2013 Fantasy Outlook: Matt Forte

Information is constantly changing in the NFL and fantasy player values can change at any moment. Having updated, informative news can help you not just at your fantasy football draft but during the regular season. Feel free to glance at our recent articles to make sound decisions throughout the year.

To help you get ready for draft day you will notice articles for ADP advice, cheat sheets, mock drafts and projected stats for Matt Forte here. During the season, you can also find regular weekly ranking articles at this section as well.

Welcome to Matt Forte’s fantasy football outlook archive. At this section of Forte’s player page you will notice our past thoughts and advice for fantasy football.

Summer of 2012: Fantasy Projections

This has to be a disappointing off-season for Matt Forte as the Bears have yet to give him the contract he deserves and furthermore, they went out and signed Michael Bush in free agency.

With upgrades at receiver and tight end, I have to wonder if the Bears management is going to make a change and put a heavier emphasis on the passing game.

Assuming Forte doesn’t have a long holdout, he should be good for over 225 carries and his normal 50 plus receptions, but with Bush around, his touchdown total will likely be capped at about seven for the year.

Forte’s value is a RB2 in standard and PPR leagues, but obviously he’s more productive for the later league, because if his reception total and his lack of a high volume of touchdowns.

Update 7 /18 - Forte signed his new contract before camps started after all and we should feel good about his return to a high end RB2 and a low end RB1 in PPR leagues. Michael Bush will take the goal line touches but truthfully, Forte didn’t score much last year and was still one of the better running backs in fantasy football.

	Rushing Stats			Receiving Stats
	Attempts	Yards	TD	Rec	Yards	TD
2012 Projected Stats	275	1,254	5	54	511	2

Summer of 2011: Fantasy Projections

Matt Forte bounced back with a respectable season in 2010, and will be an option to target as a top twenty runner for fantasy leagues. That said, I do have some concerns about the addition of Marion Barber as he will move back into be a No.2 running back, where he was at his best with the Cowboys.

Barber figures to threaten Forte’s odds of nabbing up his usual 50 plus reception total and could steal a few touchdowns away at the goal line. Still, Forte is a worthy No.2 running back and his ADP value will probably go no lower than a fifth round pick in most leagues.

	Rushing Stats			Receiving Stats
	Attempts	Yards	TD	Rec	Yards	TD
2011 Projected Stats	252	1,055	6	43	412	2

2011 June

Matt Forte was arguably the biggest fantasy bust of the 2009 season, but he found a way to up his numbers last season to become a respectable No.2 fantasy back once again. The Bears offensive line still needs some work but to see Forte average 4.5 yards per carry in Mike Martz offense was encouraging.

Oddly enough Forte had his lowest reception total with Martz calling the plays but I believe this mostly had to do with the pass protection being so lousy that he couldn’t run his offense as normal. Look for Forte to increase his workload this season as Chester Taylor clearly isn’t the running back he used to be and the Bears will need a productive ground game to help Jay Cutler and his below average receiving core.

Coming into 2011 drafts, Forte makes for a respectable No.2 running back standard league play, even though he can be an inconsistent touchdown producer. In PPR leagues, Forte’s value is a no brainier as a No.2 back because he’s going to catch at least 50 receptions a year.

2010 Preview

Matt Forte was probably the biggest fantasy bust of the 2009 season. In no way did he live up to his rookie year or the hype that surrounded his second season in the league. The offensive line was horrible in run blocking and Forte had a bad knee all year.

2010 Fantasy Football Outlook

2009 Fantasy Year In Review: Matt Forte was a clear first round pick in just about every fantasy league a year ago. After a great rookie year, it looked like Forte was going to be one of the future studs at this position for years to come. With the addition of Jay Cutler to the team, I thought Forte would find more success for bigger plays as defenses had to give some respect to the passing game.

Audio: RB Matt Forte | 2010 NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings

Boy was I wrong as Forte went on to be the biggest fantasy bust of the 2009 season. For the year Forte failed to reach a four yard per carry average once again and didn’t make it over 1,000 yards rushing. Where Forte hurt fantasy owners most was in his touchdown total as he posted twelve in his rookie year and only four in his second.

This lack of production has dropped a player that was ranked around the top five fantasy backs from a year ago to barely a top twenty five in 2010.

2010 NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings: Maybe Forte would still be a top twenty fantasy back if it wasn’t for the fact that Chester Taylor signed with the team and the Bears have the second hardest schedule against the run. When you factor in that they play the Lions twice a year, and they have had major upgrades to stop the run his schedule is truly the hardest in football.

The one area that Forte continued to have success in last year was in the passing game as he posted 57 receptions but with Taylor on the team he will cut away at that total.

Thankfully, it looks like Forte is recovered from his sprain MCL that he injured week three last season and is showing a better burst of speed in OTA’s. Health will be vitally important if Forte is going to be a every week fantasy play for your team this year.

I still hold out hope for Forte to be a productive fantasy option in his career, but we need to see him bounce back in 2010. Look for Forte as a late No.2 running back to flex play option for your squad this season.

Assets

- Touchdown Opportunities

- Receptions

Liabilities

- Chester Taylor

- 2nd Hardest Schedule To Run Against

- Shaky Offensive Line