QB- BEN ROETHLISBERGER – For a guywho doesn’t get a lot of fantasy love, Roethlisberger sure does put up good numbers.  Five times in seven years he’s put up a passer rating of at least 97 and hasn’t thrown for less than 3100 yards since 2005 when he played 12 games.  In 2010, after missing the first four games, he finished with 3200 yards and a sparkling 17:5 TD:INT ratio and rushed for 2 more TDs.  And in 2011, with the weapons listed below, Roethlisberger could have a big year.  I wouldn’t pick him ahead of the big 5 (Rodgers, Vick, Brady, Brees, Rivers), but with Peyton’s injury, I’d put Ben at #6 overall at QB.
 
RB- RASHARD MENDENHALL – If he caught more passes, he’d be a top 5 pick.  A workhorse back in every sense of the word, he rushed for nearly 1300 yards and 13 TDs last season, and is primed to do it again.
 
WR- HINES WARD – Capturing the Mirror Ball trophy seems to have served Hines well – it enabled the 14-year veteran to bring his body into camp in better shape than usual as he tried to rebound from a less-than-stellar 2010. Still one of the best possession receivers in the game, his YPC average remained consistent from the year before, but he caught 36 fewer balls.  He’s no more than an 8th or 10th round pick, especially with the other firepower in the receiving corps.
 
WR- MIKE WALLACE – You want YPC, you come to Mike Wallace.  He’s supposedly the fastest guy in the NFL, and he really blossomed in 2010, scoring 10 TDs on 1257 yards.  I join the rest of the fantasy world and expect a huge year from Wallace, especially since he gets a full season with Big Ben.

WR- ANTONIO BROWN/EMMANUEL SANDERS – The other two members of the Steelers’ Young Money receiving corps. Both have shown great potential (Brown in the 2010 playoffs and 2011 preseason and Sanders during last season), and are worth monitoring, but not drafting just yet.  But be careful – one or both may become very relevant come Week One.

TE- HEATH MILLER –  Heath’s teammates and coaches insist he’s the best all-around tight end in football.  Unfortunately for us, that doesn’t translate into fantasy greatness.  He’s a mediocre fantasy option, and shouldn’t be your go-to guy.
 
K-SHAUN SUISHAM –  When you call the league’s worst kicking environment home, you shouldn’t be owned in a fantasy league.  You should never, ever pick a kicker before the last round.  Ever.
 
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS – The Steelers should be one of the best defenses in football again this season, and are worth targeting on the early side.  They get a lot of sacks, will pick off passes and recover fumbles, and will score their fair share of touchdowns.  Just be thankful you don’t lose points for passing yardage against.

(August 17, 2011 – Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images North America)

Written by Jesse Mendelson exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow him @jessemendelson immediately.

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