The Facts: Claypool sustained a shoulder injury today, Mike Tomlin said, and he’s being evaluated to determine severity.
Diehards Line:
We'll follow up on this as needed. Remember, Claypool's second season was highlighted by a noticeable dip in touchdown scoring. He went from nine TDs to two last year. As FantasyPros' pointed out, Ben Roethlisberger's lack of downfield throwing ability was part of the problem. On throws with 20-plus air yards, Big Ben graded 31st out of 38 qualifying QBs. Roethlisberger's retirement means Mitchell Trubisky and rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett will compete for the starting role. Expecting either of them to be more effective downfield passers isn't a reach. Expecting Claypool's opportunities to keep him fantasy relevant -- especially with JuJu Smith-Schuster no longer in the picture -- is also reasonable. Stay tuned.