The NFL Network has been counting down the top 100 players for 2019 this past week and Saturday night they revealed numbers 50-41. Two Pittsburgh Steelers players, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, were included in that group of 10 players.
Smith-Schuster cracked the NFL Top 100 Players list for the first time ever Saturday night as he ranks 47th overall on this year’s list. Smith-Schuster, who was originally selected by the Steelers in the second-round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of USC, was voted the team MVP last season after leading the team in both receptions (111) and receiving yardage (1,426). He also had 7 receiving touchdowns last season.
As for Roethlisberger, he’s ranked 44th overall in the annual top 100 this year after being ranked 18th overall last year. In 2018, Roethlisberger led the NFL in passing yards (5129) and passes completed (452). 44th overall is the lowest that Roethlisberger has been ranked since 2013 when he was 61st overall.
With Smith-Schuster and Roethlisberger now both accounted for in the top 100, that gives the Steelers five players in total on the list. The other three ranked players so far have been outside linebacker T.J. Watt (93rd), defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (88th) and running back James Conner (62nd). This might be it for the Steelers in the top 100 this year as it’s doubtful that guard David DeCastro or center Maurkice Pouncey will be ranked in the remaining 40 players to be named.
