The next team preview up for Fantasy Six Pack’s 2020 Fantasy Football series - the Chicago Bears!
2019 was supposed to be the year Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears offense took a step forward, vaulting Trubisky into cemented top-12 fantasy quarterback territory.
Instead, he faltered, the offense was stagnant, and fantasy owners were disappointed in their Bears shares.
2020 brings plenty of question marks: a new quarterback challenger, depth at every offensive position, and an offensive line with little change.
2020 Fantasy Football Chicago Bears Preview
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Quarterback
The #Bears declined Mitch Trubisky’s 5th-year option after trading for veteran QB Nick Foles in the offseason.
According to @NextGenStats, Trubisky has struggled under pressure since entering the league in 2017, while Foles has been effective under pressure since 2016. pic.twitter.com/oXVWDAtdYe
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) May 15, 2020
- Nick Foles
- Mitchell Trubisky
- Tyler Bray
The Bears traded a compensatory 4th round pick to bring Nick Foles in to compete with Trubisky for the starting gig. The Bears are banking on Foles’ familiarity with head coach Matt Nagy’s offensive scheme to take the job and verify the team’s decision to decline Mitch’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Both QBs are…whelming in terms of fantasy. Getting excited about either option is tough until we see the final depth chart.
Another issue for whoever is named starter is general manager Ryan Pace’s decision to not spend higher draft capital on offensive linemen. Their two 7th round picks – Arlington Hambright and Lachavious Simmons – are projects, and free agent addition Jason Spriggs is a draft bust. Hambright and Simmons are more than likely fringe roster players. Spriggs will be asked to replace former Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long. The former 2nd round pick spent 2019 on Injured Reserve.
Running Back
Are you with @JimBowdenGM on the #Bears David Montgomery or are you avoiding him for the 2020 #FantasyFootball season?
Let us know! @FantasyAlarm @rotobuzzguy pic.twitter.com/4DFJRQAkI1
— Fantasy Sports Radio (@SiriusXMFantasy) May 12, 2020
- David Montgomery
- Tarik Cohen
- Ryan Nall
- Artavis Pierce
A theme for the Bears is lack of depth. The drop-off from Cohen to Nall is staggering, and the Bears did nothing to push either Cohen or David Montgomery. The O-line issues played a role in Montgomery’s sub-optimal 3.7 yards per carry. Montgomery had a 4.0 YPC or higher in 6 of 16 games in 2019. Cohen is not built to be a workhorse running back, so it will be interesting to see if Nall will stay on the active roster all season. The Bears could add another player as camps open or after whatever preseason happens due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Montgomery is the hand-picked RB of choice by Matt Nagy, so it is hard to imagine that Nagy does not find new ways to unlock some of Montgomery’s talents that were hidden during a frustrating rookie campaign. Cohen will have to show that he is more than just a gadget player to stick with the team beyond 2020. The catching prowess is there, but consistency is an issue, especially after breaking out in 2018.
Wide Receiver
Top-9 success rate vs. man coverage scores in 2019 #ReceptionPerception:
1) Allen Robinson 79.3%
2) Michael Thomas 78.6%
3) Davante Adams 78%
4) Calvin Ridley 77.6%
5) Tyler Lockett 77.5%
6) DeAndre Hopkins 77%
7) Tyreek Hill 76.7%
8) Keenan Allen 76.6%
9) Stefon Diggs 76.5%— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) June 10, 2020
- Allen Robinson
- Anthony Miller
- Ted Ginn, Jr.
- Javon Wims
- Riley Ridley
- Darnell Mooney
- Cordarrelle Patterson
Beyond Allen Robinson, the Bears have a lot of uncertainty at wide receiver. Anthony Miller has been inconsistent and injured, Ginn is 35, and Wims, Ridley, and Mooney are unproven or haven’t earned playing time. Wims and Ridley have similar skillsets, but Ridley has the higher draft capital. Mooney has speed to burn but is small and would be best as a special-teamer/mentee to Ginn. Patterson is listed here because of his previous experience at receiver, even though his career catch count is not even a 2:1 ratio of his career rushing attempts (195-103).
Miller is seen as the de facto recipient of vacated targets left by Taylor Gabriel, but it would not be surprising to see A-Rob’s target/target share rise. The majority of this group has experience catching balls from Trubisky, so will there be a learning curve will Foles have with the group if he lands the starting gig? The only receiver that carries zero concern going into 2020 fantasy football is Robinson.
Tight End
The running joke is that the Bears have rostered every tight end that is not on an NFL roster. That may be true, but the handful that have a chance of making the roster with any catching upside are listed above. It is realistic that the last three could be cut before Week 1.
Since drafting Shaheen in 2016, Bears GM Ryan Pace has done everything possible to patch the gaping hole at tight end, when all he had to do was draft George Kittle instead of the Ashland College product. Jimmy Graham’s signing this off-season makes little to no sense. That being said, he will be the tight end to see the lion share of targets.
Cole Kmet won’t have much value in 2020 but holds value in dynasty because of his size and lack of competition in an offense that values the tight end position. He is not the most athletic tight end prospect and projects more as a safety valve that can keep the chains moving.
Do not target any Bears tight ends in 2020.
Final Verdict
A lot of the fantasy relevance of the Bears relies on who starts at QB. A competent offense keeps the Bears in each game because the defense is one of the best units in football.
In terms of fantasy rostering, it is safe to roster Robinson, Miller, Montgomery, and Miller, with Robinson the safest option. Beyond those four, the risk/reward return is fantasy owner dependent.
Visit the F6P Fantasy Football page for more advice to get you prepared for the 2020 season.
| AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | Ravens | Texans | Broncos |
| Dolphins | Bengals | Colts | Chiefs |
| Jets | Browns | Jaguars | Chargers |
| Patriots | Steelers | Titans | Raiders |
| NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | Bears | Falcons | Cardinals |
| Eagles | Lions | Panthers | Rams |
| Giants | Packers | Saints | 49ers |
| Washington | Vikings | Buccaneers | Seahawks |
