Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 10th at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Heinze Field, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Betting Odds: Pitt -1, 40.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Denver Broncos
Quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater (Sit) Drew Lock (Sit)
Teddy Bridgewater left the Week 4 game with what was reported as a concussion. It was a surprise when Bridgewater was named the starter over Drew Lock to start the season. Drew Lock has a good preseason but his bad 2020 season is what lead to him losing the starting job. Lock has an interception problem. In 2020 he had 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. In Week 4 relief he was shaky. He only completed 57.1% of his passes and had an interception. With a week of practice Lock should be better but he only has three games with three passing touchdowns in his career. He lacks the big fantasy game upside to be started even in 2QB leagues. He does have some rushing ability but not top end but could steal a touchdown from inside the 10. He comes back in Week 5 against a Pittsburgh defense that has been hit or miss. T.J. Watt is back which is always causes issues for quarterbacks. I don’t think you can trust Lock this week.
Running Backs
Melvin Gordon (Start, Flex), Javonte Williams (Start, Flex)
The backfield in Denver has been frustrating yet not disappointing. Both Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams have been pretty even in terms of snap count and carries. It does seem that Gordon is getting the first crack on the team. Both of these backs should be a Flex start for your team. The Steelers defense has not been giving up fantasy points to running backs. They are ranked 6th according to CBS. Both backs get an equal amount of targets in the passing game which is a bump in PPR leagues. With Drew Lock starting at quarterback we could see more carries for both of these backs. Lock did seem to favor passing to Williams.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Courtland Sutton (Start, WR2), Tim Patrick (Sit, Flex), Noah Fant (Start), Albert Okwuegbunam (Sit, Flex)
The Steelers defense has been bleeding points to fantasy wide receivers. According to CBS, they are ranked 28th in the league. Courtland Sutton has been a solid wide receiver this season. The injury to Jerry Jeudy has given Sutton the opportunity to return to 2019 form. Tim Patrick has also benefited from an injury. With K.J. Hamler going down Patrick has seen an uptick in targets and opportunities. Outside of Sutto and Patrick, there isn’t a wide receiver worth rostering. Sutton hasn’t found the end zone yet while Patrick scored n both Weeks 1 and 2. I have questions about how many passes the team will get to this week. I expect a lot of blitzes and pressure which will hinder the passing efficiency.
The tight ends for Denver have started to come alive in recent weeks. Noah Fant scored in Week 4 and saw 10 targets. He also leads the team in red-zone targets with five. In a tightened landscape where most owners are trying to find someone worth starting, having Fant is a joy. Albert Okwuegbunam has a great rapport with Drew Lock so he could be a sneaky start with Lock playing.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger (Sit. QB2)
The Steeler’s offense has not been right all season and has led to a 1-3 record. A big part of the reason is Ben Roethlisberger. He has dealt with injuries to his wide receivers but has looked his age at almost 40. He is completing his normal 64% of his passes and all other stats are very similar to his career numbers. It could also be his offensive line but either way, it’s hurting his performance. He has four touchdowns this season but also has four interceptions. The Broncos have the 2nd best defense in terms of fantasy points to quarterbacks. It should be a tough week for Big Ben as his struggles continue. You may not have a better option but I would be looking for one this week.
Running backs
Najee Harris (Start, RB2)
Najee Harris has not been the star running back that fantasy managers hoped he would be. He only has two touchdowns on the season. one on the ground and one through the air. He hasn’t had over 70 yards rushing yet this season. You are happy with him playing 92.6% of the team’s snaps. So he is always out there. He has also seen a huge uptick in targets since the wide receivers have been missing time. His receiving work has salvaged his fantasy weeks. He faces a tough defense in the Broncos. The Broncos are coming off a week where they held Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to needing the last few plays of the game to get over 100 yards. He is still in your lineup as an RB2 but expectations should be lowered especially if all the wide receivers play.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Diontae Johnson (Start, WR1), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Start, WR3), James Washington (Sit), Pat Freiermuth(Sit), Chase Claypool (Sit)
The Steelers come into this game with the hope that Chase Claypool can play after missing Week 4 with a hamstring injury. Claypool’s game involves a lot of big bomb plays and stretching the field. He will struggle to do that with a lingering hamstring injury. If he can’t use his speed he might just be a decoy. Diontae Johnson is the wide receiver to own for Pittsburgh. He missed Week 3 but other than that he has always seen double-digit targets and is the only wide one of the Big 3 with red-zone targets with three. He will continue to be the focal point for this offense as it looks to right the passing game. JuJu Smith-Schuster had a disappointing Week 4. He earned eight targets but was only able to catch two of them for 11 yards. Had he and Roethlisberger can connect on a few more of them Juju would have had a good fantasy game. He is worth starting this week with the hopes that they get on the same page and look to make up for the visible frustration Juju showed. James Washington is the only other Steelers wide receiver with a red-zone target after Johnson. He isn’t worth starting unless Claypool is a late inactive. Then he would be a desperation Flex play at best.
Pat Freiermuth was shut down in Week 4 after scoring his first NFL touchdown in Week 3. I expect more of the Week 4 performance from Freiermuth. I think he is a great buy in dynasty formats as he has shown flashes of being a top NFL tightened. There are just better options this week.
– Dustin Ludke (Dunit13dl on Reddit)