Thursday Night Football, Week 16: Steelers Defense Tops The Rankings Against Panthers

Don't forget to set your rosters for the Thursday Night Football game, Carolina @ Pittsburgh. Wondering which, if any, players you should start from this game? PlayThisGuy.com sent over their consensus rankings for the Panthers and Steelers.

The Thursday Night game that kicks off Fantasy Football Championship Weekend is pretty much a one-sided affair. The Pittsburgh Steelers are good, really good, the Carolina Panthers are not, they're really bad. Add in the fact that the Steelers defense is among the best in the league, and you have a game where all the action for fantasy is on one side.

If Ben Roethlisberger is your quarterback, you might as well play him. His foot injury may have slowed him down a bit, and the Panthers defense isn't a pushover when it comes to fantasy passing stats, but the Steelers are hungry after dropping a game last week. They're in playoff mode and Big Ben will be looking to shine. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is also a good play this week, he should put up good fantasy numbers. Less certain is the Steelers passing game, Mike Wallace is probably the best option there. And yes, you definitely want to play the Steelers defense.

The Panthers options are few. It's doubtful anybody is using quarterback Jimmy Clausen against the Steelers defense. Tread carefully if you usually use Jonathan Stewart as a running back on your roster. The Steelers D is good enough to shut any back down, so Stewart is a very risky play. Forget about the Panthers passing game, and the same goes for the Carolina defense.

WR:
#18 Mike Wallace (PIT)
#29 Hines Ward (PIT)
#57 Dexter Jackson (CAR)
#72 Steve Smith (CAR)

TE:
#26 Heath Miller (PIT)
#55 Dante Rosario (CAR)

K:
#10 Shaun Suisham (PIT)
#32 John Kasay (CAR)