The Facts:
Backup quarterback Byron Leftwich sustained rib and shoulder injuries that put his availability for Week 12 in jeopardy. Leftwich started in place of starter Ben Roethlisberger, who is recovering from a sprained shoulder and a serious rib injury. Charlie Batch is the only healthy quarterback on the roster. Pittsburgh opted to let Dennis Dixon go via free agency earlier this year. Dixon re-signed with the Ravens practice squad the Monday after Roethlisberger's injury. Pittsburgh contacted Dixon about his interest in returning to the team and he said he'd rather stay put. Reports surfaced Monday that the Steelers would workout quarterbacks this week. During halftime at Monday Night Football's 49ers-Bears game, ESPN reported that former Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka will workout on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Kafka was the preseason favorite to backup Micheal Vick, but lost the job to rookie Nick Foles and was cut before the season opener. The Steelers will also work out Brian Hoyer, the former No. 2 behind Tom Brady. The Patriots cut him loose in late August.
Reported by NFL.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
Leftwich took everyone by surprise when he lumbered 31 yards for a touchdown in the opening minutes of Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there as Leftwich completed just 18-of-39 passes for 201 yards and no touchdowns. Emmanuel Sanders led all receivers with three catches for 82 yards. Mike Wallace delivered a big fat goose egg for owners that started him and hoped for the best. Tight end Heath Miller caught just two balls for 22 yards. Batch is expected to draw the start in a road game in Cleveland in Week 12. The 37-year old Batch is 5-2 as a starter in 10 seasons with the Steelers, including a Week 16 game against the St. Louis Rams in 2011 and a pair of games in 2010 when Big Ben was suspended at the start of regular season. Pittsburgh should go run heavy with Batch under center. In last season's Rams game, he threw for just over 200 yards and no touchdowns—which equates to single-digit fantasy production in most leagues. While Cleveland has allowed the 10th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, we can't recommend Batch as anything more than a low-end QB2 in very deep formats. Beyond Batch, it's hard to feel good about starting any Pittsburgh receiver at such a critical point in the fantasy season.
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