The Pittsburgh tight end situation just hasn’t been the same since longtime Steeler Heath Miller announced his retirement in the winter of 2016. Miller served 10 years in Pittsburgh, accumulating over 6,000 receiving yards that were complimented by 45 touchdowns. He was a favorite target of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and left a void that will (and has) been tough to fill.

Entering the 2016 season, Pittsburgh signed Ladarius Green to a four year deal with the intention of lessening the blow left by Miller’s departure. Things weren’t good right from the start. He started the season on the PUP list due to an ankle injury and was not activated for play until November. Green was semi-productive during his brief playing career as a Steeler, compiling a total of 18 receptions, 304 receiving yards and a single score. However, Green would suffer yet another injury against Cincinnati, this time a concussion that would ultimately end his time in the “Steel City” and was released by the team this past May after failing a routine physical.

While Green was dealing with the many ailments that prevented him from taking the field, Jesse James, a then second year player was inserted into the number one tight end spot. James, a Pennsylvania native who also played college ball at Penn State was accepted by the fans, so much so that “Heath” was chanted whenever he caught the ball, in reference to the days when Miller would receive the same chant from the crowd at Heinz field. Overall, James ended the season with 338 receiving yards paired with three touchdowns. So where does this leave James entering this season?

Trusting the Outlaw

With Ladarius Green out of the equation, James has emerged as the clear-cut favorite to start the season as the number one tight end on the Steeler’s depth chart. James has limited competition for the starting job. Xavier Grimble, who is now in his second year is still in his learning phase and was also hindered by a rib injury that saw him miss a significant amount of playing time last season. Though the hopes are high for Grimble, as evident by the team choosing not to select a tight end at this years’ draft, he is not yet at the level required to be a significant offensive threat as he is still developing.

Veteran David Johnson (no, not the good one), who is on his second tenure with the team is expected to be featured mostly as a run-blocker. Undrafted free-agents Scott Orndoff and Phazahn Odom aren’t shoe-ins to make the cut let alone pose any threat to start. So now we can turn back to James. Head coach Mike Tomlin has praised James for his maturity and for taking an analytical approach to his play style. James believes he is entering this season with a better understanding of the system and feels that he is better prepared for the upcoming season. As last season progressed, it became evident that Ben Roethlisberger became more accepting of James and confident of his abilities as he was targeted a total of 15 times during the Steelers’ postseason run.

Now that his on-field rapport with Roethlisberger has strengthened and Ladarius Green is out of the equation, it is obvious that his production will increase. Though Pittsburgh is relatively deep, one of Roethlisberger’s favorite targets in the past was a tight end. James has room to improve but should get the opportunity to prove his fantasy value, especially on a team that is often plagued with injuries and off the field issues surrounding key offensive players. James may surprise people this season and may prove his fantasy relevancy this season.

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