No pics of Nate Washington in the database

Been plowing through submissions for our newswriter job all afternoon - thanks to everyone who worked on samples. Let's get back to the battles countdown before signing off the blog for the day.

# 47. Steelers third receiver: Cedrick Wilson vs. Nate Washington

When Ben Roethlisberger wasn't wildly throwing to the opposition, he did a decent job wildly throwing to his teammates last year. Pittsburgh was the only NFL team that had four receivers over 500 yards in 2006. With Santonio Holmes emerging, a position that was a weakness only two years ago now looks like a strength.

The numbers indicate that the battle between Nate Washington and Cedric Wilson isn't as irrelevent as it sounds. Washington, in his first real season of action, exploded for 624 yards and four touchdowns. That was good enough to finish as RB48. Wilson has been serviceable since coming over from San Francisco, but he's always been miscast in Pittsburgh as a seam buster. After four straight seasons hovering around 500 yards, Wilson has plateaued. He's not going to help you in fantasy leagues.

That's why fantasy leaguers and Ben Roethlisberger owners should be rooting for Washington, an undrafted player out of Tiffin University. Washington's vertical game stats are eye opening. Out of 35 catches, 11 were for more than 20 yards, and four were for 45+. The Steelers love going deep and Washington could be their best option.

I wouldn't draft Washington in most leagues, but he could be a fantasy starter if Holmes or Ward ever get hurt. At worst, he's a solid injury fill-in if he can beat out Wilson. Perhaps my favorite thing about him is his inexperience. He stepped up huge for a second-year player out of a tiny school. His ascent might just be starting.