Mason Rudolph wasn’t the only player on the Steelers who was battered and bruised after Thursday night’s war against the Browns. They’ll be without Maurkice Pouncey for three games after he stuck up for his quarterback, and most importantly from a fantasy perspective they’ll likely be without their two best playmakers in James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Conner tried to play through his shoulder injury and left game game early after re-aggravating it, while the latter got knocked out and injured his knee and suffered a concussion in the violent process.
Assuming Conner is out, The Wolf has the three-down, pass-catching stud Jaylen Samuels as his RB11 (+7 vs the ECR), as he should get just about every touch out of the backfield. Then in JuJu’s assumed absence, James Washington is up at our WR31 (+4 vs ECR) for the ole Cowboy connection with Rudolph. Diontae Johnson returned to practice on Wednesday and should return after he was bleeding out of the ears on Thursday, and should find himself on the updated Week 12 Rankings list.
There’s a slight possibility the pathetic Bungles could get their first win of the season against the battered Steelers. It wouldn’t hurt to sprinkle a little on the Cincy money line (+235) if you’re feeling frisky.
