Player Spotlight: Matt Forte (1 Viewer)

[Jon_Moore]

I'll disagree with the notion he has little competition for carries. Adrian Peterson has proven very effective in the past, they drafted Garrett Wolfe a year ago in the 3rd. Sure, they both are career back up types, but I can see one if not both cutting into his touches this season as he adjusts to the pro game.

Forte has a good chance of getting most of the carries because he's apparently a great blocker. Peterson is a good receiver, but he's no threat to take many carries away from Forte. There's a reason Peterson has been a backup his whole career and that's not suddenly going to change after they draft Forte, unless Forte is a complete bust the way Benson was. Forte was drafted to be the starter and although he likely won't run for much more than 3.5 YPC in the Bears offense, he still has a good shot at getting 300 carries this year.

There were only 6 to break that 300 carry mark last year. I think it may end up taking him a while to see the near 20 carries per game people are pegging him for this season.

Injuries always have a lot of do with the number of players who get 300 carries, but I do think Forte has a good shot at 20 carries a game rather quickly.

If he is in fact a great blocker then he will play. If he gets the bulk of the time, he COULD get 300 touches. But I don't think anyone can project his touches as of right now untill we see how he is going to be used. Forte is off my board right now untill I can figure out how may carries he will get.

It's obviously a guessing game but I think Forte is the type of player who could end up way outproducing his ADP. Yes, he's risky, but I believe he could also pay great dividends later in the season. Last year was a down year for the Bears rushing game, but there's little doubt that they want to get back to running back more. I doubt it's a coincidence that the Bears won the division in 2005 and 2006 when they ran the ball 450 times. If they get back to that then there's plenty of room for carries all around - 300 for Forte, 100 for Peterson and 50 for Wolfe.

What are you basing it on that he will be one of the few that break 300? seriously, How many rookies have come in and gotten 20 or even close?I doubt it's a coincidence that the bears had one of the best defenses in the league when they ran the ball 450 times...

 

[BoulderBob]

Chicago was decimated by injuries to the defense last season, missing 11 starters at one point, and their time of possesion splits were by far the worst in the league. Assuming the Bears are due for a relatively healthy season, I think Chicago can produce a capable fantasy starter at RB. As long as T. Harris/A. Ogunleye/B. Urlacher/L. Briggs/M. Brown(a bonus) are on the field and wreaking havoc in Lovie Smith's Cover 2, the odds of opposing QB's turning the ball over with regularity are quite high, which in theory leads to Rex Grossman and company getting the opportunity to blow primo opportunities deep in opponent territory.

In short, the success of Forte and the Bears offense will be based upon the field position/time of possesion advantages that come with an elite defense and Devin Hester. If the team suffers the same fate as last year's 7-9 squad, and half the team is stuck in the training room, the offense will be terrible. As bad as Rex Grossman and the Bears offense can be at times, I do believe the talent on the offensive line/TE position can produce a player you want on your fantasy team at RB.

Judging from his college video, Forte needs to prove he can run hard between the tackles. He has the size of a bruising RB, but many of his runs were fueled by the Tulane spread offense. His combine scores were all excellent, and the video suggests he has the "wiggle"/awareness/ability to make a defender miss which is hard to describe with words. If he can avoid knee problems, I see him in the Chicago backfield for quite some time.

250 carries

1000 yards

8 TD's

30 receptions

180 yards

2 TD's

 

[EBF]

Forte is easily the most talented back on the roster. He should get the lion's share of the carries this year, but he's not good enough to overcome a mediocre supporting cast. My predictions for his 2008 season:

240 carries, 912 yards, 7 TD

25 catches, 150 yards, 1 TD

He'll have a few big games and folks will exaggerate his long term value, but I don't think he has the talent to last as a starter in the NFL and I have concerns about his long term durability. Overall, I see him as similar to Chris Brown. I would look to sell high once he has a few big games and the hype swells.

 

[BigRed]

Forte is easily the most talented back on the roster. He should get the lion's share of the carries this year,

More like a Lion will get Forte's carries if K Jones signs. OK bad joke, but Jones to CHI is sounding more and more likely, meaning neither of these guys will likely end up my RB4 even.

 

[DanFouts]

KJ signs....

What happens to Forte now....

 

[The Ref]

I'll disagree with the notion he has little competition for carries. Adrian Peterson has proven very effective in the past, they drafted Garrett Wolfe a year ago in the 3rd. Sure, they both are career back up types, but I can see one if not both cutting into his touches this season as he adjusts to the pro game.

Forte has a good chance of getting most of the carries because he's apparently a great blocker. Peterson is a good receiver, but he's no threat to take many carries away from Forte. There's a reason Peterson has been a backup his whole career and that's not suddenly going to change after they draft Forte, unless Forte is a complete bust the way Benson was. Forte was drafted to be the starter and although he likely won't run for much more than 3.5 YPC in the Bears offense, he still has a good shot at getting 300 carries this year.

If he is in fact a great blocker then he will play. If he gets the bulk of the time, he COULD get 300 touches. But I don't think anyone can project his touches as of right now untill we see how he is going to be used. Forte is off my board right now untill I can figure out how may carries he will get.

The same still applies. This remains an unknown situation untill camp starts. Anyone who says jones will get X and Peterson will get Y and Forte will get Z is guessing.

 

[EBF]

KJ signs....What happens to Forte now....

A healthy KJ > a healthy Forte. The most likely scenario for Forte is that he slowly drifts out of FF relevance over the next 2-3 years.

 

[RBM]

KJ signs....What happens to Forte now....

A healthy KJ > a healthy Forte.

Can you wait for the kid to play a down first?

 

[EBF]

KJ signs....What happens to Forte now....

A healthy KJ > a healthy Forte.

Can you wait for the kid to play a down first?

He played a lot of downs last year. KJ has 3,000+ career rushing yards, was a four year starter in the NFL, and is a former first round pick. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that he's better than your average 2nd round RB prospect. Jones is pretty good. Ask any Lions fan and they'll probably agree. Is he a superstar talent? No, but he's a starting caliber RB. His big problem has been durability.

 

[RBM]

KJ signs....What happens to Forte now....

A healthy KJ > a healthy Forte.

Can you wait for the kid to play a down first?

He played a lot of downs last year. KJ has 3,000+ career rushing yards, was a four year starter in the NFL, and is a former first round pick. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that he's better than your average 2nd round RB prospect. Jones is pretty good. Ask any Lions fan and they'll probably agree. Is he a superstar talent? No, but he's a starting caliber RB. His big problem has been durability.

I know KJ is good. Im just saying hold off on just assuming he is better than a guy that hasnt played a down yet. The fact that he was a 2nd rd pick doesnt help your argument either. Thats a high pick.

 

[EBF]

KJ signs....What happens to Forte now....

A healthy KJ > a healthy Forte.

Can you wait for the kid to play a down first?

He played a lot of downs last year. KJ has 3,000+ career rushing yards, was a four year starter in the NFL, and is a former first round pick. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that he's better than your average 2nd round RB prospect. Jones is pretty good. Ask any Lions fan and they'll probably agree. Is he a superstar talent? No, but he's a starting caliber RB. His big problem has been durability.

I know KJ is good. Im just saying hold off on just assuming he is better than a guy that hasnt played a down yet. The fact that he was a 2nd rd pick doesnt help your argument either. Thats a high pick.

I've seen enough of Forte and Jones to feel comfortable making that statement. Forte isn't a total scrub, but he's a borderline talent at the NFL level. I've often compared his overall ability to that of Chris Brown. He's a guy who can do okay if he's your starter, but he's not a guy you ever want starting for you.

 

[ILoveMyLions]

KJ signs....

What happens to Forte now....

A healthy KJ > a healthy Forte.

Can you wait for the kid to play a down first?

He played a lot of downs last year. KJ has 3,000+ career rushing yards, was a four year starter in the NFL, and is a former first round pick. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that he's better than your average 2nd round RB prospect. Jones is pretty good. Ask any Lions fan and they'll probably agree. Is he a superstar talent? No, but he's a starting caliber RB. His big problem has been durability.

I know KJ is good. Im just saying hold off on just assuming he is better than a guy that hasnt played a down yet. The fact that he was a 2nd rd pick doesnt help your argument either. Thats a high pick.

KJ is not the same back he was two to three years ago. Since the lisfranc he's lost a few steps and now the ACL may further the speed and quickness loss. He still has good power but isn't the elite back coming out of Va Tech a few years ago. I think I'd take Forte over him at this point simply because he's doesn't have the injury questions. My 2 cents...

 

[BigRed]

That hissing sound you hear is Forte's draft status leaking away due to KJ factor.....

 

[Lash]

That hissing sound you hear is Forte's draft status leaking away due to KJ factor.....

no it's the steam coming from out of the FBGs ears that bought into the Forte love on this site, some even elevating Forte above one of the top 3 take KJ away from equation and CHI offense is still an embarassment for people to expect much from Forte

so let's say that they draft a QB high next year and he has normal learning curve ... still 3 years from respectability

and unless they luck into a Derek Anderson or Aaron Rodgers or some other QB from a team with more than one good one, 2010 or 2011 before CHI can move the chains consistently

saying that above, it may not matter whether Forte is any good or not

i happen to like his skill set , there will be some good games for Forte

i just see a few 11 carries for 19 yard games mixed in - (when CHI can't run or get way behind and won't run) - that ruin his average per carry

so i'll predict a 210 for 780, 5 TDs --- 37 for 220, 1 TD