Team Outlook
The Bears showed some serious offensive life under first-year head coach Marc Trestman, ranking second in the NFL with 445 points, and eighth with 381.8 yards per game ... All of the major contributors are back, so we can probably expect more of the same.
Bye week: 9
Quarterback - Jay Cutler
If Cutler hadn't missed nearly six games in 2013, he'd have been somewhere around the 15th-ranked fantasy QB. That's about where you should rank him heading into this season as well ... Trestman's presence seemed to agree with Cutler, who completed his highest percentage of passes (63.1) since 2007.
Running Back - Matt Forte
Forte was third in FOXSports.com standard scoring thanks to 1,933 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns ... Forte was even more spectacular in PPR formats, as he ranked third among backs with 74 receptions ... He's in the argument for fantasy's top back, but will probably be third or fourth on most standard draftboards.
Wide Receiver - Brandon Marshall
Marshall was fifth in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring last season, thanks to 100 receptions (fifth among WRs) for 1,295 yards (11th) and 12 scores (T-3rd) ... Marshall isn't exactly a deep threat, but with his volume and red-zone prowess, who's complaining? ... He's a top-five wideout again.
Wide Receiver - Alshon Jeffery
Jeffery broke out to rank seventh among wide receivers in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring last season, grabbing 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns ... He's not quite elite yet - at least not in the Megatron/Dez realm - but he can be viewed as a low-end WR1 in just about any format.
Tight End - Martellus Bennett
Bennett set career highs in both receptions (65) and yards (759) last season, while adding five touchdowns ... Had enjoyed a breakout of sorts with the Giants in 2012, going 55-626-5 ... Bennett will sneak into the top-12 TE discussion, but some below him in the rankings might carry more upside ... If you want solid rather than sexy from your low-end TE1, Bennett works.
Rookie - Ka'Deem Carey (RB)
Carey was drafted in the fourth round out of Arizona, where he ran for 1,885 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2013 ... He's listed at 5'9", 207 pounds, and probably only has value as a handcuff to Forte.
Placekicker - Robbie Gould
Gould ranked 14th among kickers in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring last year ⦠He was very accurate, making 26 of 29 field goals, but ranked 19th in attempts due to his team's newfound touchdown-scoring ability - he ranked fifth with 46 extra-point attempts ... Probably good enough to be your kicker in a 12-team league.
Team Defense (DST) - The Bears' DST was eighth in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring, mainly thanks to six defensive TDs and a punt return TD ... They were also tied for eighth with 19 interceptions ... Unfortunately, the Bears were tied for last with 31 sacks, and recovered just nine fumbles ... Don't count on their opportunism carrying over from year to year.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.