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While it should come as no real surprise to fantasy football owners who have a keen interest in all things related to Le'Veon Bell, it's worth noting the star running back is expected to be suspended for the first two games of next season as a result of his August arrest on marijuana charges.

ESPN's John Clayton, citing team sources, is the latest to report it that expectation, but Bell's attorney, Robert Del Greco Jr., was among the first to publicly concede that his client likely faces up to a two-game NFL suspension. General manager Kevin Colbert subsequently made it clear the Steelers have to be prepared for the possibility that Bell will be suspended at the start of the 2015 season.

All this after a judge ruled on Feb. 6 that Bell will spend 15 months on probation in a first-offender's program stemming from his arrest on marijuana possession and DUI charges with former teammate LeGarrette Blount. Bell's driver's license will also be suspended for 60 days.

Colbert said at his press conference earlier this week that the Steelers will be prepared when or if Bell is suspended, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

As Profootballtalk.com's Michael David Smith suggested, that preparation won’t be easy because no running back in the NFL played a bigger role in his team’s offense than Bell last season.

Indeed, the Sports Xchange contends Bell may have had the greatest season in team history, with 1,361 yards rushing and 83 receptions, which were 32 more than any Steelers back ever.

He showed patience to hit holes and burst through them, and he did not fumble all year. His durability ran out in the final game when he had a hyperextended knee that kept him out of the playoff game.

But after releasing Blount for walking out during a game Nov. 17, the Steelers had no reliable running back. Ben Tate signed three days before their playoff while Dri Archer and Josh Harris were little-used rookies.

That means the Steelers still need a Plan B.

Fantasy football owners looking to roll with him in season-long leagues will have to take that absence into account as well.

The good news?

We all have plenty of time to figure out the options and form a strategy for dealing with Bell's looming absence.