Steelers @ Jaguars
On the first drive of the game, Jake Luton and James Robinson led the Jaguars to a field goal to open up a 3-0 lead over the undefeated Steelers. Then, Chris Boswell missed his first field goal after making 25 straight, and for a moment it looked like the Jaguars actually had a chance in this one. Once the first quarter ended, however, it was all downhill for Jacksonville. Diontae Johnson tore them apart with 12 catches on 16 targets, and James Conner looked fresh on the ground. It wasn’t a total blowout, but Jacksonville really never stood a chance against the best team in football. Pittsburgh rolled to a 27-3 victory.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger: 32/46, 267 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Check out Ben Roethlisberger on this touchdown to Chase Claypool midway through the 2nd quarter. Watch as he looks left juuuuust long enough to distract the safety, who shows up late to the play once the ball is already in Claypool’s hands. It’s a veteran play (something Drew Lock should study) and big reason why this offense is as good as it is.
Chase Claypool continues to be 💰 #FantasyFootball | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/kcCVacvkRN
— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 22, 2020
His lone interception came at the end of the 1st half on a ball he probably shouldn’t have thrown. He was off-balance, on the run and James Washington stumbled in the back of the end zone but still wouldn’t have been close to catching it – the pass was that bad. Big Ben is no longer a QB1 on a week to week basis, but this offense throws enough to make him a viable bye week fill in.
Running Backs
James Conner: 13 carries, 89 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 10 yards
Benny Snell Jr.: 7 carries, 15 yards, TD
Anthony McFarland Jr.: 3 carries, 3 yards
Look, we know that Pittsburgh’s offense has been powered by Roethlisberger and his receivers this season, but James Conner looked really good in this one. Words that come to mind are fresh, explosive, and shifty, and if it weren’t for Benny Snell Jr. vulturing a touchdown in the 2nd quarter, it would have been a much bigger day for Conner.
Benny Snell (look away Conner owners) goes around and in.#FantasyFootball | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/AK4hjIiRwu
— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 22, 2020
He had a few runs that looked like the Conner of old, and once again it just looked like they were trying to move the ball through the air in this one rather than via the ground and pound. With the 10-0 Steelers cruising toward a 1st round bye, I expect the ground and pound to return sooner than later, and that should benefit Conner’s fantasy output.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Diontae Johnson: 16 targets, 12 receptions, 111 yards
Chase Claypool: 8 targets, 4 receptions, 59 yards, TD
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 19 yards
Eric Ebron: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 36 yards, TD
James Washington: 3 targets, 1 reception, 12 yards
Ray-Ray McCloud: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 20 yards | 1 carry, 3 yards
I think it’s safe to say that Diontae Johnson is the WR1 in this offense. When he’s on the field he’s getting a ton of targets, and he makes some pretty acrobatic plays to haul them in.
Diontae Johnson’s route running 😳 pic.twitter.com/izhPjbFMsJ
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) November 22, 2020
Diontae Johnson’s absurd catch 😮
(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/VYmqSUsQiq
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 22, 2020
This catch nearly resulted in a touchdown, but alas he was brought down at the one-yard line. Even when he’s not open, he’s open, and he feasted on this Jacksonville defense on Sunday. He’s a borderline WR1 going forward.
Chase Claypool and Eric Ebron caught the two touchdown passes on the day, and both players out-targeted JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday. JuJu did leave with an injury for a brief amount of time, but Pittsburgh is actively trying to get the ball into Claypool’s hands every week, something they are not doing for JuJu.
#InjuryReport 🚨- JuJu Smith-Schuster appears to have tweaked his ankle on a non-contact injury after stepping on a penalty flag pic.twitter.com/NSBEr5GNdz
— The Injury Guy (@thatinjuryguy) November 22, 2020
At this point, JuJu is the third option in the offense, and even Ebron is encroaching on his territory. This play happened when the game was already out of reach, but Ebron did make a couple nice catches and is earning Roethlisberger’s trust. I wouldn’t run out to trade for him before your league’s deadline, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes the year as a top-8 TE given the trajectory he’s currently on.
Ben ➡️ Ebron#FantasyFootball | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/g9IqMhZOSd
— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 22, 2020
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Jake Luton: 16/37, 151 yards, 4 INT, 2 sacks, 1 fumble
So, umm… yeah… like, why even bother with this? He made some really bad decisions, some bad over throws, and had some tough luck on a tipped pass that was intercepted by Minkah Fitzpatrick in the red zone, but he simply stood no chance against this defense. He was only sacked twice but Pittsburgh got good pressure on him, forcing him to make some throws he shouldn’t have and some incompletions when he simply ran out of time. He’s the last guy I would want to start in fantasy, regardless of matchup and especially against this defense.
Running Backs
James Robinson: 17 carries, 73 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards
James Robinson had multiple carries over 15 yards and helped convert a third-down early on with a nice catch and run, but otherwise, he was pretty much bottled up on the day. Once Jacksonville went down two scores, the game script flipped and Robinson stood in to block most of the time while Luton threw it around trying to make up the difference. Robinson runs behind a surprisingly solid Jaguars offensive line, and they opened a few holes for him on an otherwise lame day.
#Jaguars UDFA RB: James Robinson opening up the game gashing the #Steelers defense. pic.twitter.com/hLf8ibPoZO
— Lawrence Owen (@Colts_Law) November 22, 2020
What doesn’t show on the stat sheet is that Robinson is an awesome football player and a playmaker who was simply hurt by a poor game script today. He’s a RB1 moving forward.
James Robinson with the hurdle 👀🔥#Jaguars #NFLSunday pic.twitter.com/WLswryVLlo
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) November 22, 2020
A ridiculous catch by James Robinson pic.twitter.com/iNX3G8iCdT
— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) November 22, 2020
Another reception by James Robinson and another First Down for the Jaguars! Love his strong center of gravity. pic.twitter.com/3CXBGGw0v8
— Fitz (@LaurieFitzptrck) November 22, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
DJ Chark Jr.: 8 targets, 4 receptions, 41 yards
Tyler Eifert: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 32 yards
Keelan Cole Sr.: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 26 yards
Chris Conley: 4 targets, 1 reception, 13 yards
The most notable play from this receiving corps today was Keelan Cole Sr.‘s onside kick attempt (that was recovered by Pittsburgh). And besides a near fight between Chris Conley and Minkah Fitzpatrick, and one long catch and run by DJ Chark Jr., it was a quiet day. I would say to expect better things from this group against anyone else besides Pittsburgh’s defense, but as long as Jake Luton is running the show, there will be no consistency here.
— Ben Brown (@FelixTheDog23 on Twitter, iamatechnician on Reddit)