Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is coming off the best statistical season of his impressive career. The 11-year vet set career highs in completion percentage (67.1) and passing yards (4,952) and tied a career best for touchdown passes (32). He also threw single digit interceptions for just the fourth time in his career.
So why, then, does ESPN NFL Insider KC Joyner think he's being undervalued in fantasy football?
"Roethlisberger was a top-five fantasy quarterback last season in part because he finished tied for first in vertical touchdown passes (19 scores on aerials thrown 11 or more yards downfield) and had the lowest bad-decision rate (BDR) among quarterbacks with 200 or more vertical pass attempts (BDR measures how often a passer makes a mental error that leads to a turnover opportunity for the opposing team).
"He also plays on arguably the best offense in the NFL, a platoon that has a dominant offensive line to go along with the top running back and top wide receiver in the league. Add Martavis Bryant - who ranked ninth in stretch vertical touchdowns (four scores on aerials thrown 20 or more yards downfield) despite playing only 281 of the Steelers' 1,068 offensive snaps - and the quickly developing Markus Wheaton, and this offense may be unmatched in terms of big-play targets. That makes Roethlisberger a rare candidate with a high point floor and a sky-high point ceiling."
Both Wheaton and Bryant have been tabbed as possible breakout picks this year, adding to Roethlisberger's arsenal of weapons. Le'Veon Bell must sit a few games due to suspension, but once he returns this Pittsburgh offense will be at full strength.
The Steelers ranked second in the NFL in yards-per-game (411.1) and passing yards-per-game (301.6) last year. That trend figures to continue into 2015, making Roethlisberger a top five fantasy QB once again.
