The Pittsburgh Steelers are presumably going to be quite a different team next season considering they will likely be without wide receiver Antonio Brown as well as running back Le'Veon Bell. Although the Steelers had some fantastic talent emerge in 2018, there will be many challenges ahead for the team.

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has an incredibly bright future in the league and displayed his skill set last season as a potentially elite receiver in the league. JuJu could find things to be a bit more challenging next season if Brown does get dealt, but his talents should still give him plenty of room to replicate the success he had in 2018.

Trust/Connection with Ben Roethlisberger

The connection between JuJu and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is obvious.

Roethlisberger targeted JuJu 166 times in 2018 and completed a team-high 111 receptions to his second-year receiver. JuJu also lead the team in receiving yards with 1,426 yards which was shocking considering Antonio Brown's dominance over the years. Brown had lead the team in yards and receptions for the previous five seasons dating back to 2013, but it's obvious JuJu was able step up big time this past season.

Not only does Roethlisberger trust JuJu in regards to his playmaking ability, but he often looks for him in crucial moments in games where he once looked for Brown.

The fact of the matter is JuJu is ready to step up and emerge as the team's number one receiver. With increased responsibility comes the fact that he will be guarded by top corners as well as see increased coverage including double-teams.

Reliability

This past season proved to be a very successful campaign for JuJu and the fact that he was able to play in each game bodes well for the offense.

Something that can plague players is injuries, and in turn, these injuries affect team success. Notable situations regarding this scenario include New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green. Both players are crucial to team success, and in 2018 it was apparent when they were injured, team success took a significant hit.

Luckily for the Steelers, JuJu has done a fantastic job staying conditioned and healthy which is something Brown has always been known for. Brown's work ethic and ability to play seasons out in their entirety have led to his success over the years.

If JuJu can emulate Brown's ability to stay on the field and play full seasons, it will be a somewhat smooth transition for the Steelers in trying to replace Brown.

Big-Play Ability

JuJu appears to be the full package since entering the league. His catching ability is unbelievable, his catch and run ability, as well as his ability to blow the top off a defense, are attributes that are rare in the league.

Players like Julio Jones, Odell Beckham Jr., and Deandre Hopkins have been able to maintain that skill set for years on end at an elite level. If JuJu can continue what he has done, it won't be long before he is on a similar level.