Chase Claypool

Chase Claypool's second-year breakout was inevitably halted by Ben Roethlisberger's lack of downfield throwing ability: On throws with 20-plus air yards, Big Ben graded 31st out of 38 qualifying QBs.

Claypool commanded a 27% air yards share on the season and led the team in the metric over the final four weeks. Better days should be ahead of the Notre Dame product if Pittsburgh can get better downfield quarterback play from Kenny Pickett/Mitchell Trubisky.

Claypool is also due for positive touchdown regression after catching just one of his 12 end-zone targets last season. The 6-foot-5 monster is no stranger to hitting paydirt, after being one of eight wide receivers to score double-digit touchdowns as rookies since 1998.

However, Claypool's range of outcomes is quite wide heading into his third season with 2022 second-round pick George Pickens, chomping at the bit to be the No. 2 on the offense behind Diontae Johnson.

Chase Claypool catches three passes

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool caught 3-of-7 targets for 25 yards in a 42-21 Wild Card loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact

Claypool failed to break any big plays in the loss. The second-year wideout managed to score just two touchdowns in 2021 after racking up 11 all-purpose scores in his rookie year. The Steelers will be moving on from Ben Roethlisberger in the offseason, which would most likely be a positive for Claypool as Roethlisberger simply no longer has the arm strength to get the ball deep downfield to his wideouts. Claypool has a chance to see a bounceback in 2022, depending on who ends up as Pittsburgh's next signal-caller.