A Fantasy read on the Pittsburgh Steelers

Normally when a player rushes for 1,316 yards over 15 games with eight 100-yard efforts, you plan on drafting him with a first-round pick the following year.

So why is Willie Parker falling as far as Round 4 in early Fantasy drafts this summer?

Let's start with a quick sprint down Memory Lane: Last year, Parker was a beast on the ground and the engine that moved the Steelers offense. But when the Steelers got close to the end zone, Parker wasn't in the plans. In 15 games, Parker scored twice last year, and only one was at the goal line (the other was from 11 yards out).

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On his way to the rushing title, Parker broke his leg at St. Louis and was out for the rest of the regular season and postseason. LaDainian Tomlinson went on to run for more yards, and Parker was off the Fantasy radar.

Then in April, the Steelers made waves when they spent their first-round draft pick on Rashard Mendenhall out of Illinois. The pick was made despite Parker's leg healing nicely and his participation in training camp expected to be a lock. Even Parker was quoted as being surprised by the selection.

On the surface, it looks like the Steelers took Mendenhall to use in tandem with Parker to provide an even more formidable rushing presence in Pittsburgh -- this after falling apart late last season without Parker.

But Parker was solid as the Steelers' primary back long before he got hurt, making the choice a curious one. Moreover, there's still no indication that the club will run when they enter the red zone in 2008. In fact, former Steelers coach and current NFL analyst for CBS Bill Cowher told CBSSports.com that he expects more of the same type of offense from the Steelers in 2008. Cowher even admitted that as a result, the club might limit Parker's touches near the goal line even more.

The end result is that there's a lot to consider when reviewing Parker for your Fantasy team.

Positives: Parker has topped 1,200 rushing yards in each of his last three seasons, averaging over 4.0 yards per carry in his last 913 carries. While Parker might have been ignored at the goal line, he did match or exceed 23 touches (carries plus catches) in all but one game last year before he broke his leg. And while Parker may lose touches and be out of the game in certain spots, he still should have excellent speed, which can always result in touchdowns.

Negatives: The Steelers' offense is poised to once again use Parker to get near the end zone, then go elsewhere with the ball. Last year, Parker had just 45 carries in the red zone for 79 yards (1.8 avg.). He exceeded 4.1 yards per carry everywhere else on the field, and the Steelers also couldn't count on him to run out the clock late in the season. Chances are those reasons are what pushed Pittsburgh to draft Mendenhall, which means that he will get the reps Parker might have gotten in the red zone and at the end of a game. Also, the Steelers' offensive line will be without All-Pro left guard Alan Faneca, who is now with the Jets; offenses in Seattle and Cincinnati slumped after losing their star left guards in recent years, and the rest of the O-line in Pittsburgh is still under the microscope.

Outlook: Parker should still be reliable for 20 touches per game even with Mendenhall in the Steelers' stable, and yards will still come in bunches for him. But touchdowns rule in Fantasy Football, and those are expected to be few and far between for Parker, dropping him into No. 2 Fantasy running back territory. No longer a first-round choice, Parker is best suited for a pick between Rounds 3 and 4, with Mendenhall a very good handcuff option in Rounds 6 and 7.

Position battle: No. 3 wide receiver

Limas Sweed Pro: Sweed is a big, rangy receiver with very nice speed and plenty of experience. He scored 20 touchdowns in 43 college games with Texas with 1,915 yards on 124 catches. Con: The Steelers have no reason to press him into action with Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes at the top of their games. Also, Sweed has an injury history with his left wrist and left ankle, which might become an issue down the line.

Nate Washington Pro: Washington has developed into a favorite deep-threat option for Ben Roethlisberger to throw to. Washington has nine touchdowns over his last two seasons despite starting just six games. He also has a career average of 16.8 yards per catch and is effectively entering his third NFL season after being inactive for most of his first year. He's also in a contract year. Con: Washington may be a solid deep threat, but he doesn't see a lot of regular work. In two seasons, he has 64 receptions and amassed four or more catches in just three games. With Ward and Holmes already on staff and Sweed coming aboard, playing time might be harder to come by. Prediction: The short-term winner is Washington, though Sweed will develop into a nice Fantasy option sooner than later. Neither should be drafted, but Washington will serve as a boom-or-bust one-week replacement option for owners during the season.