What WR's will start for the Bears?

mudloggerone

mudloggerone

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rotoworld,

The Chicago Tribune gives Johnny Knox even odds to open the season as a starter.

Knox has perhaps the most playmaking ability of the contenders. Devin Hester, who has been practicing at the flanker spot instead of the slot, is expected to be the other starter. Trendy fantasy sleeper Devin Aromashodu is given 3-to-1 odds to start, which should tell you how close the race is between all three. Earl Bennett came in at just 10-to-1.
Source: Chicago Tribune
 
rotoworld,

Earl Bennett is "back up to speed" after having his knee scoped shortly after the season.

Bennett is apparently a full go for this weekend's minicamp, which is big for him considering all the competition at wide receiver. He'll be battling for snaps with Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu as they all try to impress new offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Source: Chicago Tribune
 
chrisslabaugh said:
Hester's receiving #'s have improved every season
Click to expand...

He did go from Kyle Orton to Jay Cutler. IMO he's just not a dynamic WR. One of their other WR's can put up just as good of numbers as Hester. Therefore I believe he should concentrate on kick and punt returning.
 
rotoworld,

Johnny Knox is currently running as the Bears' starting split end, or "X" receiver, opposite flanker Devin Hester.

In Mike Martz's Rams offense, Torry Holt was the split end and Isaac Bruce was the flanker. Earl Bennett has clearly fallen behind the rest of the group. Knox profiles similarly to Holt at 6'0/185 with blazing speed and change-of-direction ability. The No. 1 goal will be to polish his route running.
Source: Brad Biggs on Twitter
 
rotoworld,

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz singled out Devin Aromashodu as a guy the Bears "want to get the ball to more."

Martz remained high on all of Chicago's receivers at minicamp, but he's seemingly praised Aromashodu more than anyone. Aromashodu was also the last player at practice Saturday, catching balls from the JUGS machine. Though currently behind Johnny Knox and Devin Hester, Aromashodu has the biggest upside in the wideout corps. In both real life and fantasy.
Source: Sean Jensen on Twitter
 
rotoworld,

Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz confirmed that he is committed to using Devin Hester as a starting wide receiver.

Upon being hired, Martz initially suggested Hester would be used like Az Hakim -- as a non-full-time slot receiver in order to keep him fresh for returns. Martz has changed his mind. "He's our starter," said the pass-happy coordinator. "I think he's an elite wide receiver. There's no question about that."
Source: Chicago Tribune
 
rotoworld,

Updating a previous item, Earl Bennett (arthroscopic knee surgery) hasn't been cleared for a full return to team drills.

Bennett appears close to health, but was likely held out of this weekend's OTAs as a precaution. Even though he started 15 games a year ago, he'll have to fight for his job and snaps under new coordinator Mike Martz. Devin Hester and Johnny Knox were the starters, with Devin Aromashodu also impressing at the workouts.
Source: Chicago Tribune
 
I'll throw 2 other names in there, for the sake of argument. Joaquin Iglesias and Freddie Barnes.
Iglesias was drafted 2 rounds higher than Knox last year but never really saw the field. He was a top-10 WR prospect coming out of Oklahoma and I can't fathom that his talent just suddenly evaporated.
Barnes was an undrafted free agent from Bowling Green in this past draft, and posted 155 (!) receptions in 2009. Not for his career.. in 2009. Certainly his experience in a pass-happy offense must translate into SOME role for Martz.. right?

I think the moral of the story here is that they potentially have 6 wideouts who profile as #2/#3 types, which is a nice problem to have. Not to mention Greg Olsen working underneath and Forte/Taylor out of the backfield. If Cutler has his mind right, he could duplicate his last season in Denver with a 4,200+ yard, 25 TD season without having a 1,000 yard RB or WR.
 
I also don't see Knox giving back any of the ground he took from Iglesias last season. Knox seemed to be keyed on by Cutler when he needed something big or clutch. I feel Hester and Knox are set and the others will collect the scraps.
 
I strongly agree RC that the others will slug it out for the #3. But I'll keep watching the situation in Chicago because I think there are a lot of fantasy points to be made there this season.
 
chrisslabaugh said:
Hester's receiving #'s have improved every season
Click to expand...
But has his receiving skills? Is his skill set better suited for a starting WR or slot/KR/PR? I see that as the bigger question.

And yes, his numbers improved last season (not hard to improve off his rookie year numbers), but not the level that you would have thought given the increased opportunity he had as a starter last season. Injuries had a large part to do with that, but that begs another question, can he stay healthy?

I see Hester as a clone to someone like Az-Zahir Hakim. Dynamic slot WR who should be returning kicks. Use him in the return game and let him wreck havoc in the slot in spots. The problem is the Bears do not have the outside WR's to make this possible, but the sooner they can get to this set-up the better Hester will be IMO.
 
They need to give you a button so that you can thank yourself Chris. Then you could be sure that you recieve due credit.
 
chrisslabaugh said:
Will people quit thanking people who post arguments against me?

lol

Hester is going to wreak havoc on Hired Guns this year.
Click to expand...
If he's going to do that, you better pray they wake up and put him back in a role as I have described above.

Hester's HG's totals:
2009 - #37 - 175.02
2008 - #27 - 202.13
2007 - #23 - 209.12

So, as you pointed out his receiving numbers have increased each year. Funny that the inverse is true of his value in Hired Guns due to the value of return yards in that scoring. Hester has more value to Hired Guns, the less he is used as a receiver....not more....same for his value to the Bears IMO, the more they can use him in his natural position (KR/PR/Slot) the more valuable he will be in the end to his team.
 
I really don't care how he scores his points. In the end my gut tells me he's going to post big numbers this year in the leagues I have him in. :blah:
 
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