The Steelers wasted a tremendous year by their defense in 2019 with one of, if not the worst offenses in the league last season. Somehow they managed to win eight games with horrible quarterback play, but now they get Ben Roethlisberger back, along with their stout defense. Reports have been good for Roethlisberger’s elbow and if those reports prove true, we should see a huge turnaround for this offense starting on Monday night against a weak Giants pass defense.
The Giants are still in rebuild mode, as they have a second-year quarterback in Daniel Jones who flashed some promise his rookie year, but he also has plenty to work on. He will need his new-look offensive line to gel quickly and help him, but he does have a good set of offensive playmakers to get the ball.
TV Info
Date: September 14
Time: 7:10 EST
Channel: ESPN
Live stream: WatchESPN
Broadcast region: National
Notable Statistical rankings (Football Outsiders)
Steelers (2019): 3rd vs. Pass, 4th vs. Rush
Giants (2019): 30th vs. Pass, 7th vs. Rush
DraftKings Sportsbook odds
Steelers: -5.5
Giants: +5.5
Total: 47.5
Pick: Steelers
If you believe the reports that Ben Roethlisberger is fully back and possibly at his healthiest in years, then you have to be all over the Steelers here. They finished 8-8 last season despite sporting one of the worst offenses in the league, as their defense stepped up big time. Put a good offense with that defense and the Giants are in for a long night.
Injury report
Steelers
Thursday
DNP: G David DeCastro (knee), WR Diontae Johnson (foot)
Giants
Thursday
DNP: DE Markus Golden (illness)
Limited: S Adrian Colbert (illness), LB Tae Crowder (hamstring), WR Golden Tate (hamstring), TE Levine Toilolo (hamstring)
Fantasy football start/sit advice
Steelers
Diontae Johnson, Wide receiver, $4,200
After James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers have quite a few players who could step up against a poor Giants defense. Johnson is my favorite of those, as I could see Chase Claypool and James Washington hurting each other and Johnson is a player who should see a significant boost with Roethlisberger behind center this season.
Eric Ebron, Tight end, $4,600
Vance McDonald is still in town, but Ebron has apparently looked good in training camp and should be the defacto fantasy tight end unless we learn otherwise. Ebron isn’t a safe play here, but the Giants don’t have a good secondary, which includes their safeties. His upside in this matchup is good and we can expect him to be active in the red zone.
Giants
Evan Engram, Tight end, $5,400
The Steelers defense isn’t one you want to target, but Engram remains a must start, especially while he’s healthy. If he can hold up for 16 games, he has No. 1 TE upside.
Sterling Shepard, Wide receiver, $5,700
Shepard is the Giants No. 1 receiver and will likely battle Engram and Saquon Barkley for the target lead. While those three are healthy, they are the only must starts on the team until the inevitable injuries hit.