roethlisberger. As a result, Brown’s production is likely to decrease – I’m not sure how much, but my current thinking wouldn’t drop Brown below WR1 – but he’s still the primary target in the Pittsburgh passing game. As for Bell, this might make him even more appealing. If the Steelers aren’t having the same success throwing down the field, because that hasn’t been Vick’s strength, then they could be more inclined to run Bell. He had 26 touches in his first start of the season, so it’s not likely that his workload will increase much, but it’s not likely to decrease much either.

Fisher: I’ve seen some projecting Roethlisberger’s replacement – Michael Vick – to put up QB1 numbers this week. I’m not buying it, and I think Brown and Bell will suffer as a result. Brown especially – there’s no telling how he’ll click with Vick but to be a high-end WR1 you need a high-end QB1.

Bell will still get his work, probably even more, but will struggle to score at the same rate in a weaker offence. Both are definitely still worth starting, but could be closer to high-end 2s than 1s for the next six weeks.

Hetherington: For Antonio Brown, the news couldn’t be much worse as he tries to repeat as the NFL’s receiving leader. Brown is still on the top receivers in the NFL, but it’s hard to see the Steelers’ offence being as explosive under Michael Vick. While Ben is sidelined, Brown is likely closer to a low-end WR1 than a high-end one. He will still get open, but it’s hard to count on Vick to connect with Brown as consistently as Roethlisberger did.
 
For Bell, this could set up the third-year back to lead the league in rushing yards. I look for the Steelers to focus more on the ground game with Bell and DeAngelo Williams in order to limit the pressure on Vick. Already one of fantasy’s top backs, Roethlisberger’s injury sends Bell’s stock through the roof.

There’s hope in Cincinnati the Bengals may graduate from postseason doormats this year. Has Andy Dalton graduated to a legitimate QB1?

Cullen:  For fantasy purposes, yes, Dalton is a viable QB1, particularly as we enter bye weeks that might knock a couple of quality starters out of the mix. It’s not as though Dalton hasn’t been in that range before, because in 2013, when he passed for 4,293 yards and 33 touchdowns, he was in that range. The Bengals would probably prefer not to use Dalton so much, and lean on their backfield of Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard, but Cincinnati has options in the passing game (A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert) that should allow Dalton to be a 4,000-yard passer again and that puts him in QB1 range.

Fisher: With AJ Green playing as well as he is, it’d be hard for Dalton not to be a QB1. For real though, the vibe in Cincinnati is different this year and a lot of that has to do with Dalton’s improved play. He was the fourth best fantasy QB in his career-year in 2013 and he’s on pace to crush his numbers that season.

And if the Bengals running game can figure it out, all the better.

Hetherington: With eight touchdowns through two weeks, Dalton is firmly on the QB1 radar. Through three weeks, Dalton has thrown just one interception, where airing the ball out for an average of 288.6 yards per game. Dalton face his biggest test of the season to date this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but I think his production to date makes him a relatively safe start. In an offence loaded with weapons, Dalton looks better than ever through three weeks.

Did Jimmy Graham’s Week 3 alleviate your concerns, or is there still worry he’s a low-end TE1 in Seattle?

Cullen: The absurdity of targeting Graham twice in Week Two raised a red flag, but he was targeted eight times in Week One and eight more in Week Three, which would be about the right usage for a starting tight end. Definitely keep Graham as a TE1, and probably in the top handful at the position.

Fisher: Graham’s never going to be in the same class as Rob Gronkowski now that he’s out of New Orleans, but he’s still a fine fantasy tight end.

But I’m worried he’s still a low-end TE1 because of all the new fantasy blood at the position. Travis Kelce, Tyler Eifert, Jordan Reed, Eric Ebron, and fellow veteran Greg Olsen have all opened up the tight end rankings behind Gronk. Maybe not all of them pass Graham, but enough will challenge the Seahawks tight end that any owner who paid big money for Graham won’t get value.

Hetherington: It was nice to see Graham finally produce last week, but one week isn’t enough to ease all of concerns. Seattle’s offence has looked sluggish through three weeks and, if Marshawn Lynch is sidelined this week, the team will have to get Graham involved to pick up the slack. The Seahawks’ receiving corps have long been a group to avoid in fantasy and though Graham has finally bucked that trend, he is still only a mid-range TE1 for me.