Fantasy Demon

Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (ankle) is expected to miss Thursday’s game after sitting out practice on Tuesday.

Polamalu was able to go on a limited basis Monday. It sounds like his injury didn’t respond well to the activity. The Steelers should have an easy time with the Panthers, so they can afford to play it conservatively with Polamalu’s lower leg injury. Ryan Mundy is expected to start in his place, which is a nice bonus for fantasy owners determined to start a streaking Jonathan Stewart.

Updating an earlier item, Troy Polamalu (ankle) missed Tuesday’s practice and is now expected to sit out Thursday night against the Panthers, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Our View: Polamalu regressed after participating on a limited basis Monday. Either way, the Steelers shouldn’t have much trouble with the Jimmy Clausen-led Panthers, and they’re probably just playing it safe with their stud safety.

Heath Miller (concussion) returned to practice Tuesday.

Our View: Miller missed Week 15 after still experiencing concussion symptoms, but it’s looking like he should play against the Panthers. He’s practicing fully and is no longer listed on the injury report.

Troy Polamalu’s status for Week 16 is unknown, according to Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Our View: An ankle/leg injury left Polamalu watching the Steelers Week 15 22-17 loss to the Jets from the sideline. Pittsburgh should have no problem beating the lowly Pathers without their star safety on Thursday night, so it’s quite likely the team just rests him for the playoffs. IDP owners should have another option set to go for this week. We’ll update you with his official status before Thursday’s game.

According to Adam Schefter, Troy Polamalu (ankle) was limited in Monday’s practice.

Our View: The Steelers are on a short week with a Thursday night game against the Panthers, the league’s worst team. They clinched a playoff berth, despite losing to the Jets yesterday, so it might not be a bad idea to rest Polamalu. Either way, their team defense remains a strong play against a floundering Carolina offense.

According to ESPN’s James Walker, Heath Miller (concussion) will be active on Thursday night when the Steelers take on the Panthers.

Our View: He’s been out the past two games after taking a brutal hit from Baltimore’s Jameel McClain in Week 13. You can do better at tight end as the fantasy playoffs enter their championship week.

Rashard Mendenhall took advantage of his limited chances, rushing 17 times for 100 yards and a score in Pittsburgh’s 22-17 loss to the Jets.

Our View: The game was never out of reach, so it’s surprising that the Steelers would throw it 44 times and run it only 25. The 100-yard game was just his fourth of the season, though two have come in his past four weeks. He should be a strong RB2 against Carolina next Sunday.

Mike Wallace hauled in seven passes for a team-high 102 yards as the Steelers fell to the Jets 22-17.

Our View: Wallace’s great game was wasted, but it was nice to see him go over 100 yards for the first time in four weeks. Still, he hasn’t scored once over that span, and his 10 targets finished second to Emmanuel Sanders’ 13.

Ben Roethlisberger hit on 23-of-44 passes for 264 yards and a score in Pittsburgh’s 22-17 loss to the Jets.

Our View: Roethlisberger has seen better days, and he was lucky that both of his fumbles were recovered by the Steelers. Still, he’s topped 240 yards in six straight games, even if he’s only thrown two TD over his past four. He gets a very favorable matchup against Carolina next week.

Steelers Week 15 inactives: S Troy Polamalu, TE Heath Miller, QB Charlie Batch, RB Jonathan Dwyer, OT Chris Scott, DE Aaron Smith, DT Steve McLendon, CB Keenan Lewis.

Our View: As we learned last season, Pittsburgh is a different team when Polamalu is out, and his absence today could be the difference between a Steelers win or loss. The pressure will be on their sometimes shaky secondary.