Like most players on this list, it's not as though Ben Roethlisberger is in store for a down year for the Steelers. It's just that a current late-fifth round average draft position -- one that's ahead of Drew Brees (!!!) -- is a little mind-blowing.
In 12 NFL seasons, Roethlisberger has thrown for 30 or more touchdowns in a single season just twice. Brees -- who, again, is currently being selected after Big Ben -- has hit that mark in 8 of his 15 NFL campaigns.
But this isn't just about Roethlisberger versus Brees. Martavis Bryant, which is going to hurt Ben's ability to score fantasy points in big chunks. Bryant's played 19 NFL games with Roethlisberger under center, and the splits with and without Big Ben's freakishly-good receiver are pretty eye-opening.
| 2014-2015 | TD/Game | Passing Yards/Game | FP/Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Bryant | 2.11 | 336.32 | 19.79 |
| Without Bryant | 1.33 | 279.57 | 15.38 |
Under standard scoring settings, where a passing touchdown is worth four points and every 25 passing yards is worth another one, Roethlisberger's seen a per-game fantasy points scored average of 19.79 with Bryant. That falls to 15.38 without him.
Just so you're aware, 19.8 points is where last year's fifth-best quarterback, Blake Bortles, landed. Getting 15.38 points from your quarterback per week is something you can obtain through streaming.
Roethlisberger is more of an eighth- or ninth-round quarterback rather than a sixth-round one. And even in the eighth, you may be better off streaming or looking for a later-round option.