Chicago Bears 5-11
Welcome to the NFC North Week and the Chicago Bears 2014 Fantasy Highs and Lows. Each week we will go division by division breaking down each team.
If you listen to our show, you know that my admiration for Matt Forte know no bounds. You also know that I am a big Marc Trestman believer and a Jay Cutler skeptic. Therefore, this was a very, very rough season covering the Bears. The highs and lows were treacherous and frankly, it felt nice finally stepping off this roller coaster.
Highs:
Matt Forte
Was there ever any doubt? With 102 receptions, Forte broke Larry Centers’ 1995 record (101) for total season catches by a Running Back. On the ground, Forte finished with 1,038 yards on 266 carries (3.90 YPC). He scored ten all-purpose touchdowns. Although his rushing numbers petered off a bit this year, nothing on Forte’s tape suggests he’s in decline. He is 29 years old so look for fantasy pundits to warn you about taking him high in next years draft, but I do not support that line of thinking. Look at the tape. I repeat, look at the tape. He did more with less than almost any other Running Back in the league and their new head coach, John Fox, likes to run. However, there are some rumors about the Bears looking to trade Forte, which strikes me as insane. I won’t put anything past the Bears and it doesn’t matter. There is nothing that Matt Forte can’t do so all of the ladies at Her Fantasy Football believe that Matt Forte will make any offense better. We thought he was one of the safest bets last year, and he will continue to be a safe bet in 2015 no matter where he lands.
Martellus Bennett
What a lovely surprise! Bennett ended the season with 90 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns. These stats are especially impressive when you consider the fact that Bennett is Tight End and like we said all year, Tight Ends are TERRIBLE.*
* For your fantasy team because they are borderline impossible to predict. Clearly these men are professional athletes and possess overall talent. But if you play fantasy, you know the pain.
Lows:
Brandon Marshall
Sadly, Mrashall had two big problems all season: injuries and a tense relationship with Jay Cutler. Normally we joke about Marshall and Cutler being the football couple of the century, but this year was different. Marshall called out Jay Cutler for his less than enthusiastic nature and (justifiably) laid responsibility at the Quarterback’s feet. Marshall ended the season with 621 total yards, eight touchdowns, two broken ribs and a collapsed lung. But really his being cut wouldn’t be because he lacks talent. To clarify, he will bounce back from these injuries so the choice to let him go would be about money. On March 12, Brandon Marshall’s 2015 base salary of $7.5 million becomes guaranteed if he remains a member of the Chicago Bears. Basically the staff needs to determine if he’s worth the price tag, and if they need to mix it up. It’s a tough call because if the Cutler/Marshall bromance is over Marshall’s value to the Bears takes a nosedive. In terms of fantasy, Marshall also moves down the board if he’s paired with another Quarterback. Marshall used to be the apple of Cutler’s eye, the receiver with also 70% of the targets, and if he leaves this team he will go back to sharing attention/targets. He won’t be a BAD option in 2015, but he’s certainly not the first or second round player that we used to know. Keep an eye on on free agency.
Jay Cutler
This guy is a tough nut to crack. The low point was when he was benched in favor of Jimmy Clausen. Although, one could argue that the actual low point is when he had to start again for the team due to Jimmy Clausen’s injury. Awkward. Let’s put it this way, Cutler can still offer value to your fantasy team if John Fox decides to stay with him. He’s a turnover machine (18 interceptions and six fumbles lost in his 15 starts) but he’s also a gun slinger. If you can stomach and accept both turnovers and apathy, drafting Jay Cutler in the later rounds of your fantasy drafts may be for you.