The Pittsburgh Steelers have quieted their doubters and critics as we dive into the 2nd half of the 2020 NFL season. The Steelers are the last undefeated team with a 9-0 record. Their defense is one of the more elite squads this year while the offense is getting by thus far. Still, there are a handful of players on every side of the ball who have gone above and beyond. Without the playmaking abilities from these players, the Steelers would be a completely different team this year. Here are the top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers at this moment.
Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers Right Now
10. Kevin Dotson
Selected in the fourth round in the 2020 draft, guard Kevin Dotson has really had a breakout performance in such a short amount of time. He’s played in four games thus far with two starts since starter Stefen Wisniewski got injured. Pittsburgh’s rushing attack has been below-average this year but Dotson has played a role in the highlights they have had. When it comes to pass-protection, Dotson is the highest-rated linemen in the league. He isn’t listed as the current starter but should be. The Steelers should ride with the hot hand with Dotson as they have been for most of their other skill positions. Still, he deserves to be in the Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers.
9. Tyson Alualu
Alualu, a former top 10 pick in 2010, has been with Pittsburgh since 2017. His second act in the NFL seems to be doing wonders for him. PFF has Alualu graded as the second-best defensive player for the Steelers. Personally, Alualu is looking like the Rajon Rondo of the NFL. He elevates those around him and can even make big plays himself. Alualu has been stuffing the run up the middle and is a pivotal piece for the future.
8. Vince Williams
Williams seems like an underrated player on this defense. He was leading the league in TFL earlier this season and has improved in pass coverage against a TE or RB. He’s having a career-high year and it is adding to this dangerous defense. Sure, he has had major injuries in the past but he seems to be healthy and in his prime. The test is whether he can keep this up until the end of the season.
7. Chris Boswell
2018 seemed as if it was going to be a large contract with no real benefit for the Steelers. He suffered a season-ending injury in December after having an already down year. He bounced back in 2019 with a 93.5 FG completion rate and a perfect record on XPs. He is 14 for 14 on FGs this year with his only flaw being on XPs surprisingly.
6. Robert Spillane
Spillane went from being on the practice squad in August to a productive starter in October. Star LB Devin Bush suffered a season-ending injury and opened the door for Spillane, who shined with 5 tackles in his game as the replacement. Since that game, Spillane has 27 tackles, INT, TD, fumble recovery, and 1 sack. It’s never a bad thing to have star players as your starters and your depth.
5. Chase Claypool
This one is no surprise. Claypool has emerged as a huge playmaker for the Steelers. He started as a rotational player who made a big play every time he stepped onto the field. Pittsburgh is rolling with the hot hand now and Claypool is a pivotal player on the offense. He has nine total TDs in nine games and is a threat with the deep ball and in the run game. The rookie class is deep but Claypool has a solid chance at OROY.
4. Ben Roethlisberger
Some may question just how effective or important Big Ben has been to the team’s success. The film and stats don’t lie though. Coming off a devastating elbow injury, Roethlisberger is still a gunslinger but more cautious. He isn’t making costly mistakes or giving away the ball much and has just 4 INTs to 22 TDs. Yes, his speedy receivers are making up for much of his yardage but he is still extending plays and getting the ball into tight windows.
3. Stephon Tuitt
Tuitt is a star but one that many seem to have been sleeping on lately. He’s quietly having a career year and was AFC DPOW. His current pace has him reaching over 13 sacks, 39 QB hits, and 14 TFL by the end of the year. Their defense is stacked everywhere but Tuitt should have all eyes on him from now on.
2. Minkah Fitzpatrick
It seemed as if Fitzpatrick was having a rather quiet season this year after his breakout last year. In Week 6, Fitzpatrick recorded a pick-6 off of Baker Mayfield and has been back in the limelight. He forced a fumble on Lamar Jackson and broke up the potential GW TD pass. Fitz had another INT against Dallas and once again broke up a major pass in the endzone. Now that he is back on a hot streak, Fitzpatrick could see some AFC DPOW awards soon.
1. TJ Watt
You just cannot deny what TJ Watt is doing on the football field. Watt was always going to be the best player in the Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers. He is outshining and outplaying the likes of Myles Garrett and even Aaron Donald this year. His 9 sacks rank 2nd in the league and is a major force on getting to the ball on big downs. What’s more impressive is that Watt is just as good against the pass as he is the run. Watt has 14 TFL and six defended passes. He is the leader of this chaotic defense and the heart of the team right now. As long as he’s rolling, the rest of the defense can follow in suit.
Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, Chase Claypool, Chris Boswell, Minkah Fitzpatrick, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Robert Spillane, Stephon Tuitt, TJ Watt, top 10, Tyson Alualu, Vince Williams
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