Fantasy Football: Previewing the Chicago Bears
Martellus Bennett, TE
Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. The Lions defeated the Bears 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Bears tight end Martellus Bennett had himself a career year in 2014. He led all tight ends with 90 receptions on the season, and coupled that with 916 yards and six touchdowns. Bennett became one of Cutler’s favorite receivers last season, emerging as a bit of a security blanket for the quarterback.
Standing 6-foot-7, and weighing 248 pounds, Bennett is a match-up nightmare in the passing game. Not only is he a huge target in the middle of the field, Bennett shows great speed and athleticism for the tight end position. He is a legitimate threat in the short, intermediate and deep passing game, and he is clearly a player who Cutler trusts on the field.
Production at the tight end position is always incredibly difficult to predict. Unless you are able to land Rob Gronkowski, expecting elite production out of the tight end position would be foolish. Bennett and his obvious skill-set is certainly intriguing, but the tight end position is always a bit of a crapshoot.
Bennett has an ADP of 69, the fifth TE off of the board. Personally, I do not love the value of him there. I would rather use that mid-round pick to sure-up my running back or wide receiver corps, and take a shot on a high-upside TE late. Bennett is an established player who has a certain amount of guaranteed value, but his upside at his current ADP gives him little opportunity to become a draft day bargain.
Bennett did not participate in any voluntary workouts this off season. That certainly seemed to rub the coaching staff the wrong way, and while he returned for mandatory minicamp, the damage already seemed to be done. It may mean nothing once the Bears head to training camp, but it is something to keep an eye on if you are interested in targeting Bennett.
If he clashes with the coaching staff, Zach Miller may end up being an interesting TE target in fantasy leagues. Miller has the size, speed and athleticism to make an impact on the field if given the opportunity. His receiving ability is obvious, and if Bennett were to miss any amount of time for whatever reason, Miller is a huge breakout candidate.
Next: Ranking the Top 20 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks for 2015