The Chicago Bears could be a surprise offense. They have several players that may help you in your fantasy football league as well. Here are a few to look at.
Sleeper – Connor Barth, Kicker
Do I really think that the Bears’ kicker will be a dark horse sleeper candidate this year? No, I do not. However, that is the problem with trying to fit players into these molds; there is not a real, actionable player who has viability as a sleeper candidate while most owners are drafting accurately. I do not believe Jordan Howard will bust, so he is not a bust, and he has a first round ADP, so he is neither a sleeper nor a breakout. Therefore, I am booting the position of Bears sleeper. There is not one. Only three Bears have an ADP right now, and they are all appropriate.
Bust – Kevin White, Wide Receiver
Kevin White and Breshad Perriman are finally trying to make the 2015 first round wide receiver draft class worth their salt. White reportedly had to re-learn his running stride properly last season after several catastrophic leg injuries. Now with an entire healthy off-season under his belt, White looks to return on his first-round ADP from two years ago. There is not much to go on from last year, as White looked incredibly rusty. You would too if you missed nearly two years of real football. At one point, he was so big and so fast with such great hands that the Bears took him #7 overall in 2015. There is nothing but pedigree backing up his drafting and his multiple injuries may have sapped the athleticism from him. Cameron Meredith has already established himself as head honcho, and the Bears offense is not potent enough to support White, Meredith and Jordan Howard.
Breakout – Cameron Meredith, Wide Receiver
Cameron Meredith is currently the #43 wide receiver off the board in most fantasy football leagues. He is going in the ninth round by FantasyPros ADP. That is not bad for a player who ended the season with 888 yards and four touchdowns on 97 targets in just 10 games started. Meredith came to the forefront partway through the season last year and ended 2016 on an absolute tear. In weeks thirteen through sixteen, he averaged 13.32 fantasy points per game. Those four games and his weeks five and six outbursts were the only ones where he received more than five targets in consecutive weeks. He is a great receiver and will be the only wide receiver worth owning in Chicago in 2017.
Editor’s Note: This article can also be seen in our upcoming NFL Preview Edition.