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Fantasy football: 10 players you’ll want to avoid drafting early in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a 35 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a 35 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 30: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on in the first quarter during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 30: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on in the first quarter during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Quarterback. Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger. 2. player. 55.

With Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell no longer in the picture, the NFL world will finally get to see whether or not Ben Roethlisberger was the true problem in Pittsburgh, which was a part of some common speculation among both fans and analysts alike.

That alone might not be big enough a reason to keep Roethlisberger away from your top-end or QB1 drafting needs. But there are more than a few others to consider.

Big Ben is currently sitting in Round 10 as the No. 15 quarterback off fantasy big boards. As a QB2 and/or bye week option, fine. Yet you know there is going to be those out there thinking he’ll find some sort of new chemistry with Brown’s replacement, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Perhaps.

Pittsburgh’s offensive line might be due for a setback this season. Roethlisberger’s age could finally come into factor, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Steelers integrate their running game with tailback James Conner the primary focal point.

All this should make Roethlisberger a low-tier quarterback in fantasy football this season, and you’d be smart to avoid drafting him altogether, honestly.