Welcome to Part II of our Steelers fantasy football preview.
Last time, we took a look at Najee Harris and the running back group. Now we'll preview the receivers -- the deepest position on the Steelers' roster -- along with the tight ends. But, depth on the football field is not the same as depth in fantasy football.
Receivers have become much more valuable in a variety of ways as today's game continues to thrive through the air. And unlike the running back position, there is not a sharp drop off as you go down the list of receivers. Thus, you may be able to take some risks without getting burned.
Tight end is a healthy mix of risk and depth. There are a few elite guys worth drafting high, but most of the other true TE1s can be found in the middle rounds of the draft.
Where do the Steelers rank in these positions?
DIONTAE JOHNSON
2021 stats: 107 receptions (169 targets), 1,161 yards, 8 TD, 10.9 yards per catch (YPC)
The skinny: As Harris did as the Steelers' bell cow last season, volume was the name of the game for Johnson. His 107 catches made him very valuable in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues, but eight touchdowns helped boost his fantasy output.
However, he finished third-lowest in football with 6.64 yards per target (YPT). And with such a deep group of receivers behind him, Johnson's volume could take a small dip this season.
Most fantasy experts also claim the quarterback change from Ben Roethlisberger to Mitch Trubisky (or Kenny Pickett) hurts the value of any Pittsburgh receiver. However, the Steelers will be pushing the ball down the field more often in Matt Canada's unhinged offense, which could positively affect Johnson's YPT and YPC.
Where to draft: ESPN ranks Johnson No. 16 among receivers in PPR leagues, and No. 18 in standard leagues. He does, however, have a high floor with some serious potential to become a borderline WR1 in leagues with 12 or more teams.
When drafting, Johnson should be your No. 2 receiver. If you've already secured a running back and one other receiver, he's a great pick in the fourth round.
CHASE CLAYPOOL
2021 stats: 59 receptions (105 targets), 860 yards, 2 TD, 14.6 YPC
The skinny: In 2021, Claypool produced at virtually the same level as he did in his rookie season. However, the major difference was a massive dip in touchdowns. Claypool found the end zone 11 times (nine receiving, two rushing) in 2020, but only scored twice in his sophomore season.
Claypool is entering his third year as the No. 2 guy in the depth chart once again, and he's a man on a mission to break out. He certainly has the natural ability to do so, and Claypool will be utilized in more ways this year. Most notably, Claypool worked out of the slot quite a bit throughout training camp and the preseason. His size and athleticism could make him a huge mismatch in the middle of the field.
Where to draft: The departure of JuJu Smith-Schuster via free agency makes Claypool more valuable in the fantasy world. Even though Claypool will have a bigger role in the offense this season, he hasn't quite reached the status of becoming a reliable starter week in and week out. He is, however, a solid flex option for your lineup. In a standard 10-team league, he should go in the 10th or 11th round.
PAT FREIERMUTH
2021 stats: 60 receptions (79 targets), 497 yards, 7 TD, 8.2 YPC
The skinny: If anyone in the Steelers' offense can benefit from stretching the field, it's Freiermuth. The Penn State product became a viable fantasy option at tight end during his rookie campaign, despite working behind Eric Ebron for the first several weeks of the season and making most of his catches closer to the line of scrimmage.
The Steelers will look to utilize their tight ends further down field this season. Both Trubisky and Pickett connected with Freiermuth on seam routes in the preseason. If that becomes a consistent weapon in the offense's arsenal, to go along with Freiermuth's value in the red zone, he could become a legitimate top-10 tight end in fantasy football.
Where to draft: If you are addressing tight end later in the draft, Freiermuth should go around the same time as Claypool in most leagues. Anything higher than the ninth round in a 10-team league is a bit of a reach, but he likely won't be available come the 11th round. So, definitely pay attention to how teams are collecting tight ends in your draft and adjust accordingly if you're eyeballing Freiermuth.
GEORGE PICKENS
Rookie season
The skinny: Anyone who's watched any preseason football can see the potential in Pickens. He is fast, quick, shifty, and he has the rare combination of size, strong hands and exceptional body control. And based off what we've seen thus far, you wouldn't even know he's coming off an ACL injury in his final season at Georgia.
The Steelers' second-round pick has as much potential as anyone else in his class to win Rookie of the Year. And he certainly has the potential to become Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver by season's end.
Where to draft: While all of the tangibles look very promising, Pickens is still an unproven rookie. He'll have to earn more snaps. He very well could, and that might make you want to reach for him in the draft.
However, it's best to wait until the later rounds. Maybe take a risk and select Pickens in the 12th or 13th round of your draft, but make sure you have your main starters taken care of before you give in to any temptation. Then, if you're fortunate enough to snag him, he could seriously deepen your team.
OTHER OPTIONS
• Calvin Austin III is starting the season on injured reserve, so he'll miss at least four games. Once he returns, wait and see how the Steelers utilize him before scouring the waiver wire.
• Base off what we've seen in preseason, Gunner Olszewski is definitely going to be more than just a return specialist. He could become a security blanket of sorts out of the slot. However, with Johnson, Claypool, Freiermuth and Pickens ahead of him in a share of targets, he shouldn't be on anyone's draft boards. If a receiver were to go down with an injury, maybe he's worth keeping an eye on to see if he could become a modest addition on the waiver wire.
• Good for Miles Boykin and Steven Sims earning roster spots. They both had great camps and solid performances in the preseason. But they're not worth a glance in fantasy football.
• Zach Gentry could take some targets away from Freiermuth, but nothing worth a spot on your fantasy team.
• I'm very curious to see how the Steelers plan to utilize Connor Heyward now that Freiermuth is fully healthy. Heyward can do a little bit of everything, and he's a fierce competitor on every single target. However, Freiermuth is the guy in the tight end group.