Justin Brown

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is excelling in the no-huddle. The offensive line is keeping him grass stain-free. Antonio Brown is turning short catches into long gains, and September isn't even here yet.

For all that's going well with the Steelers' offense — and how many times has that been written in August during recent seasons — its regular-season success or failure might hinge on a player with one career start.

The starting wide receiver job opposite Brown is Markus Wheaton's to lose — and, so far, the third-round draft pick from last season is winning it. He turned an inside-out move and solo coverage into a 16-yard touchdown catch against Buffalo, and Brown was as happy afterward as he was.

“I think it's definitely a key — a key — for him to make those plays when he gets one-on-one matchups,” Brown said Monday.

The story goes on to say that the Steelers have other options, but Wheaton clearly is the best. They'd prefer to keep Lance Moore in the slot rather than move him outside and, while fourth-round pick Martavis Bryant and 2013 pick Justin Brown are having impressive days in camp, both need more polishing. Steeler WRs have averaged 65-848-4.5 over the past four years and Wheaton is ranked 49th on our WR list. According to his ADP, GMs are taking a late-round flier on him in the 14th round.