X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

The Other Pittsburgh Receiver: Martavis Bryant and Why to Believe the Hype

Remember those ground and pound Pittsburgh Steelers of the decade past? They had the James Harrisons, the Joey Porters, and the Troy Polamalus who were just out there to kick the snot out of people and commit what some would believe to be attempted homicides. Then on offense they would grind out the Jerome Bettis's, the Duce Staleys and the Willie Parkers to the bone by pounding the run, keeping their dangerous D on the bench and rested. Then Big Ben would make a couple iconic throws in high pressure situations and they'd go and win the Super Bowl. Remember them? The Good Ole' Steelers we all knew and loved?

Guess what? Those days are gone, baby.  Sayonara. Thanks for trying, we'll talk to you probably never (not really though, its all cyclical; they be back in a couple years).

Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for a new, awesome, highly customizable and free option for year-round commissioner & dynasty leagues, something more capable than Yahoo, better looking than CBS, and built from the ground up with fantasy football in mind, play free fantasy football with our friends at Fleaflicker. Sign up your league on Fleaflicker, and get a Full Season Premium Subscription for FREE.

The Steelers of this year are looking to out-gain an offensive unit that was 2nd in both total and passing yards last year. Returning basically everyone (Le'Veon Bell a little later due to an unwavering love of the ganj), there are definitely plenty of fantasy targets to pick from on this year's version of the Black and Yellow. When its all said and done though, it's going to be a wide receiver that a group of savvy fantasy football owners will have the pleasure of employing. And it isn't one of the big guys either.

Martavis Bryant has made a habit of flying below the radar since he began suiting up for Clemson’s football team a few years ago. Slotted behind future 4th overall pick Sammy Watkins while at Clemson, the lack of exposure allowed the 6’4”, 211 lbs receiver to drop to the 4th round during the 2014 draft. Questions surrounding his hands and raw skillset became the main reason why general managers were afraid of him, despite his ability to run 40 yards in 4.42 seconds.

Bryant rode the bench for the Steelers through six games last season and when he finally did get onto the field, he proved to be one of the biggest fantasy gems of the year. He became one of ten players in NFL history to record 500 yards despite seeing less than 50 catches during the season (in fact he only saw 26 passes) and he scored more touchdowns than the rest of the nine players on that same list, while swinging countless number of fantasy leagues simultaneously as the season winded down. Let’s face it, an ability to score a touchdown every three catches is going to produce on a fantasy scale (what's that? You're claiming that to be unsustainable? Yeah, well maybe).

Yet, as we progress more and more through training camps, we see Marcus Wheaton listed as the number two in Pittsburgh and Big Ben is putting his support behind Wheaton to be the real breakout star for the team’s offense this year. And while Mike Tomlin has been real supportive behind the progress that Bryant has made since he became a member of the Steelers, it seems like he won’t get the starting nod barring any huge changes when they open the season in New England on September 10th.

So why should you buy into the hype? Because you’re looking to win. And because Roethlisburger strikes me as a less than reliable source.

Early mock drafts give Bryant an ADP somewhere at the end of the fourth round, around the 17th receiver off the board (and ahead of other talented number one’s like Amari Cooper). Numbers like that will make fantasy owners understandably nervous. But again, the biggest factor in Bryant’s corner is the Pittsburgh offense in general. In the seven games in which Bryant recorded a receiving touchdown, Big Ben averaged 354 yards per game and although this numbers seem a little unsustainable, you’re delusional if you don’t believe Ben should be topping 300 yards on a regular basis this season. Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell are going to get theirs every game which will put nearly 200 yards into the pot for the rest of the offense. Bryant will be a prime candidate for those left over yards primarily because of his ability to run deep and get above his defenders to pull down passes adds the wildcard factor that is going to keep opponents on their heels. His 21.1 yards per catch last year is proof of this. After an offseason where Bryant has supplemented an increase in muscle with MMA training and sand sprinting (and not to mention more time to work on chemistry with his quarterback) will ensure that the second year receiver will still be able to run his go-routes even better than he had last year.

What’s that? You’re still not convinced? You say that greater opportunity doesn’t translate to more stats in most cases? Okay then, let’s continue to dig deeper.

We can expect the Steelers, behind the offensive direction of Todd Haley, to exploit plenty of 3 receiver sets this season with their personel. The Darrelle Revis’s and Richard Sherman’s of the league are going to have their hands full trying to keep the ball away from Antonio Brown (many teams are going to send extra defenders at him when they don’t have adequate corners). Wheaton, and his 5’11’’, 190 lbs frame, is going to find himself plenty in the slot, sometimes demanding the attention of number two defenders. What’s that mean? The large and fast Bryant will probably see some one on one coverage on the outside than most teams are going to be comfortable allowing and after initial steps towards Bell and Brown, safeties are going to give it their all to recover on deep passes down the sideline.

The sheer fact that Big Ben hasn’t had a weapon as big as Bryant since Plaxico Burress left town over a decade ago has draw in itself. Through the early parts of training camp, us fans have been treated to a few jump balls in the direction of Bryant and he has done his part to put on a show. In this video, we see number 10 make a sweet behind the head touchdown catch as he sees some one on one coverage in the red zone.

Martavius Bryant 2015 Breakout

Martavius Bryant making plays in practice

 

You’re not crazy in believing that Bryant may take over as the Steelers main safety valve once they enter into the 20 yard line, especially as we’ve watched as Heath Miller’s role has continued to dwindle in these situations. Throw in that AB is going out of his way to give the 23 year old a proper mentor (and what a mentor to have when the knock against you is your hands), and no one is surprised that there’s so much buzz going for Bryant amongst the fantasy world.

So let’s review. He was a difference maker in limited action during the second half of the fantasy season last year and is poised to take on a larger role in what might be the most prolific offense in football this season. He has the size and speed that imitates the measurements of some of the best receivers dominating the game today. The Steelers might aim to get 5000 yards out of Big Ben’s arm. And no one should be afraid that Marcus Wheaton is your main competition.

Expect Bryant’s ADP to fluctuate a bit during August as talking heads flip flop on whether or not the receiver is under or overrated to fill time, but expect some quality production as a WR2 or flex option with potential to really blow expectations out of the water. Pittsburgh hasn’t had two receivers with 1000 yard seasons since Mike Wallace and AB did it in 2012. I’m sure Big Ben is licking his lips at the thought of doing it again this year.

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brady House

Nationals Promoting Brady House to Major Leagues
Rafael Devers

Traded to San Francisco
Jayden Higgins

Impresses During Minicamp
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

on the Move to Memphis
Cole Anthony

Dealt to the Grizzlies
Seattle Seahawks

DeMarcus Lawrence Making an Impression With his New Team
Isaiah Simmons

Being Used Exclusively as a Linebacker
Tyler Mahle

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Travis Etienne Jr.

the Jaguars Lead Back?
Luis Robert Jr.

Scratched with Thumb Soreness
Desmond Bane

Traded to Orlando
Byron Buxton

Scratched from Sunday's Lineup
Daniel Jones

the Favorite in Colts QB Competition?
Brendan Donovan

Returns to the Lineup
Steven Adams

Rockets Agree to Three-Year Contract Extension
Royce Lewis

Hits 10-Day Injured List
Ty Dillon

Is a Respectable Cap Flexiblity-Focused DFS Option For Mexico City
Corey Perry

Produces 10th Postseason Goal
Connor McDavid

Scores First Finals Goal
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek Worth Rostering In Mexico City DFS Lineups?
Shohei Ohtani

Blasts Two Homers in Win
Sam Bennett

Nets Another Road Goal in Game 5 Win
Eetu Luostarinen

Earns Two Points Saturday
Michael King

Not Making Progress
Brad Marchand

Pots Two Goals in Game 5 Victory
Jackson Merrill

Removed Early on Saturday
Sergei Bobrovsky

Ties NHL Record with 10th Road Win
Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing's Mexico Focus Makes Ross Chastain a Leading Contender for the Win
Kyle Busch

One of Two Past Mexico City Winners in the Field
Ryan Preece

Earns Surprising Front-Row Start
Austin Cindric

Not as Strong of a Road Racer as People Think
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Stronger on Infield Road Courses Than Purpose-Built Ones
Joey Logano

Seemingly Alternating Between Good and Mediocre Races
Brad Keselowski

One of the Few Drivers with Mexico City Experience
Denny Hamlin

Ryan Truex Makes First Cup Series Start Since 2014
Erik Jones

Mexico City Will Likely be a Struggle for Erik Jones
Noah Gragson

Front Row Motorsports' Speed May Make Noah Gragson a Decent DFS Option
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Road Courses Are Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s Worst Track Type
Riley Herbst

Surprisingly Outqualifies 23XI Racing Teammates at Mexico City
Cody Ware

a Very Experienced Road Racer but Still a Long Shot
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen the Heavy Favorite to Win in Mexico City
Christopher Bell

the Chalk DFS Play in Mexico City
Tyler Reddick

Has a Lot of Work To Do To Be Competitive in Mexico
AJ Allmendinger

Struggling to Find Speed in Mexico City
Chris Buescher

Says Car is "Bad Fast" Heading into Mexico City Race
Michael McDowell

Confident Heading into Viva Mexico 250
Giancarlo Stanton

Likely Returning Early Next Week
Spencer Strider

Registers 13 Strikeouts
Hunter Brown

s Records 12 Strikeouts
Emeka Egbuka

"the Talk" of Bucs Minicamp
Royce Lewis

to be Placed on Injured List
Byron Buxton

Exits Early on Saturday
Evander Kane

Drops to Fourth Line Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen

Won't Play on Saturday
Calvin Pickard

Starts Game 5 for Oilers
Jaxson Dart

Working as No. 2 QB During Offseason Workouts
Xavier Gipson

Roster Spot Could be in Jeopardy
Josh Reynolds

the Front-Runner for WR2 Duties
Garrett Wilson

Stock Up This Offseason
Breece Hall

Motivated Going into 2025 Season
Brandon Aiyuk

Making Good Progress From Knee Injury
Keon Coleman

Inconsistent at Minicamp
Mitchell Trubisky

Not a Lock for Backup Job
Dalton Kincaid

Adds Strength and Bulk
James Cook

a Full Participant in Mandatory Minicamp
Tyrese Haliburton

Struggles in Friday's Loss to OKC
Jacob Misiorowski

Expected to Make Next Start
Chet Holmgren

Dominates the Glass in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads the Way in Game 4
Jalen Williams

Has a Quality Showing on Friday Night
Charlie Morton

Continues Good Work With 10 Strikeouts
James Wood

Homers, Drives in Four
Agustín Ramírez

Agustin Ramirez Homers Twice to Snap Skid
Isaac Paredes

Astros Hopeful Isaac Paredes Can Avoid the Injured List
Royce Lewis

Dealing With Hamstring Strain
Anthony Richardson

Should be Fine for Training Camp
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
Cam Akers

Joining Saints
Michael Mayer

to Get More Involved
Aaron Rodgers

DK Metcalf Building Chemistry with Aaron Rodgers
Colston Loveland

Likely to be Primary Tight End
Joaquin Buckley

Set For Main Event
Kamaru Usman

An Underdog At UFC Atlanta
Miranda Maverick

Set For Co-Main Event
Rose Namajunas

Looks To Bounce Back
Andre Petroski

Looks To Extend His Win Streak To Four
Edmen Shahbazyan

A Favorite At UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos

Set To Take On Former Champion
Cody Garbrandt

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Cody Brundage

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Alonzo Menifield

Opens Up UFC Atlanta Main Card
Oumar Sy

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Reed Sheppard

Will Play in the NBA Summer League
Kevin Durant

Deal Could Come Sooner Rather Than Later
Dorian Finney-Smith

Undergoes Ankle Surgery
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
John Klingberg

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Panthers
Viktor Arvidsson

Sits Out Game 4 Against Panthers
Stuart Skinner

Remains in Oilers Crease Thursday
Jalen Williams

Leads Thunder in Scoring Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Settles for 24 Points in Game 3 Loss
Pascal Siakam

Does Everything for Pacers Wednesday Night
Tyrese Haliburton

Gets Close to Triple-Double in Game 3 Win
Bennedict Mathurin

Leads All Scorers with 27 Points Wednesday
Brandin Podziemski

Has Second Offseason Surgery
Jaylen Brown

Undergoes Successful Knee Procedure
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
Jordan Spieth

Can Contend at Oakmont
Shane Lowry

a Strong Value Play at U.S. Open
Brooks Koepka

Seeks Another Major Win at Oakmont
Viktor Hovland

Still Can Improve at U.S. Open
Michael Kim

a Boom-or-Bust Value Play at U.S. Open
Russell Henley

Looking to Play the Weekend at Oakmont
Tyrrell Hatton

a Safe Option at U.S. Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Eyeing Third U.S. Open Title
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF