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Following up on a previous item. ... The NFL announced Monday that Martavis Bryant has been suspended without pay for a minimum of one year for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Bryant's suspension begins immediately and as previously noted, it's a major blow to the Steelers' offense -- and one with considerable fantasy football implications.

As NFL Network's Ian Rapoport notes, like Josh Gordon, Bryant is eligible to apply for reinstatement no sooner than 60 days before 1-year anniversary of the suspension.

"We are very disappointed that Martavis Bryant has put himself in this current situation of being suspended by the league," GM Kevin Colbert said in a statement. "He is at a crossroads of his professional life, and he needs to understand significant changes need to occur in his personal life if he wants to regain his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. We are hopeful that Martavis will take the necessary steps to develop the discipline in his personal life to become a successful player and a good teammate."

Agent Brian Fettner told USA Today on Saturday that Bryant missed multiple drug tests. The third-year wideout has been suspended before -- he opened last season with a four-game ban due to multiple violations of the league's substance-abuse policy.

"We're all stunned, me included," Fettner said. "We clearly miscalculated the issue. His isn't a party issue. It's a coping issue and a depression issue, and he's got to take care of it."

Fettner added that Bryant will be checked into rehab this week.

Bryant, who hauled in 14 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown over two playoff games, was clearly coming into his own.

And as NFL.com's Marc Sessler suggests, with 17 total touchdowns over two seasons, Bryant's value to the Steelers won't easily be masked over. Expect a larger role for second-year receiver Sammie Coates and veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey behind Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton.

According to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler, Wheaton will be the clear-cut No. 2 receiver. He'll also be in a contract year. He'll want the ball as a result.

Fowler went on to note that while the Steelers designed a lot of bubble screens/reverse/go routes for Bryant, Wheaton was rarely a first option. Even when Bryant was out early last year, Wheaton and Ben Roethlisberger weren't on the same page for some reason.

Expect the Steelers to work harder to set up Wheaton in the offense.

Fowler also reminded readers the Steelers' selection of Coates in the third round last season was in part a reaction to Bryant's looming four-game suspension that year. Now, selection looks perfectly timed, assuming Coates is ready. Fowler added: "Know this: The Steelers will give Coates a chance to earn that No. 3 receiver job."

The team didn't need him last year. They do now.

The addition of former Chargers tight end Ladarius Green helps, but make no mistake about it: Brown and Le'Veon Bell will be Roethlisberger's top weapons.

In six games last season (four with the Landry Jones/Mike Vick quarterback combo), Bell averaged four receptions per game compared to 5.18 the year before. Back with Big Ben full-time -- and no Bryant, Bell can channel 2014 again.

As Fowler notes, what makes Bell great, aside from his patient running style, is his elite pass-catching ability.

"He can be a high-level slot receiver if you need him to be," Fowler added. The Steelers might need that at times.

Brown, who is coming off a 136-catch season, proved to be as capable with Bryant as without last year. In the four games Bryant missed to start 2015, Brown responded with a nine-catch, 133-yard, one-TD game Week 1; a nine-catch, 195-yard, one-TD game in Week 2; an 11-catch, 108-yard outing in Week 3; and a five-catch, 42-yard effort in Week 4.

As for Roethlisberger?

He went into New England without Bryant or Bell and threw for 351 yards. This offense is built to withstand one loss.

Fowler's guess is that Roethlisberger gets friendly with Green, who is 6-6 with good speed. Fowler explained, Green is a vertical tight end threat, which gives the Steelers a similar mold to Bryant -- maybe not with Bryant's speed burst, but enough simulation to keep defenses honest.

I'll also suggest that more than a few fantasy football owners will over-react to this news, which just might increase Big Ben's draft day value a bit.

All-in-all, Bryant’s loss will be felt by all involved. But it’s not catastrophic – at least for the Steelers. Dynasty owners counting on Bryant to make a major leap this season might argue the point.