Highly touted Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell could be out for another month, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Bell has not played since hurting his foot in an Aug. 19 preseason game against the Washington Redskins.
Le’Veon Bell could miss another month, leaving fantasy owners waiting
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is expected to be out for another month. We break down the fantasy implications.
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With LaRod Stephens-Howling out for the season (knee), the Steelers decided to go with Isaac Redman as their starter in the team's Week 1 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Redman managed just nine yards on eight carries and fumbled twice before getting benched by head coach Mike Tomlin. As a result of Redman's lackluster performance, the Steelers have re-signed Jonathan Dwyer, who was cut by the team just two weeks ago.
Fantasy Impact: Though Bell has yet to play a regular season NFL game in his young career, the second round pick out of Michigan State was the favorite to be the workhorse in Pittsburgh’s backfield from the day he was drafted. To say the least, Redman and Dwyer have proved less than capable as replacements dating all the way back to last year, when the not so dynamic duo filled in for an injury riddled Rashard Mendenhall. At this point, all signs point to Bell getting every opportunity to be a starter and the go-to-guy in the Steelers’ backfield whenever he returns from injury.
Going into Week 2, the Steelers face a tough Cincinnati Bengals run defense that allowed just 2.6 yards per carry to the Bears' Matt Forte in Week 1. With Dwyer and Redman executing a running back by committee system and Felix Jones possibly eating up the odd touch, fantasy owners who drafted Bell should stick to their guns for now.
