The number of relevant fantasy football options on the Chicago Bears seems to have increased significantly in 2018, and here are the five best.
It’s never too early to talk fantasy football, especially when it involves the Chicago Bears!
For the past couple of seasons, the Bears have not had many fantasy-relevant players other than Jordan Howard and Alshon Jeffery. This looks to change, however, in 2018.
Here are the top five fantasy football options on the Chicago Bears:
5. Bears Defense/Special Teams
Last season, the Bears racked-up 42 sacks, 14 fumbles, eight interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. The lack of takeaways hurts, but that number will likely increase in 2018 with Vic Fangio back. The defense allowed just 20 points per game (ninth best in the league) and with Tarik Cohen returning kicks, the Bears could be a sneaky play. This still might be a “streaming” defense, but don’t be surprised if the defense turns into a top-12 fantasy unit.
4. Trey Burton, TE
Burton’s career-high in receiving yards for a season is just 327 yards, so there is a bit of risk here. However, the Bears didn’t pay him to sit on the sidelines. Burton will see a ton of playing time and should be one of Mitchell Trubisky’s top-three receiving options. Adam Shaheen could vulture some red zone touchdowns, but in a watered-down tight end league, Burton is likely a low-end TE1 in 2018.
3. Tarik Cohen, RB
Matt Nagy will use Cohen all over the field, lining him up in the backfield and out wide. In 2017, Cohen amassed 723 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. With additional touches in 2018 (only averaged nine touches per game in 2017), Cohen should have no trouble eclipsing 1,000 scrimmage yards. He might be boom-or-bust from week-to-week, but Cohen should be a viable FLEX (or low-end RB2) option and gets a significant value bump in PPR leagues.
2. Allen Robinson, WR
There’s some risk here, as Robinson is recovering from a torn ACL and is trying to learn a whole new offense. However, the upside is there and a 1,000-yard, 10 touchdown season could be within reach. Robinson should be Trubisky’s main option on a weekly basis, and his 6-3, 211-pound frame should get him a ton of looks in the red zone. Robinson looks like a solid WR2 with the upside of a WR1.
Next: Bears: 5 Veteran players on the 2018 roster bubble
1. Jordan Howard, RB
There’s been some talk that Howard doesn’t fit Nagy’s offense and his touches could be reduced. While it is likely that he loses some opportunities to Cohen, Howard is still a bell-cow running back who should see 18-20 touches a game and the majority of carries near the endzone. Don’t forget, Howard has averaged 1,429 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons. He might not be a top-five back, but Howard is still a high-end RB2 (or even a low-end RB1).