Chicago Bears' star running back
Matt Forte was a top-five pick in many fantasy
football leagues this past summer. Seeing Forte leave the draft
board so fast shouldn't have been surprising, as he had a fine
statistical rookie season.
With some additions on the offensive line and a quarterback
in
Jay Cutler to make defense respect the down field
passing game, one would have thought Forte could even see improved
numbers in 2009.
Unfortunately, Forte regressed from his rookie season in
every important statistical rushing area and was probably the
biggest fantasy bust of the season.
Running the football was a huge problem for Forte as he
failed to reach 1,000 yards on the season and only scored four
total touchdowns. These numbers were down from his rookie year when
he totaled over 1,200 yards rushing and 12 total touchdowns.
Something Must Be Wrong
I'm sure many fantasy owners with Forte must have been
scratching their collective heads by mid-season thinking something
must be wrong with their prized player.
Now, we come to find out that Forte had surgery in the past
two weeks on his left knee for treatment to heal a sprain MCL he
suffered early in the season.
True, it was known in September that Forte did suffer an
aliment to his knee, but who would have guessed he could play
through it all year and the team would keep him running on it?
Lots of players play with ailments and continue to have
productive fantasy football seasons for their owners, but in
Forte's case that was not true.
Fantasy Football Outlook for 2010
Many fantasy owners that drafted Forte last season won't even
give him the time of day when it comes to selecting him in 2010.
While I can't blame a fantasy owner for ignoring this running back
after he possibly cost them their season, I do believe Forte is a
candidate to bounce back.
This running back may still be a top 25 overall fantasy back,
but he will slip down the draft board on draft day. If you select
Forte as a flex option than I believe you're getting a steal of a
player at that point in the draft.
Not all leagues will let Forte drop that far (especially
PPR), but if he does drop to a decent value in your league than I
suggest you give this young runner another shot.
As far as dynasty and keeper leagues go, I wouldn't give up
on Forte, unless you have strong options to keep. Forte is still
very young and could easily return to 1,200 yards rushing and close
to double-digit touchdowns this year.
This
Bleacher Report
article by Sean E. Douglas was originally published on
Fantasy Football
Information.
