Posted by Bill in Fantasy Advice on Apr 3rd 2009 and last modified on Apr 5th 2009. (Print This)
Quarterback Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears yesterday for two first round draft picks, and QB Kyle Orton. The move puts Denver in position to draft a QB at the 11 spot or trade draft picks and move up in the draft, or trade draft picks and acquire a QB from a team like Cleveland which has two to many Quarterbacks. But that is not here nor there. We are going to analyze the impact in Chicago Fantasy Brothers style. Cutler brings his rocket arm and diva like attitude to the QB desperate Bears. The good news is Cutler should win a bunch of games this year, and instantly vault the Bears into NFC Super Bowl contenders in 09. Cutler will have an above average Offensive line protecting him and a great Running Back 1 in Matt Forte to keep the opposing defenses honest. A stellar Bear’s defense will mean that Cutler will be asked to do less and just be an effective game manager not turning the ball over. Cutler will no longer be asked to win a bunch of games with his arm. (Cutler is 13-1 as a starter when his defense allows 21 points or less) There in lies the bad news. Cutler will definitely throw a lot less this year(think Big Ben passing numbers 3,300 yds 20 tds) which means fewer attempts, which will mean fewer yards passed for , which will probably mean less Touchdowns. To make matters potentially worse are his wide receivers. WR Devin Hester (51-665-3 tds) has blazing speed and a ton of potential and very well could have a break out year. Every owner in your fantasy league will have Hester rated as the not so secret sleeper pick. Second year WR Earl Bennett will look to improve on a zero catch rookie year on a team that is and was wide receiver deficient. Bennett by all accounts has improved since last year and has appeared more confident in route running, and comfort in the system, add that up with the fact that Cutler and Bennett are friends from their Vanderbilt days and all of a sudden Bennett really merits close watching during the rest of this off-season. WR Rashied Davis (35-445-2 tds) is currently the WR2 for the Bears though all of the receivers are battling not only for playing time but also starting positions this off-season. The strength of this team is at Tight end with TE Greg Olsen (54-574-5 tds), and TE Desmond Clark (41-367-1 td). Olsen appears to now be the receiving TE and Clark the blocking TE. Olsen looks to improve on last years respectable numbers and become a top 5 TE this year with Cutler throwing the ball to him. All of the receivers’ numbers will and should go up in 2009. Expect a lot of play action passes (long Touchdowns to Hester) but the big negative is that Cutler is going to go from a top 5 Fantasy QB to a Top 15 Fantasy QB.
Next Week starting Monday Fantasy Brothers will be doing a month long team by team Fantasy Football update leading all the way up to the NFL Draft. Please contact us with any questions or comments that you have. We are also open to suggestions regarding what you would like to see from us. Let us get you ready for your Fantasy Football season and put you in position to win your league.