Redman has had a nice preseason, rushing for 140 yards on 28 carries (5.0 YPC) while scoring a pair of touchdowns. One of those scores was of the goal-line variety from a yard out. Can he be an effective short-yardage back during regular season action? Possibly, but ultimately I just see the superior talent winning out here.

When you look at past effective goal-line vultures, the back that they were stealing those touchdowns from was typically a humming bird, not a bulldozer like Mendenhall. There's nothing wrong with Rashard's short-yardage skills. He's a complete back.

Now, don't take this to mean that I believe this news doesn't hurt Mendenhall's fantasy value at all. It does. Redman will surely eat into Mendenhall's touchdown total some. But Tomlin simply isn't going to turn to Redman every time they are close to the stripe, especially when a perfectly capable Mendenhall has the hot hand, which he should most weeks.

The reasons to be excited about Mendenhall's fantasy prospects this season are numerous.

--He is coming off a very successful 2009 season and has a first-round pedigree.

--The Steelers plan to go back to their roots with more of a smashmouth style this season, and they'll be leaning on the ground game even more so early on while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serves his suspension.

--Mendenhall's underrated receiving skills are expected to be utilized more often this season.

These facts make him a top-10 fantasy talent. I don't see Isaac Redman changing that.