Fantasy owners have been chomping at the bit to get Willie Parker healthy and with the playoffs starting in most leagues either this week or next, the Steelers' running back is as close to 100% as he has been since September. However, how much he is going to help your fantasy team in the stretch drive remains to be seen.

It appears as if the Steelers are content to go with a running back-by-committee approach moving forward. Mewelde Moore has been effective and the reduced workload will increase the chances of Parker staying healthy. In addition, Gary Russell was summoned last week in the team's win over the Patriots at the goalline, taking away a key opportunity for a touchdown.

"No doubt it was a successful venture for us last week," head coach Tomlin told the team's website about featuring the two backs. "Mewelde is a good player, and he's proved that he's capable of helping us win. We all know what Willie's capable of doing. I'm sure we'll continue to see both of those guys in some form or fashion. The minute details of rotating them just hasn't been worked out yet for this week." 

Parker looked decent in his return against the Patriots last week and finished the game with 87 yards on 16 carries, but he sat out for long stretches of the game. Throw in the fact that he's battling both a knee injury and a bum shoulder and there is always a chance he could aggrevate an injury and be forced to the sidelines.

To make matters worse only the Cowboys and the Ravens have a tougher schedule ahead for running backs.

WEEK 14 - DALLAS - 10th best rushing defense - Allows 10.25 fantasy ppg to opposing RB's
WEEK 15 - @BALTIMORE - 3rd best rushing defense - Allows 7.5 fantasy ppg to opposing RB's
WEEK 16 - @TENNESSEE - 12th best rushing defense - Allows 12.1 fantasy ppg to opposing RB's (numbers are misleading; they are getting healthy now)

Expect to see Parker get about 15-20 touches per week and Mewelde Moore get 10-14 carries. If that is the case Parker will only see about 60% of the available points out there and based off the averages above that translates to about 18 total points during the three weeks of the playoffs. With the match-ups taken into consideration neither Steelers' running backs is very appealing and neither can be looked at as being anything more than a flex option moving forward.

Fantasy Football steelers, willie parker, mewelde moore, mike tomlin