Feature - Any Bears with fantasy value?
Posted by Jerry Burns on August 28, 2008
With the NFL preseason winding down fans are getting pumped for the start of the NFL regular season. With the start of every NFL season also comes the start of the fantasy football season. Today we take a look at rather there are any valuable fantasy players on the Chicago Bears.
High Value
Bears Defense/Special Teams - The Bears Defense is probably the still the most valuable part of the Bears to a fantasy owner. While the defense’s performance has been somewhat unimpressive during preseason, look for them to step it up once the regular season starts. With the good health of Brian Urlacher, Mike Brown, Tommie Harris, and Nate Vasher, the defense is still easily a top 5 fantasy value defense.
Robbie Gould - The highest kicker paid kicker ever has been one of team’s top scorers over the last few years, and until a legitamate #1 reciever emerges, don’t expect that to change this year. He has an 84.8% accuracy making him one of the most accurate kickers in the league. One warning though for fantasy owners, Gould has never made a 50+ yarder in his NFL career.
Some Value
Matt Forte - The rookie running back may bring some surprising return as a rb2, but is a safe and solid rb3 on any fantasy team. With the release of running back Cedric Benson, the Bears have paved the way for Matt Forte to be their franchise running back. The Bears have always been a running team, which will allow Matt Forte to get around 20 touches a game. He will also have Kevin Jones to help alleviate the pressure
Devin Hester - The return man turned wide receiver has many questions surrounding him going into this season, which makes him a #3 wide receiver at best. He should continue to be the most dominate return man in the game which gives him the majority of his value. He is also expected to play at least 30 plays on the offense. He is the closest thing the Bears have to a legitimate down-field threat, at least early in the season. The biggest question is rather or not the time spent on offense will hurt his production on special teams.
Low Value
Kyle Grossman/Rex Orton - The dreaded bears quarterbacks. Grossman has left fantasy owners frustrated for years now, while the Bears coaching staff have kept Orton on such a tight leash he can’t rack up any fantasy points. If your desperate for a quarterback, Kyle Orton is the better of the two to pick, seeing that as of right now he is the starter, and you should see him get a little more freedom this year
Dark Horse
If you want to get risky there are two recievers on the bears who I could see possibly having breakout years and surprising everybody. Draft them at your own risk.
Rashied Davis - With the loss of Mushin Muhammed and Bernard Berrian the Bears are without a #1 reciever. Davis is the best choice to rise up and fill those shoes. He appears to be one of the most dominant recievers on the Bears, and appears to be forming a relationship with Orton, not unlike the one formed by Grossman and Berrian back in 2006. Up until this year he has mainly been used as a slot reciever which leaves alot of questions as to whether or not he is ready to become a #1
Brandon Lloyd - Lloyd was acquired in the offseason by the Bears, and have shown off glimpses of possible greatness. He was a highly touted prospect, but due to injuries and troubles with authority, he has never been able to establish himself as solid reciever. However it appears that he has turned over a new leaf, and has been spectacular in practice. If he can stay healthy and is ready to step up he could be competing for a top spot amongst the recievers.
