Alshon Jeffery: Complete Fantasy Profile & Draft Strategy
Published by John Rozum on September 4, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery is a sleeping fantasy football giant in 2012.
With a size-frame of 6’3″, 216 pounds, Jeffery’s physical presence alone will be emphatically reliable for the Bears inside the red zone. For one, he’ll never see double coverage courtesy of Brandon Marshall, and the Chicago ground game will prevent linebackers from creating a blanketed shell over the middle.
In turn, Jeffery will always face a mismatch, and with Jay Cutler‘s strong arm, there will be many jump balls thrown to challenge the single coverage. With his excellent leaping ability, the rookie should be able to take advantage, and Cutler will make his life much easier than it was in college when Jeffery did not have a legitimate quarterback to work with.
So, let’s break down Jeffery and look at a complete fantasy guide for him this season.
Draft Information
The size of your league will obviously affect every player’s draft position.
That said, here are Jeffery’s ranks:
No. 168 from ESPN’s Matthew Berry with an average draft position of 143.7.
Jeffery didn’t rank in NFL.com’s Top 50 receivers and is No. 52 for ESPN.
Recommended Round to Select Jeffery: Round 12 or lower.
Latest News and Injury Updates
Right now, Jeffery is listed as a back-up receiver on the Bears’ depth chart, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
Still, the rookie has emitted much confidence this preseason and fellow Bears receiver Earl Bennett said it best. In an article by Melissa Isaacson of ESPN Chicago, Bennett stated:
He’s going to be one of those guys who’s going to take over.
Isaacson followed Bennett’s statement up with the following comment:
That’s especially high praise from a veteran who will likely see his reception numbers cut into by the second-round draft pick out of South Carolina whose sure hands and route-running ability made him the talk of training camp.
With so much natural talent and ability, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jeffery make some noise in Week 1 vs. the Indianapolis Colts.
Season Projections: 700 yards on 60 receptions and six touchdowns
Bye Week Info: Week 6
Split Situation
For the Chicago Bears to become an explosive offense, Jeffery has to produce right behind Brandon Marshall.
We know the majority of Jay Cutler’s throws will be sent Marshall’s way, so Jeffery will likely only see about 35 percent by comparison. Not to mention both running backs Matt Forte and Michael Bush are dual threats as well.
Nonetheless, Jeffery is Chicago’s second-best reliable receiver, and he will get more targets as the season progresses.
Receivers To Select Before Jeffery: Michael Floyd, Davone Bess, Brandon LaFell and Nate Burleson
Receivers To Select After Jeffery: Brian Quick, Steve Smith (Rams), Kendall Wright and James Jones
Summary
The majority of Jeffery’s impact will come in the red zone because of his size, so expect more targets when in opponent territory. Marshall remains the playmaker, and the ground game can’t get abandoned, which will limit some of Jeffery’s opportunities early on.
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