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Markus Wheaton - Underrated? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Bob Magaw
- Start date
az_prof
Footballguy
I don't think it is as clear as some commentators think that Bryant will easily supplant Wheaton. Reminds me of the situation in Cincy between Sanu and Marvin Jones. Everyone expected Jones to be better and then when Sanu was hurt it looked like Jones had supplanted him and everyone thought Sanu was just not very good. This year the roles are reversed and Sanu seems to have come into his own. I was one of those who believed the peanut gallery and cut Sanu in dynasty last year. Now I regret it. This is really Wheaton's rookie year because his hand injury kept him off the field most of last year. He was thrust into starting with little real playing time and he has been inconsistent. But that doesn't mean he isn't talented and won't eventually win this battle. Time will tell but the last two weeks have proven that Wheaton does have talent.
LittlePhatty
Footballguy
It's week 10 and Wheaton still seems to have communication issues with Ben, or he's just outright running the wrong routes on some plays.
nittanylion
Footballguy
Hey there, Martavisbryantguys! 
Very surprised to see Wheaton not even ranked at this time in both Standard Redraft and PPR Redraft. No LeVeon Bell for 1st 3 weeks, and I think Sammie Coates has plenty of development to do before he sees meaningful snaps. Although many feel Bryant will supplant Wheaton as the #2, and Tomlin has indicated it's a Training Camp competition between them, we're far from seeing an ***OFFICIAL*** announcement as to who's who at this point. The two are remarkably different Players, and even though I like Wheaton, at face value I can see Bryant as the sensible compliment to Brown in 2 WR sets...but certainly the Steelers should be running plenty of 3WR sets and Brown, Bryant and Wheaton are very unique to one another in terms of size, speed and skills. The Steelers pass offense should be one of the most prolific in the League, and certainly Bell, and also Heath Miller will get looks too. Wheaton has plenty to work on with his game, but it's not like he's a JAG, and I think it's premature to write him off enough to bounce him completely out of the rankings. Martavis Bryant has plenty of work to do, too. Certainly with the development of Bryant and the drafting of Coates, the heat is on Wheaton to step up and prove himself in a big way in 2015. I've read reports that he's putting in the work to improve his game, and despite the # of weapons available to Big Ben, that offense should produce enough volume to feed 1RB, 3WR and 1TE plenty of targets and catches, without Bryant and Wheaton vulturing each other into flexville if they both go into the season playing well. From an ADP standpoint, if you believe in Wheaton, his price is ridiculously low. Very late rounds to possibly undrafted in some formats...
...is everyone completely writing off Wheaton, or are there some folks out there who still think he can make his mark with the Steelers in 2015?
Very surprised to see Wheaton not even ranked at this time in both Standard Redraft and PPR Redraft. No LeVeon Bell for 1st 3 weeks, and I think Sammie Coates has plenty of development to do before he sees meaningful snaps. Although many feel Bryant will supplant Wheaton as the #2, and Tomlin has indicated it's a Training Camp competition between them, we're far from seeing an ***OFFICIAL*** announcement as to who's who at this point. The two are remarkably different Players, and even though I like Wheaton, at face value I can see Bryant as the sensible compliment to Brown in 2 WR sets...but certainly the Steelers should be running plenty of 3WR sets and Brown, Bryant and Wheaton are very unique to one another in terms of size, speed and skills. The Steelers pass offense should be one of the most prolific in the League, and certainly Bell, and also Heath Miller will get looks too. Wheaton has plenty to work on with his game, but it's not like he's a JAG, and I think it's premature to write him off enough to bounce him completely out of the rankings. Martavis Bryant has plenty of work to do, too. Certainly with the development of Bryant and the drafting of Coates, the heat is on Wheaton to step up and prove himself in a big way in 2015. I've read reports that he's putting in the work to improve his game, and despite the # of weapons available to Big Ben, that offense should produce enough volume to feed 1RB, 3WR and 1TE plenty of targets and catches, without Bryant and Wheaton vulturing each other into flexville if they both go into the season playing well. From an ADP standpoint, if you believe in Wheaton, his price is ridiculously low. Very late rounds to possibly undrafted in some formats...
...is everyone completely writing off Wheaton, or are there some folks out there who still think he can make his mark with the Steelers in 2015?
Faust
MVP
Markus Wheaton sees big potential as Steelers' slot receiver:
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/84750/markus-wheaton-sees-big-potential-as-steelers-slot-receiver
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/84750/markus-wheaton-sees-big-potential-as-steelers-slot-receiver
Faust
MVP
Steelers WR Markus Wheaton to work on Yards After Catch in 2015
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2015/5/29/8685181/steelers-wr-markus-wheaton-to-work-on-yards-after-catch-in-2015
Steelers Film Room: How Markus Wheaton Can Improve His YAC In 2015
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/06/how-markus-wheaton-can-imrpove-his-yac-in-2015/
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2015/5/29/8685181/steelers-wr-markus-wheaton-to-work-on-yards-after-catch-in-2015
Steelers Film Room: How Markus Wheaton Can Improve His YAC In 2015
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/06/how-markus-wheaton-can-imrpove-his-yac-in-2015/
Bojang0301
Omar4Heisman
It feels like Ben taking pressure off of Bryant. Everyone already knows who the more talented player is. A lot of times 2nd year WRs the wheels come off some. Ben has been around for a long time. I think he knows how important it is not to have all the pressure/hype on one guy.
blake
Footballguy
I guess that is only part of what makes this hobby so enjoyable. I actually took it the other way, that Ben was trying to put some pressure on him and light a fire under him.
Who is the more talented player?
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Faust
MVP
Steelers' Wheaton adjusting his game moving to slot receiver:
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8801081-74/wheaton-receiver-season#axzz3huPGo3Gl
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8801081-74/wheaton-receiver-season#axzz3huPGo3Gl
JamesTheScot
Footballguy
I don't think you say that someone "will be" the #2 trying to motivate them to grow into that role. I think you use "can be" or "has a chance to be".
I would absolutely take this as a cautionary note concerning Bryant's status.
Even if it doesn't necessarily come true in terms of Wheaton having a firm grip on that job, a sharing of that WR2 role means week to week variance and not being able to count on either guy in your lineup.
I'm surprised Ben was pimping Wheaton so hard. It has definitely caused me to think twice about where I have Bryant ranked.
I would absolutely take this as a cautionary note concerning Bryant's status.
Even if it doesn't necessarily come true in terms of Wheaton having a firm grip on that job, a sharing of that WR2 role means week to week variance and not being able to count on either guy in your lineup.
I'm surprised Ben was pimping Wheaton so hard. It has definitely caused me to think twice about where I have Bryant ranked.
plastik
Footballguy
Wheaton taken in the 13th round (WR59) of an MFL10 I'm in today. ADP at the end of the 15th and rising. He finished as WR59 last year, so he's still good value even in the 13th if you think he'll best last year's production and it's hard to see how he won't, barring injury. With the hype and high expectations surrounding PIT this year I'd bet he creeps up into the 11th soon, with the 7-8th round a possibility if he looks to truly be ahead of Bryant come the third week of the preseason.
TheFanatic
Footballguy
A few years ago, Ben said that he expected his TE to break out and go to his first pro bowl and he wanted that for him. That next year he got 98 catches (previous high was 66) and almost 800 yards (previous high was 566). Ben isn't always talking coach speak.
JamesTheScot
Footballguy
Yeah. Saying that Wheaton "will be the #2" is rather precise.TheFanatic said:
I don't see coaches saying that a player is or will be something unless they mean it. If they are just talking up a guy, they usually keep it somewhat generalized and ambiguous...like saying they want to get a guy more touches or that he needs to see the field more.
az_prof
Footballguy
No more talking. Initial depth chart has Wheaton as the #2 and Bryant as second string.
http://www.ffchamps.com/news/24808/martavis-bryant-listed-as-2nd-string/
Same situation as 2014, and Bryant outperformed Wheaton soundly in FF terms.
I suppose it's a boost to Wheaton's fantasy stock though that he holds onto his position.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
In my PPR league
jurb26
Footballguy
In my PPR league with bonus for long TDs;Bryant 138.1
Wheaton 137.0
This also doesn't account for the fact that Bryant played 6 less games. So from a PPG standpoint, Bryant was 13.81 and WR27 while Wheaton was 8.56 and WR69.
Bryant was clearly the more valuable fantasy player last year. By a HUGE margin.
Raiderfan32904
Footballguy
One guy pulls in 2 TD's over a full 16 game season. Averages ~ 12 yards a catch. Meh
Other guy pulls in 8 TD's in just 10 games. Averages ~21 yards a catch.
One of these guys is waiver wire fools gold and the other is a solid WR3 dripping with upside.
Other guy pulls in 8 TD's in just 10 games. Averages ~21 yards a catch.
One of these guys is waiver wire fools gold and the other is a solid WR3 dripping with upside.
TheFanatic
Footballguy
Sabertooth
Footballguy
You guys should call Tomlin and tell him that Bryant is way better.
jurb26
Footballguy
That wasn't the discussion.
Wheaton is going to keep starting in two-wide sets because he's lots better than Bryant at the things necessary in those kinds of sets. But that doesn't mean very much, because the Steelers, under Haley, are rarely in two-wide sets. Bryant is, for all intents and purposes, a starter, because he's a major part of the package they use almost all the time.Tool said:
But no, I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for him to unseat Wheaton as the official #2. Which is ok, because he'd never get used in that role anyway.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
They scored dang near the same over the last 6 weeks of the season. Bryant had a huge spike and then fell right off. He was particularly useless in the fantasy playoffs with his inconsistency.
Week 13 - 3.3 points vs. the Saints - don't get much better match up than that.
Week 14 - 20.9 Tough time starting him coming off 3.3 vs a weak D - probably a SIT and he goes off for at the Bengals
Week 15 - 6.1 If you dodged that bullet and won your Week 14 game, you probably played him this week at the Falcon. Oops.
Week 16 - 6.3 Does it matter, he laid an egg and cost you your playoff life in Week 15. If you did stick with him he rewarded you with another dud 6.3 points vs. the Chiefs.
I don't see this changing a lot this season. He's going to be hit or miss. A good WR3 but a better WR4 or WR5. Because you just stick him in and hope for the best.
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Yeah, the advantage Wheaton has in polish as a route runner is going to keep Bryant a "boom or bust" type guy.
But of course, he was already a boom or bust guy -- and an excellent one -- and now he's one with a firmer role and an additional six games of opportunity.
Five-star guy in best-ball or total points, three-star guy in any other format with the knowledge that he's probably going to be maddeningly inconsistent.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Who has the stones to pull the trigger Thursday night? No Bell. No Bryant. We know the Patriots like to take away the opponent's best option, which will be Antonio Bryant. I see big nights for Miller and Wheaton.
