Bears QB switch is coal in stockings of Forte fantasy owners

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 20 Desember 2014 | 23.16

The Raiders once decided to draft JaMarcus Russell. The Saints years ago traded away an entire draft for Ricky Williams. And the Jets a few years ago acquired Tim Tebow.

Add to this list of terrible football decisions in recent memory the Bears opting to sit quarterback Jay Cutler for Jimmy Clausen.

Granted, the Bears have nothing to lose, having been eliminated from playoff contention. But it's not as if they are pulling Cutler, the league's highest paid QB this season, to get a look at a young rookie or possible QB of the future. He is being replaced by Jimmy Clausen.

Clausen hasn't started an NFL game since 2010 with the Panthers. In that season, he played in 13 games, throwing three touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Repeat: He threw three TDs in 13 games — fewer than one score every four games, or as many TD passes as former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson threw in 2005.

You can argue these Bears have better weapons than those Panthers — and they do — but a bad quarterback is a bad quarterback, and there is no reason to believe Clausen has made substantial progress since then — otherwise he would have gotten some playing time somewhere in the past four season, other than three appearances this year with Chicago.

By giving Clausen the reins, the Bears have given the Lions the green light to focus solely on stopping the run while daring Clausen to beat them through the air, which he likely will be unable to do.

This is bad news for running back Matt Forte, and his fantasy owners. It already was a bad matchup for Forte — the Lions have given up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to RBs. Now, with less attention needed to neutralize the passing game, a good Detroit run defense — which held Forte to 6 rushing yards on five carries and 52 receiving yards on six receptions in Week 13 — becomes even more formidable.

So in addition to ruining the value of WR Alshon Jeffery and TE Martellus Bennett, this moves also penalizes Forte. In a move the Madman would endorse in only the most extreme circumstances, I recommend benching Forte on championship week if you have any other reliable option — such as Lamar Miller, Tre Mason, Isaiah Crowell or Fred Jackson.

Big weeks

Mark Sanchez, QB
Eagles, at Redskins

A lot of fantasy owners have jumped off the Sanchez bandwagon after the past two weeks. Though he never became more than a matchup starter, this week is a good matchup, against a Redskins defense that allows more fantasy points to QBs than anyone.

Tre Mason, RB
Rams, vs. Giants

Has come back to earth after torching the Raiders in Week 13 but gets nice matchup with Giants. Though Big Blue has been stout against the run the past three weeks, those were against teams that do not run the ball well.

Steve Smith, WR
Ravens, at Texans

With fellow wideout Torrey Smith limited recently by a knee injury, Steve Smith stands to get plenty of looks a Houston secondary that ranks 30th in points allowed to WRs and has allowed at least one WR touchdown every game since Week 2.

Jason Witten, TE
Cowboys, vs. Colts

He does not play a role as statistically productive as he has in years past, but Witten still is capable of tallying some decent yardage and possibly a score against a defense that gives up the fifth-most fantasy points to TEs.

Small weaks

Philip Rivers, QB
Chargers, at 49ers

He is dealing with chest and back issues and has delivered disappointing fantasy results in five of his past six games. San Fran gives up the fourth fewest fantasy points to QBs.

Jeremy Hill, RB
Bengals, vs. Broncos

Hill has taken over a the feature back from Giovani Bernard, and had a huge game last week. But Denver yields the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs, and Cincy could find themselves playing from behind.

Sammy Watkins, WR
Bills, at Raiders

He hasn't scored since Week 8 and this week faces a Raiders defense that hasn't given up a WR score since Week 1. Oakland's defense is much worse against the run, so expect Buffalo to focus primarily on the ground game.

Coby Fleener, TE
Colts, at Cowboys

With Dwayne Allen back in the fold, Fleener's TD chances take a plunge, and his yardage has dipped. So despite a favorable matchup against a poor Cowboys pass defense, Allen is the better fantasy option.

Tweet of the week

"@AdamSchefter: Bears starting QB Jimmy Clausen over Jay Cutler on Sunday." >> 76ers [say]: "Boy, they're REALLY tanking season"

The decision

Post fantasy Madman Drew Loftis and Roto Files columnist Jarad Wilk debate whom you should start this week:

BILLS DEF/ST vs. SEAHAWKS DEF/ST
Loftis: Bills — You get one of the league's top pass defenses against one of the league's worst pass offenses (Raiders). You get an opportunistic defense/special teams unit that has generated the second-most takeaways in the league against the team with the worst turnover ratio in the NFL. The Seahawks should fare well against the Cardinals' latest QB fill-in, but I'll take the top scoring fantasy defense against a terrible offense.

Wilk: Seahawks — Since Week 12, the Seahawks have put up 13 fantasy points per week (including 13 against Arizona), while the Bills have scored 16 in the span. But, the reason Seattle is the pick this week is this: Ryan Lindley! His last start came in 2012 (he's 1-3 as a starter), has a 46.8 career QB rating, has zero touchdowns in 181 pass attempts and has been picked off seven times. Yeah, Seattle's going to have a field day.

LAST WEEK: Loftis 9 (Doug Martin — 96 rushing yards), Wilk 5 (Steven Jackson — 46 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards)
SEASON: Wilk leads series, 7-6-2


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