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QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

HT: 6-5, WT: 241, Born: 3-2-1982, College: Miami (OH), Drafted: Round 1, Pick 11

2009 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of September 7th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: J Cotchery (84), D Brown (85), Ben Roethlisberger (86), D Driver (87), L Coles (88)
Position: J Cutler (70-QB11), C Palmer (79-QB12), Ben Roethlisberger (86 - QB13), E Manning (99-QB14), M Cassel (101-QB15)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

PPR Average draft position

Current as of September 7th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: L White (92), D Hester (93), Ben Roethlisberger (94), D Sproles (95), J Lewis (96)
Position: M Schaub (72-QB11), C Palmer (77-QB12), Ben Roethlisberger (94 - QB13), M Hasselbeck (101-QB14), E Manning (103-QB15)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

 Click here to go to the Ben Roethlisberger spotlight, our staff's most detailed analysis.

 Click here to go to the Ben Roethlisberger faceoff, our staff's look at the pros and cons.

Best Case

Another year and another championship for Ben Roethlisberger in 2008. However, fantasy owners that expected a repeat of his 2007 numbers were sorely disappointed. Two years ago Big Ben was a Top 6 fantasy QB, but a new offensive philosophy coupled with a tougher schedule made for a barely Top 20 performance in 2008. The Steelers plan to protect Roethlisberger better this year and give him more time to make plays through the air. Even though Nate Washington left for Tennessee, the Steelers are expecting Limas Sweed to step in as a deep threat and red zone target.

Worst Case

Pittsburgh is not known for an awesome air attack. With their stifling defense they only need their offense to move the ball and eat up the clock. Big Ben has only had more than 18 TD passes once (32 in 2007) and usually throws 17 TDs on the season. The Steelers will once again be making a championship run, and with that tremendous defense it should be more of the same for the passing attack in 2009.

Outlook

The Steelers want to win games with a tough defense and a clock-chewing ground game which leaves little room for Roethlisberger to put up big numbers unless the team gets in a shootout. Big Ben needs a better offensive line because he took a beating week in and week out in 2008. Sure, he can make big plays when the called play breaks down, but too often he was running for his life behind a porous line. Throwing for 20 TDs would be an improvement for Roethlisberger, and on this Steelers team that could be his ceiling.

Relevant Articles

Why he is undervalued

Andy Hicks - Ben Roethlisberger was progressing nicely as a fantasy quarterback, moving from 20th, to 18th, 12th and 5th in his first four seasons. Last year he dropped to 17th as the Steelers imposed their authority on most games. If they repeat last year's success, then Roethlisberger will still be a fantasy option, but history rarely repeats in the NFL. If the Steelers show any signs of regressing in the areas in which they excelled in 2008 or other NFL teams are better equipped to match them, then it will be Big Ben to the rescue. Expect results closer to 2007 than 2008.

Latest News

Steelers | Roethlisberger struggles Week 10 (Sun Nov 15, 05:42 PM) - The Associated Press reports Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was 20-for-40 for 174 yards with an interception Week 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Our View: The Bengals zone coverage schemes and high motor defensive line forced Roethlisberger out of rhythm all day long. Roethlisberger narrowly avoided two more interceptions and had a number of passes go off his receivers' fingers.
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Steelers | Roethlisberger had success throwing against Bailey in Week 9 (Tue Nov 10, 11:18 AM) - CBSSports.com reports Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed all six of his targeted passes to WR Santonio Holmes for 93 yards in Week 9, despite Denver Broncos CB Champ Bailey shadowing Holmes during the game. 'We didn't come into this game saying we have to throw away from Champ,' Roethlisberger said. 'We just have to be aware of where he's at.'

link to story   

Steelers | Big Ben throws three TD passes Week 9 (Tue Nov 10, 12:42 AM) - The Associated Press reports Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was 21-for-29 for 233 yards with three touchdown passes and an interception Week 9 against the Denver Broncos.

Our View: Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense was completely held in check in the first half, but a little dose of the no huddle and better offensive line and running game play broke things open in the second half, and just about everything the Steelers did on offense worked.
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2009 Schedule

2008 Game Summaries

Week 1 - The Pittsburgh game plan looked to establish the running game early and Ben Roethlisberger supplemented that with short passes and play action to keep the drives alive. The first drive began at midfield and Roethlisberger added a nifty 17 yards scramble when the pocket broke down. Three passes helped move the ball downfield and set up the first touchdown. The second drive was more pass oriented and Roethlisberger was able to work his WR's into the action, hitting Ward for his longest pass play of the game, 29 yards, setting up the second rushing touchdown. The Steelers' offensive line, questioned in the off-season due to some major departures, held up reasonably well, and Roethlisberger had time in the pocket. The first four Steelers' touchdown drives either had a short field following a turnover or were run-oriented so there were few passing yards available for Roethlisberger. His efficiency and accuracy were outstanding, completing 13 or 14 attempts. A blow to his right knee in the first half hobbled him going into the locker room and he did not throw often in the second half, so owners will need to keep a close eye on that issue. Ward was clearly his prime target all game. He did not play in the fourth quarter as he was relieve by Byron Leftwich.

Week 2 - Roethlisberger was able to control the game by not making mistakes. He was able to deal with the wind, completing 12 of his 19 pass attempts. He moved well in the pocket well and as always was a true leader on the field. Roethlisberger was able to sneak a couple of balls into deep double coverage despite the conditions.

Week 3 - The Pittsburgh game plan looked to establish the passing game early and Ben Roethlisberger was able to connect on five short passes on the opening drive which eventually turned into a field goal. After that, he only had eight completions over the rest of the game, despite numerous attempts. Eagles blitzers made Roethlisberger bring the ball down numerous times and he was basically running for his life. He was not able to make any plays when the pocket broke down, something he has done often in his career. Press coverage on the outside made big plays hard to come by, with the longest gain just 16 yards. On one rare deep ball, Roethlisberger forced a pass into double coverage and the result was a CB Asante Samuel interception. The Steelers' offensive line was porous and had numerous false start and holding penalties. Poor play calling was also in evidence with few screens and draws called to slow down the Eagle attack.

Week 4 - QB Ben Roethlisberger led his team to victory Monday night despite battling knee, hand, and shoulder injuries. He appeared to be at least slightly bothered by the injuries. On the interception, he appeared to want to pump fake the pass but the ball came out of his hand. It was an obvious error as there were no receivers in the area and he threw the ball softly right into the hands of DT Haloti Ngata.

He was sacked three times and managed to avoid a few hits in order to make plays by scrambling out of the pocket. At one point the Steelers went six possessions without a first down and only managed to break out of the slump when Ravens LB Jarret Johnson was flagged for a 15 yard personal foul penalty. The penalty setup the touchdown catch by WR Santonio Holmes.

Week 5 - Pittsburgh wanted to establish a short and intermediate passing game early and was able to move the ball effectively during the first quarter. Ben Roethlisberger was in perfect rhythm in the second quarter getting ample time and able to get the ball to both wide receivers and tight ends. The signature plays were made while his team was behind in the fourth quarter and Roethlisberger was able to get out of the arms of a Jacksonville rusher twice and find WR Hines Ward for a key first down each time. Ending up with over 300 yards, Roethlisberger took a lot of very serious hits and owners need to keep an eye on him, but the upcoming bye week should help him heal up.

Week 7 - Pittsburgh wanted to establish its passing game early and was able to move the ball effectively through the air during the first half. Ben Roethlisberger was in perfect rhythm in the second quarter getting ample time and able to get the ball to both starting wideouts and his running back. The most dramatic play was made while in the third quarter when Roethlisberger was able to get the ball deep and find WR Nate Washington for a touchdown. Ending up with over 200 yards, Roethlisberger finally enjoyed great protection and showed the benefits of his bye week to heal up from what has been a rough season of taking many major hits.

Week 8 - Roethlisberger had a rough day, throwing four interceptions and only completing 13 passes. Roethlisberger was in a tough spot all game, constantly under pressure from Giants' defenders, and clearly the pressure got to him. Of the four interceptions, only one wasn't Roethlisberger's fault. Early in the second quarter he hit Nate Washington right in the chest, but a big hit on him popped the ball up and allowed it to be intercepted. The lone bright spot of the day for Roethlisberger was when he found Washington wide open deep downfield for a 65 yard touchdown. His day fittingly ended with an interception, on a last minute desperation deep toss.

Week 9 - Through the team's first five drives, Roethlisberger completed only one of nine passes for nine yards and an interception. The pick came on a batted pass that bounced off an offensive lineman and popped into the arms of a Redskins' defender. Roethlisberger scored from one yard out on a quarterback sneak that gave the Steelers a 10--6 lead near the end of the second half. He missed the entire second half with what was reported as a shoulder injury.

Week 10 - Pittsburgh wanted to establish a short and intermediate passing game early due to a shoulder injury to Roethlisberger. He was able to move the ball effectively during the first quarter and was in a passing rhythm for most of the first half, getting ample time and able to spread the ball to his wideouts and tight end. The most significant play was a flea flicker pass where he was able to find WR Hines Ward down to the one yard line. The Colts took away Roethlisberger's deeper and outside passes, so he went to the tight ends and slot receivers underneath. His patience was tested and two of his interceptions were when he tried to force the ball in to tight coverage. On the positive side, he was able to avoid most of the sacks and serious hits that have been a constant for him this season.

Week 11 - Despite failing to get his team into the end zone, Roethlisberger played nearly a perfect game. He made good, quick reads on just about every pass and never came close to turning the ball over. The Pittsburgh plan of attack was to use quick routes and short curls to move the ball, very similar to what Denver employed to beat the Chargers back in Week 2. He just took what the defense gave him, which on most plays was a lot. He had to fight off some early pressure from the San Diego defense, which sacked him three times in the first half. They got to him just once after halftime, however, and Hines Ward and Matt Spaeth found the soft spots in the defense almost at will. The one time he was asked to make a big play downfield was on a pass to Hines Ward that went for thirty yards. He had to thread the needle between three defenders to get the ball to Ward, and he was able to do just that. Roethlisberger was unable to pick up a touchdown pass, and the closest he came to one was on a seven yard completion to Nate Washington from the eight yard line. Obviously that means Washington fell a yard shy of the end zone, a drive that resulted in Mewelde Moore being stuffed for a one yard loss on fourth down and goal from the one.

At one point, it appeared he slightly tweaked his knee after slipping and then being twisted awkwardly to the ground, but he remained in and showed no ill effects.

Week 12 - Roethlisberger played very well in this game and seemed to play better as the game went on. After getting off to a slow start, his biggest play of the game came early in the second quarter when he found WR Hines Ward wide open over the middle for 37 yard gain. He would find TE Heath Miller a few plays later on a short three yard touchdown pass, his only passing score of the game. He finished the first half with nice numbers completing ten of 17 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Roethlisberger played even better in the second half and made enough plays in the half to take control of the game. His biggest play of the game came with about two minutes left when he scrambled for an eight yard touchdown run.

Week 13 - Pittsburgh wanted to establish balance in its passing and running games early and was able to move the ball more effectively through the air during the second half. Ben Roethlisberger was able to get the ball to his starting wideouts, his tight end and his running back, keeping drives alive by converting half of his third down attempts. Most of his passes were short and intermediate range. Roethlisberger just missed a ball deep to an open WR Nate Washington for a possible touchdown, under throwing it. Ending up with less than 200 yards, Roethlisberger's numbers were clearly impacted by the bad weather.

Week 14 - It was said before the game that a lingering shoulder injury to Roethlisberger was mostly cleared up. His play did nothing to prove that. He was unable to move the ball effectively during the first half and absent any passing rhythm for most of the game. He did regain his rhythm in the fourth quarter and was able to spread the ball to his wideouts and tight end. The most significant drive was late in the game and he showed good mobility and was able to find WR Nate Washington twice, the second time was down to the eight yard line. Roethlisberger then went to TE Heath Miller for a touchdown to tie the game. His patience was tested but he avoided forcing the ball into tight coverage for the most part. On the down side, the sacks and serious hits that have been a constant for him along the way this season were back and he held the ball way too long.

Week 15 - Ben Roethlisberger passed against the second best pass defense. He was still able to get over 200 yards and threw the game winning score. It wasn't a great day but it was all you could expect from a quarterback playing Baltimore. Roethlisberger relied on Hines Ward heavily down the stretch as he was the only receiver not dropping passes. He used his legs sparingly and took slides or the sideline to avoid hits. It was a smart run game by Roethlisberger and he exceeded expectations.

Week 16 - Pittsburgh wanted to establish a deep passing game and they asked Ben Roethlisberger to hold onto the ball longer to get his starting wideouts downfield. This was a major mistake. His protection, which has been a major question mark this season, did not deliver. He took many big hits from the swarming Titans defense and will likely get a day off next Sunday, in what will be a meaningless game for Pittsburgh. A bright spot was that Pittsburgh rediscovered the tight end position and that resulted in 8 catches today. Ben also did a decent job to keep drives alive by converting close to half of his third down attempts.

Week 17 - It was as quiet as Heinz Field has ever been during an injury timeout to QB Ben Roethlisberger. LB Willie McGinest and another player hit him and his head did connect with the turf. By the time this article was written, reports diagnosed him with a concussion. While the severity and outlook is unknown, nobody should be surprised if he missed the next game or more. A first round bye for the Steelers may gain him some time to recover. Prior to the injury, Roethlisberger was able to move his team into scoring range twice. His most significant drive was in the first half on a play where he showed veteran pocket presence to find WR Nate Washington for an apparent touchdown, but the play was called back on a holding call. QB Byron Leftwich came in to play more than half the game and showed good mobility on an eight yard scramble for a touchdown. His passing numbers were good (7/12/80) and he could be productive if called upon, based on his results from limited work this year.

Week 19 - Early on, Roethlisberger looked a bit rusty as the Steelers had a little bit of trouble moving the football against San Diego. But by the second quarter, it was obvious that Roethlisberger was going to have a nice game. He was getting tons of time to throw the football, even when the Chargers were blitzing. He even threw a key block to take out DE Luis Castillo on a third down WR reverse handoff, which proved that Roethlisberger was feeling no ill effects from the concussion he suffered two weeks ago.

The key to this game was the fact that he got so much time to throw the ball, which in turn meant a lot of sustained drives for the Steelers. Never was that more evident than during the third quarter when the Steelers controlled the ball for all but 17 seconds of game play. They converted three separate third down and long plays, capping the possession with Roethlisberger's only touchdown pass of the day (off a play fake to TE Heath Miller). He could have easily had better passing statistics, but he misfired on at least three passes that could have gone for big yardage. First, he missed WR Santonio Holmes for what would have been about a thirty yard completion. He again missed Holmes with an overthrow for what could have been a possible 49 yard touchdown pass. And he also missed Miller wide open in the flat on a pass that he tried to rush. But despite the missed opportunities, Roethlisberger did more than enough to secure the victory and made a number of big-time passes; certainly enough to convince us that he's not still feeling the effects of the concussion, at least.

Week 20 - Roethlisberger overcame a back injury he suffered during the first quarter where he received treatment on the sideline and the loss of Hines Ward to make several big plays to lead his team to victory. Roethlisberger did not miss any time and displayed excellent mobility in evading a stiff Ravens pass rush several times to buy his receivers additional time to get open. Roethlisberger proved accurate both in the pocket and out of the pocket, and distributed the ball to nine different receivers, making good decisions as to who to target. His numbers could have been enhanced if not for a ruling that Holmes did not have possession of a pass that he appeared to have caught for a touchdown, and for Limas Sweed not dropping a well thrown deep pass a couple of yards outside of the end zone with no Baltimore defender to prevent him from scoring.

Week 21 - For the eighteenth time in his career, Roethlisberger rallied his team to a victory when trailing late in a game. Safe to say none were more dramatic than this one. He drove Pittsburgh 78 yards and threw the winning TD pass with just 35 seconds left in the game. He completed 21 of 30 for 256 yards and earned a passer rating of 93.2. While Pittsburgh remains committed to running the ball first and playing great defense, Roethlisberger demonstrated that he is capable of posting great numbers when called upon. He was elusive and made several great plays when it looked like he might be sacked.