The Pittsburgh Steelers are expecting to have Ben Roethlisberger return to start in Week 8 over Landry Jones against the Cincinnati Bengals after dealing with a knee injury. The team has Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Heath Miller as fantasy starter options this week and those players should get a boost in value if Roethlisberger can return.
Roethlisberger has been dealing with a knee sprain and he has been out for a month for the Steelers and now looks ready to return. According to Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, the Steelers are "preparing" for Roethlisberger to start and "barring an unforeseen setback," he should be ready to play against the Bengals. Roethlisberger suffered a sprained MCL and a bone bruise earlier in the season and that left Michael Vick and Landry Jones to start for the Steelers.
The Steelers have gone 2-2 without Roethlisberger this season and the offense took a big hit over that stretch, as they it near the bottom in passer rating from the QB position. Roethlisberger had the team in sixth over the first three games of the season and the Steelers offense had been looking like one of the best in the league. With Roethlisberger back in the fold, the offense should get a major boost and fantasy football owners likely are excited about having Roethlisberger back in the starting lineup.
ESPN reports that Roethlisberger likely will wear a knee brace when he returns and that he was "close" to being a full participant in practice last week. Mike Tomlin said to reporters coming into the week that the team has "no reservations or limitations" about Roethlisberger and that they are "comfortable" with him starting this week after dealing with the knee issue.
Michael Vick took over after Roethlisberger was injured, but he went down with a hamstring injury and that left Jones to start. Tomlin said that Vick could return this week and if he is healthy enough, he likely will be the backup for Roethlisberger with Jones at third string. Roethlisberger said he wouldn't "get (his) hopes up" for this week, but it appears that he will be starting for the Steelers.
Antonio Brown likely will be happy to have Roethlisberger back, as he has been slumping a but with the quarterback on the sidelines. This past weekend he had a strong game with six catches for 124 yards and a TD, but before that he only had 11 catches over the past three games. Brown, Bell and Bryant are three very strong options this week against the Bengals even with Cincinnati having one of the best defenses in the league. The Steelers are hoping that Roethlisberger can stay on the field for the rest of the season.
