Over the past decade, no position in the NFL has seen a lessening of importance more than that of the running back. Teams all across the league have seemed to have jumped on the bandwagon of the pass-first offense in an attempt to keep up with the other teams that are doing it. This trend has been helped by the tightening of defensive rules but it’s also been helped by teams that have lost their identity in an attempt to be the next ‘greatest show on turf’. The main victim of this is easily the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team once feared for it’s physicality.
There was once a time, not long ago, when playing the Steelers meant you had to put on double the chin-straps because the hitting was going to be fierce and frequent. Recently though, the team is more inclined to throw the outside screen than to run it up the middle.
However, if second round pick Le’Veon Bell has his way, it’s going to be a throwback year in the ‘Burgh.
Bell was college football’s ultimate workhorse in 2012 with 382 carries for Michigan State. Bell got the ball on first down and he was out there for third downs as well; if early signs coming out of Steelers camp are any indication, he’s going to continue that heavy workload this season as a pro as well.
For fantasy owners looking to snag up a potential keeper at one of the toughest positions to draft, Bell is just what the doctor ordered. In 2012, the Steelers held a fourth quarter lead in 11 of their 16 games yet finished just 8-8. That shows that the team was unable to lean on any of their rushers to grind out the clock in crunch time. That also is one of the main reasons that Bell will get plenty of carries in 2013, and with touches comes fantasy points.
While not yet named the starter, it seems to be only a matter of time before Bell hits number one on the depth chart for a team that will have to rely on it’s ground game with the loss of wideout Mike Wallace to free agency. This is an inevitability that lends to Bell’s fantasy potential and it’s one that the former Spartan is fully ready to embrace.
“Growing up, my family was hard-core Pittsburgh Steelers fans. I know the Steelers love revolving their offense around the running game,” said Bell, who grew up in Columbus, Ohio. “The fact that they picked me made me very happy. I’m glad where I’m at, and I want to go out there and make plays for them.”
Make it a point to keep an eye on Bell’s progress this offseason as he has steal potential written all over him in the early to mid rounds.
James LeBeau is a contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Jlebeau76 or subscribe on Facebook.com/CraveOnlineSports.
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