Pittsburgh Steelers Players Continue To Be Seen As No Good By Fantasy Football Analysts In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2023 NFL Draft is over and rookie signings are coming out. As rookie minicamp begins, fans and analysts alike are starting to set their minds towards their own fantasy league rosters. The Ringer seems to have, once again, left many of the Steelers players low on the list, if not off it entirely. Here is a quick rundown of where the players rank according to them. 

In the list of running backs, Najee Harris ranks as RB16. He ranks 34th overall on a list of 200 players. Notably in front of him is rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who hasn’t had a single snap in the NFL and by many standards was considered a reach by the Detroit Lions in April. Also, on the list is running back Jaylen Warren, the Steelers RB2, who sits at RB52 and 150th overall. He sits behind Tank Bigsby, a third-round draft pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will also be sharing snaps as an RB2 and hasn’t played a single down of professional football.

Steelers QB1 Kenny Pickett ranks as QB21 and is ranked at 165th overall, sitting in the second lowest tier of quarterbacks behind Anthony Richardson and Jordan Love, two quarterbacks who enter the season with a laundry list of unknown variables. Listed ahead of Pickett also is Matthew Stafford, who is coming off an injury-filled season and Russell Wilson after playing the worst statistical year of his career. Mercifully, Pickett does rank ahead of San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Brock Purdy.

At wide receiver, Diontae Johnson ranks as WR33 and George Pickens ranks as WR35. They are the only two Steelers receivers to make the list of 200. Steelers free agent signing, Allen Robinson remarkably didn’t make the list either after his down year in Los Angeles in 2022.

One player who at least seemed to crack the top 10 in their respective position group is Pat Freiermuth, who placed at TE9. He was just ahead of Cleveland Browns tight end, David Njoku. While many rookie skill players are on the list, Steelers tight end, Darnell Washington is unlisted. A surprising omission considering the hype he has gotten as the biggest steal in the draft. 

In the defensive category, the Steelers defense ranks at number eight behind teams like the Denver Broncos and division rival, the Baltimore Ravens. It is hard to say if this is due to the multiple question marks surrounding the team’s current defensive backfield and linebacker positions, but it is also difficult to believe that TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick won't be scoring fantasy points for teams this season.

Amongst the kickers, Steelers longtime player Chris Boswell remains unranked. This is unsurprising, but disappointing because he has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league despite a rocky 2022 season.

Steelers OC Matt Canada Will Be Key In 2023

The low level of excitement surrounding the team’s players may be because of Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. In part due to Canada's style of offense grappling with its own identity and also because of the turnover at the quarterback and offensive line positions. The Steelers have struggled oftentimes of late. That struggle was most apparent in 2022 in the red zone. Johnson went scoreless for the entire season.

Down the stretch, however, we saw glimpses of what the offense could be. Pickett’s late game comebacks and the dynamic running duo of Harris and Warren have made fans hopeful that the late 2022 version of the offense could spark up and reign supreme in 2023. However, after reading where some analysts rank Steelers players, it seems like not everyone shares in those hopes and are in fact quite down on the team. 

So, what do you think #SteelerNation? Do the team's skill position players deserve more respect heading into 2023? Which Steelers players will be on your fantasy team this year? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!