Matt Forte’s Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 14
Published by Tyler Conway on December 5, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears defense was again an embarrassment in its 41-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. But at least the Bears offense gave fantasy owners some solid garbage-time production.
Matt Forte, who struggled all evening on the ground, managed to salvage his fantasy value with a one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He finished with 26 yards on 13 carries, adding 74 yards on eight receptions.
The Cowboys have been able to stuff Forte near the line of scrimmage almost every time he’s been handed the ball. Only one Chicago rushing play has gone longer than seven yards, a 10-yard touchdown scramble by Cutler in the fourth that gave the Bears a slight glimmer of hope.
Their garbage-time scores managed to create a solid fantasy evening for every Bear not named Brandon Marshall, who exited in the first half with a rib injury. Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett each touched paydirt, and Cutler finished with three total touchdowns and 341 yards passing.
Forte had perhaps the most disappointing game of anyone who managed to stay healthy. His numbers largely came in the form of dump-offs underneath, and this is the second straight game he’s been rudderless carrying the football. Forte has a total of 32 yards on 18 carries over the last two weeks.
Thursday was the sixth time Forte has produced more via his receiving production than on the ground. While that’s not exactly ideal, Forte’s versatility is what makes him so valuable to fantasy owners. With one or two big receiving games down the stretch, it’s possible Forte finishes with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving—putting him on a list with a handful of guys in NFL history.
The Bears would probably prefer his rushing production to get more consistent, but it doesn’t matter in the slightest for fantasy owners. Forte has had fewer than 50 total yards once all season and has touched triple digits in the total yards department nine times.
There’s nothing much to say here we don’t already know. Forte, despite his team’s frustrating implosion, is an every-week start and one of the two or three best fantasy backs in the NFL. Nothing changes down the stretch.
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