Fantasy Football Previews - Week 1 - Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos
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Steelers

Denver's pass D has improved. Ben Roethlisberger may not get much help from the running game. But he's still an acceptable choice, especially if he's your best QB.

The health of Isaac Redman (sprained ankle) is up in the air, but Jonathan Dwyer isn't the most exciting alternative. Both are risky plays. Don't look for Rashard Mendenhall.

Antonio Brown is dangerous with or without help. Mike Wallace sounds as if he's nearly up to speed. He may be a risky play, but so is Emmanuel Sanders, and Wallace has more upside.

The tight end position is so deep that you shouldn't have to consider using Heath Miller.

Broncos

By many accounts, Peyton Manning is in good form, and he looks like a solid play against a D that'll be without safety Ryan Clark.

Willis McGahee may find it to be tough sledding against Pittsburgh, but his expected workload and a couple of possible red-zone cracks make him worth a shot.

At least early on, Eric Decker should have an edge over Demaryius Thomas. It'll be interesting to see if Brandon Stokley re-emerges as a Manning fav.

Neither of Denver's tight ends is an enticing play in Week 1, and they could end up canceling each other for much of the season.

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Steelers fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
14	1 or bench	Ben Roethlisberger
24	2 or flex	Isaac Redman
50	Bench	Jonathan Dwyer
--	DBT	Rashard Mendenhall
24	2	Antonio Brown
32	3	Emmanuel Sanders
50	Flex or bench	Mike Wallace
18	Flex or bench	Heath Miller

Broncos fantasy football rankings

Pos Rk	Fan Value	Player
11	1	Peyton Manning
13	2	Willis McGahee
54	Bench	Ronnie Hillman
78	Bench	Knowshon Moreno
19	2	Eric Decker
26	2 or 3	Demaryius Thomas
89	Bench	Brandon Stokley
13	1 or flex	Jacob Tamme
36	Bench	Joel Dreessen

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Steelers latest news and notes

Steelers | Make roster move

The Pittsburgh Steelers cut TE Zach Pianalto from injured reserve Tuesday, June 18.

Steelers | Heath Miller likes TE corps

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Heath Miller (knee) said he likes the tight ends on the roster and believes they can all contribute to the team. "We have a really good room, a lot of capable guys in there," Miller said. "I think maybe one of the best top to bottom that I've been starting camp with. Hopefully we'll be able to keep everybody healthy, and I think everybody is capable of contributing and doing a good job." There is a strong possibility that Miller will not be ready for the start of the regular season.

Steelers | Matt Spaeth understands role

Updating a previous report, Pittsburgh Steelers TE Matt Spaeth might start the regular season as a starter if TE Heath Miller (knee) is not ready. However, he is considered a strong blocking tight end, which would help trigger the running back. He understands he probably won't see the ball as much as Miller did even as a starter. "I'm a role guy, and I know I've got a role, and I never worry about how many balls are being thrown to me," Spaeth said.

Steelers | Heath Miller might not be ready for opener

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Heath Miller (knee) is out indefinitely following knee surgery, and there is a strong chance he will not be ready for the start of the regular season.

Steelers | No contract talks with Ryan Clark

Pittsburgh Steelers FS Ryan Clark said his agent and the team are not talking about a contract extension at this point. Clark said he hopes the two sides talk about some point during training camp. He will be a free agent next offseason.

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Broncos latest news and notes

Broncos | Ronnie Hillman thinks he can carry the load

Denver Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman is confident that he can carry the load as the team's featured back this season, despite his size. "You get that when you're a smaller guy," Hillman said. "You can't take the pounding, but I just brush it off. Of course you hear things. I'm not going to sit here and say I don't hear what they say, but you just got to let it go." Hillman put on 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason, but the team has told him they'd like him to play around 190 to 195 pounds.

Broncos | Ronnie Hillman praises Montee Ball

Denver Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman praised RB Montee Ball. "He's a good kid, I can't say kid. He's older than me," Hillman said with a laugh. "He's a good dude, he's learning, he's doing good things out on the field. He's going to be good."

Broncos | Ronnie Hillman adds muscle

Denver Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman added about 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason and got his frame up to 200 pounds. The team would like him to play between 190-to-195 pounds.

Broncos | Balance may hurt Wes Welker's numbers

The Denver Post's Mike Klis estimates that the Denver Broncos' passing offense would reach its peak if Demaryius Thomas gets 85 receptions and Eric Decker and Wes Welker each net around 75. Klis contends that the strength of this passing attack must continue to stem from outside receivers.

Broncos | Wes Welker to get revenge in Week 12

Denver Broncos WR Wes Welker will get a crack at his former team, the New England Patriots, in Week 12. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters his club offered Welker more money than Denver, but he left anyway.

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Steelers - Week 1 injury report

PROBABLE	LB Larry Foote (ankle), LB Jason Worilds (wrist), DL Brett Keisel (ankle), RB Isaac Redman (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE	LB James Harrison (knee), RB Baron Batch (groin)
DOUBTFUL	RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee)
OUT	LB Stevenson Sylvester (knee), FS Ryan Clark (illness)
INJURED RESERVE	OG David DeCastro (knee), LB Sean Spence (knee)

Broncos - Week 1 injury report

OUT	OG Chris Kuper (forearm)
INJURED RESERVE	DL Jason Hunter (triceps), RB Mario Fannin (Achilles'), WR D'Andre Goodwin (ankle), DL Jeremy Beal (knee), WR Tyler Grisham (knee)

Steelers fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Roethlisberger, Ben	QB	249.00	3265	26	26	92	0	0	0	0
Miller, Heath	TE	125.00	0	0	0	0	0	71	816	8
Wallace, Mike	WR	125.00	0	0	5	7	0	64	836	8
Brown, Antonio	WR	100.00	0	0	7	24	0	66	787	5
Dwyer, Jonathan	RB	73.00	0	0	156	623	2	18	106	0
Redman, Isaac	RB	68.00	0	0	110	410	2	19	244	0
Sanders, Emmanuel	WR	64.00	0	0	1	4	0	44	626	1
Mendenhall, Rashard	RB	27.00	0	0	51	182	0	9	62	1
Rainey, Chris	RB	21.00	0	0	26	102	2	14	60	0
Leftwich, Byron	QB	20.00	272	0	1	31	1	0	0	0
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Broncos fantasy football leaders and statistics

Player Name	Pos	Fan Pts	PaYd	PaTD	Run	RuYd	RuTD	Rec	ReYd	ReTD
Manning, Peyton	QB	377.00	4949	40	24	5	0	0	0	0
Thomas, Demaryius	WR	206.00	0	0	0	0	0	97	1471	11
Decker, Eric	WR	184.00	0	0	0	0	0	91	1148	13
McGahee, Willis	RB	114.00	0	0	167	731	4	26	221	0
Stokley, Brandon	WR	86.00	0	0	0	0	0	48	571	6
Moreno, Knowshon	RB	75.00	0	0	116	438	3	19	140	1
Tamme, Jacob	TE	64.00	0	0	0	0	0	55	599	2
Dreessen, Joel	TE	63.00	0	0	0	0	0	47	402	5
Hillman, Ronnie	RB	45.00	0	0	107	413	1	13	82	0
Ball, Lance	RB	29.00	0	0	42	158	1	7	61	1
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Steelers depth chart

QB	RB	FB	WR (Left)	WR (Right)	TE	PK
Ben Roethlisberger	Jonathan Dwyer	David Johnson	Emmanuel Sanders	Antonio Brown	Heath Miller	Shaun Suisham
Bruce Gradkowski	Le'Veon Bell	Will Johnson	Markus Wheaton	Jerricho Cotchery	Matt Spaeth
Landry Jones	Isaac Redman		Plaxico Burress	Justin Brown	David Paulson
John Parker Wilson	LaRod Stephens-Howling		David Gilreath	Derek Moye	Jamie McCoy

Broncos depth chart

QB	RB	FB	WR (Left)	WR (Right)	TE	PK
Peyton Manning		Jacob Hester	Demaryius Thomas	Wes Welker	Joel Dreessen	Matt Prater
Brock Osweiler	Knowshon Moreno		Tavarres King	Eric Decker	Jacob Tamme
Zac Dysert	Ronnie Hillman	Jeremiah Johnson	Gerell Robinson	Andre Caldwell	Virgil Green
	Montee Ball	C.J. Anderson		Trindon Holliday	Julius Thomas