Will Mike Glennon kill Cameron Meredith’s fantasy football value?

Can Cameron Meredith become a fantasy football star despite the Chicago Bears’ ugly quarterback situation?

Last season, Chicago Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith came out of nowhere to be a real fantasy football contributor. The former undrafted free agent out of Illinois State really stepped up for the Bears when they needed him the most, piling up 66 receptions for 888 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

Meredith didn’t put up massive fantasy football numbers, but he was a solid contributor who helped a lot of teams contend for championships. In the course of the season, Meredith went from a complete unknown to a guy who we could feel good about starting on a weekly basis.

Meredith is an interesting talent at the wide receiver position. At 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, he has great size and also shows the ability to separate with consistency. Meredith has good overall speed, impressive athleticism and the ability to go up and catch the ball at its highest point.

One word I would use to describe Meredith is smooth. He is a smooth route runner who always seems to find open space in the defense. Meredith has a knack for finding room in the middle of the field and can make plays in the short, intermediate and deep passing game. He is an impressive overall weapon who certainly has some nice fantasy football upside.

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The Bears’ offseason was interesting as it relates to Meredith’s fantasy value. Alshon Jeffery left via free agency, leaving a huge hole at the number one wide receiver position. If he can stay healthy, Kevin White may be able to make a run at that number one job, but it is more than likely that Meredith will be the Bears’ primary receiver.

Chicago also made significant changes at the quarterback position. Jay Cutler is out and Mike Glennon was brought in to be his replacement. Mitch Trubisky was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and is undoubtedly the future at the position. However, Glennon is fully expected to be the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2017.

Glennon is a career backup who does have a decent arm. However, he has poor accuracy, no mobility in the pocket and does not seem to read defenses well. Glennon also never gives himself an opportunity to use his strong arm, as he seems to always dump the ball off short.

I am not saying that Glennon is a terrible NFL quarterback, but I do not believe that he is a good one. But the Bears seem determined to at least give him a chance early in the season. Honestly, I do not see that going well and it does hurt Meredith’s fantasy upside in my eyes.

There is a lot to like about Meredith. The talent is there, as is the opportunity. But the Bears are likely going to be a ball control offense and do not have a high-caliber starting quarterback. Meredith is still a solid mid-round option and he could end up being a massive value if Trubisky takes over the starting job and plays well. However, as of right now, I worry about Meredith’s ability to contribute on a consistent basis.

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Simply put, Mike Glennon is going to hold him back from being a significant fantasy football asset. It’s too bad, ecause the rest of this really checks out.