Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Markus Wheaton is a player to watch on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Really, he's a player to watch all season, and fantasy owners should watch carefully to see how he plays. A third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Wheaton has stepped up to claim one of the starting receiver spots, opposite Antonio Brown.
Markus Wheaton a player to watch Thursday; is a potential fantasy sleeper
Wheaton has stepped into the role of No. 2 receiver in Pittsburgh and is a player to watch. We break down the fantasy implications.
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The Steelers showed a lot of confidence in Wheaton by letting Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery both walk in free agency. They did end up bringing in Lance Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey, but Wheaton is ahead of both of them and if he continues to play well, it should remain that way. In Pittsburgh's first preseason game, Wheaton caught one pass for 28 yards, and in the second game he caught two passes for 15 yards and a touchdown.
Fantasy Impact: Wheaton is definitely a potential sleeper for fantasy owners. Brown will get more looks and should be drafted first, but Wheaton can be a surprise game-changer and should be picked up late in drafts if you're set at the other positions. His big-play potential is there and he already seems to have the confidence of the coaching staff and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
