Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to return Week 8, but the quarterback expressed trepidation over that possibility on Wednesday.
Ben Roethlisberger ‘not getting hopes up’ for Sunday, fantasy owners need backup plans in place
The Steelers could be without their franchise quarterback for Week 8 despite positive reports. We break down the fantasy implications.
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According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Roethlisberger cited how his knee became inflamed prior to Week 7 after practicing, eliciting his response of “I’m not getting my hopes up for Sunday.” It is expected that Roethlisberger and Steelers brass will need to monitor his knee closely up until Sunday before any decision on his status can be made.
Fantasy impact: Roethlisberger is shaping up to be a game-time decision vs. the Bengals, but with a divisional foe on the horizon, it could be more likely that Roethlisberger would take the field if the decision was 50-50. Should he sit one more week, the stock of Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant would plummet by comparison.
It isn't usually advised for fantasy owners to stash defenses, but the Bengals' defense would be a top-five play if Landry Jones makes the start for the second straight week. Until that decision is made, though, fantasy owners would be wise to monitor the Steelers practice reports closely.
