Chicago Bears: Top 5 Fantasy Players Entering 2015 Season
May 27, 2015; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) speaks to the media after organized team activities at the Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Bears’ running back Matt Forte has been the focal point of the Bears’ offense since he was drafted by the team in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Bears’ dependence on Forte has made the running back a valuable fantasy player throughout his career but could that change in 2015?
Over the course of the past two seasons, Matt Forte has been a top-5 fantasy running back in the NFL. In 2013, Forte finished as the third best fantasy running back in the NFL. In 2014, Forte placed as the fourth best fantasy running back in the NFL.
With Forte not being depended on as much as he was last season, it stands to reason that his fantasy value may take a hit. Though, his status as a dual-threat running back will make him an ideal target for fantasy owners this summer.
Beyond being a top-5 fantasy running back in the NFL during the past two seasons, Forte has also been a top-5 fantasy player in the NFL. Forte has had top-5 finishes in terms overall fantasy rating in each of the past two seasons.
With the Bears in 2014, Forte totaled 1,038 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns on 266 attempts. As a receiver out of the backfield, Forte compiled 808 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns on 102 receptions.
With Bears’ head coach John Fox planning to re-emphasize the running game during the 2015 season, one would think that Forte is inline once again to be a top-5 fantasy player in the NFL?
That thought process would be wrong.
The reason why that thought process would be wrong is because Forte is not going to be the focal point for the Bears’ offense in 2015 as he has been in recent seasons. Fox has already committed to the idea of having a running back by committee for the Bears during the 2015 season. While Forte will be the team’s starting running back, rookie running back Jeremy Langford could see increased carries with each passing week during the season.
With Forte not being depended on as much as he was last season, it stands to reason that his fantasy value may take a hit. Though, his status as a dual-threat running back will make him an ideal target for fantasy owners this summer.
Next: No. 3 Eddie Royal