After a monster 2014, expectations were sky-high for Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell for 2015. And those will go unrealized, as Bell’s season is likely over after the star suffered a significant MCL tear in his right knee in Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Le’Veon Bell tears MCL, season likely over; Steelers, fantasy owners must look elsewhere
The Pittsburgh running back is likely going on IR, according to reports. We break down the fantasy implications.
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Bell ran the ball 10 times Sunday for 45 yards, catching two passes for 13 more. He was carted off and replaced by DeAngelo Williams, who had 71 rushing yards on nine carries and 39 receiving yards on four catches. Late Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Bell’s injury was an MCL tear, but one that is significant enough that he is expected to be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Fantasy impact: It’ll be Monday or Tuesday before we know concretely whether Bell’s season is over, but that certainly looks likely. With Bell suspended the season’s first two games, Williams filled in, and put up 38 fantasy points over two weeks, an impressive effort.
Behind Bell, with 511, and Williams, with 239, no running back on the Pittsburgh roster has more than 11 rushing yards on the season. In fact, Jordan Todman, with those 11 yards on a single carry, is the only other pure running back on the Pittsburgh roster. Isaiah Pead was rumored to be heading to Pittsburgh for a workout Sunday.
For now, Williams needs to be added in all leagues (though he should have been owned by all Bell owners to begin with). No one else on the Pittsburgh depth chart needs a look right now.
