The Chicago Bears have undergone an upheaval after another lackluster season. The team finished 5-11, fourth in the division, and were 29th in offensive scoring at 16.5 points per game. As a result, John Fox was fired and former Kansas City offensive Matt Nagy has taken his place, which could bode well for Mitchell Trubisky, the team’s young quarterback.
The offense will evolve with the second-year signal-caller. The former Tar Heel finished 25th among qualified starters in adjusted completion percentage and 26th in passer rating. Nagy, in his old job, helped Alex Smith reach the second-highest and highest mark in those categories, respectively.
Considering Trubisky lost his top two receivers (Cameron Meredith and Kevin White) due to injury before he ever even took the quarterback job, the Bears have learned the importance of talented depth in the development of their franchise signal-caller. Fortunately, running back remains a bright spot with Jordan Howard and second-year Tarik Cohen, and tight end seems to have an answer in yet another second-year player, Adam Shaheen.
Three additions we want to see for fantasy
Paul Richardson, WR: Although many are seeing potential first-round selection Calvin Ridley as the Bears’ answer to wide receiver, the team has other needs and free agency looks like a better place to start to rebuild the group. Richardson provides a deep threat, who finished top 20 in both catch rate (40 percent) and target rate (25 percent), a sorely needed trait given Trubisky finished among the worst in deep-ball attempt rate (9.1 percent) and accuracy (36.7 percent).
Veteran quarterback: The Bears are likely to cut Mike Glennon and this is the year to look for a veteran backup in free agency. Options like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, Derek Anderson, Matt Moore, or Chad Henne could all be capable of providing guidance to Trubisky but also capable of stepping in and performing adequately if needed.
Day two wide receiver: This isn’t a simple fix with one addition, the Bears need to upgrade the slot position given Kendall Wright’s free agency along with an outside option opposite Meredith and depth to develop. Keke Coutee from Texas Tech could be a slot option (second with 2.80 yards per route run in the slot) while polished options like Colorado State’s Michael Gallup and Memphis’ Anthony Miller represent players who finished top 10 in both targets and yards per route run in 2017.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.