News: Bears GM Phil Emery told the media on Monday he hopes to see more from Earl Bennett in 2013. "Earl showed us his talent (at Detroit in Week 17)," he said. "That catch and run, he showed, I think, everybody, he has a little bit more zip than sometimes, as fans -- and I'm one of them -- give him credit for. Took the ball around the seam and he was gone. He's had numerous midfield catches in his career. Whether it was him not having a fast start because he had an ankle in camp, he missed a little preseason, or the concussions, I don't know."
Analysis: Emery's upbeat comments on Bennett suggest that the receiver will remain in the Bears' plans. Bennett played in 12 games and caught 29 passes for 275 yards and a pair of touchdowns, with 109 yards and a score coming against the Lions in Week 17. Staying healthy is crucial for Bennett, who has missed games in each of the last three years. Going forward he's nothing more than a low-end waiver option as a one-week replacement.
News: Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett caught five passes for a career-high 109 yards and a touchdown in Chicago's 26-24 win over Detroit. It was the second 100-yard game of Bennett's career, with his first (a 104-yard effort) coming in 2010, also against the Lions.
Analysis: Bennett was quiet for much of the season, as he battled hand and head injuries and never really got into any kind of rhythm. A teammate of Jay Cutler's in college, Bennett helped his quarterback out with a long run on a screen pass in the first quarter Sunday, taking the pass 60 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. With Alshon Jeffery emerging as a legitimate No. 2 option for the Bears, Bennett looks like a third option, at best, for the future. He has the ability to break out for games like this -- especially against the Lions -- but Bennett will likely have little Fantasy value going forward.
News: After missing the previous two games due to a concussion, Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett returned to action in Week 16 against the Cardinals. He caught one pass for 16 yards in the 28-13 win.
Analysis: Bennett has played in just 11 games this season due to injury and does not see a ton of passes thrown his way with Brandon Marshall now in Chicago. Continue to ignore the 25-year-old in the majority of Fantasy formats.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett is expected back in the lineup Week 16 at Arizona after missing the last two games with a concussion, according to a league source.
Analysis: Bennett has missed four games this season due to injury and hasn't managed more than 7 Fantasy points in any of his 10 appearances. He is far more important to his real team than Fantasy owners.
News: Chicago wide receiver Earl Bennett remained on the sideline for Week 15 against Green Bay as he continues to deal with the lingering effects of a concussion. Bennett was unable to practice throughout the past week and missed his second consecutive game.
Analysis: Bennett is still awaiting clearance to return to practice for the Bears and the rest of his season is certainly in jeopardy. He wasn't a major Fantasy contributor anyway and has just one touchdown on the year. Leave him on waivers in all formats at this point of the season.
News: Chicago wide receiver Earl Bennett was officially ruled out for Week 15 against Green Bay as he continues to deal with a lingering concussion he suffered in Week 13. Bennett was unable to practice throughout the past week and will miss his second consecutive game.
Analysis: Bennett is still awaiting clearance to return to practice for the Bears and the rest of his season is certainly in jeopardy. He wasn't a major Fantasy contributor anyway and has just one touchdown on the year. Leave him on waivers in all formats at this point.
News: ESPN.com is reporting Thursday that wide receiver Earl Bennett has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Packers in Week 15 as he continues to recover from a concussion. Bennett suffered the concussion in Week 13 and will now miss two consecutive games.
Analysis: Bennett has been unable to get back on the practice field since suffering the concussion and is far more important to his team than he is to Fantasy owners. Bennett scored his first touchdown of the season before getting hurt in Week 13, which he had one of his better games of the year, totaling four catches for 45 yards. He has marginal Fantasy appeal when healthy.
News: The Bears announced Thursday wide receiver Earl Bennett has been ruled out for Week 14 vs. Minnesota because of a concussion.
Analysis: This comes as no surprise since it was reported Bennett was expected to sit out. Bennett scored his first touchdown of the season before getting hurt Sunday. He had one of his better games against the Vikings in Week 12, totaling four catches for 45 yards. That should say a lot about his Fantasy appeal. Bennett is more important to his real team than Fantasy owners and has marginal Fantasy appeal when healthy.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett is likely to miss Week 14 at Minnesota because of a concussion suffered Week 13, according to a league source.
Analysis: Bennett scored his first touchdown of the season before getting hurt Sunday. He had one of his better games against the Vikings in Week 12, totaling four catches for 45 yards. That should say a lot about his Fantasy appeal. Bennett is more important to his real team than Fantasy owners. Even if he plays Sunday, he is not a recommended Fantasy option.
News: Chicago wide receiver Earl Bennett recorded a 12-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of Sunday's Week 13 game at home against Seattle. Bennett hooked up with quarterback Jay Cutler for the first score of the game. Unfortunately, Bennett suffered a concussion in the first half and left the game. He remained in the locker room for testing after halftime. He had the one catch at the time of the injury and was unable to return to the game.
Analysis: Bennett scored his first touchdown of the season on an awesome play in which he caught the ball short of the goal line and flipped over defenders, holding onto the ball. It is possible he was injured on that play considering he didn't make another catch before leaving the game. The Bears went to Brandon Marshall early and often in the Week 13 game with Devin Hester and Alshon Jeffery out. Bennett should be targeted as the No. 2 receiver going forward, if healthy. That said, heading into Week 14 at Minnesota, his health will be in doubt. A healthy Bennett would be a low-end start regardless against the Vikings.
News: For the first time since Week 9, Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett hauled in multiple receptions in a game, as he helped his team to a 28-10 win over the Vikings in Week 12. Bennett made four catches for 45 yards, as only Brandon Marshall gained more reception yardage for the Bears.
Analysis: Bennett played a larger role than usual in Week 12, but with Alshon Jeffery out for at least a couple more weeks as he recovers from knee surgery, he could continue to produce at a higher level for awhile. Still, Bennett should be avoided outside of deeper leagues for Week 13, when the Bears face the Seahawks.
News: Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett had a quiet night against the Texans in Week 10. Bennett caught just one pass for nine yards in the opening quarter for his only catch of the night in a 13-6 defeat.
Analysis: Bennett has not been able to take advantage on the field while Alshon Jeffery remains sidelined with a broken hand. Jeffery has a chance to return next week against the 49ers, which could take a hit on Bennett's marginal Fantasy value. At this point, his value remains limited, so keep him on waivers heading into Week 11 at San Francisco.
News: Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett caught four passes for 22 yards in Sunday's 51-20 blowout of the Titans. While his final stat line may not look overly impressive, he was second on the team in targets, with eight.
Analysis: Bennett missed Weeks 4 and 5 with a hand injury, but has averaged six targets over his last three games (after a Week 6 bye). He is still looking for his first touchdown on the season, but as his rapport with former college teammate Jay Cutler improves, they will likely come. With Alshon Jeffery out, Bennett has emerged as Jay Cutler's No. 2. Still, Bennett's value is limited right now to deeper leagues, and will likely stay there until he can start turning these targets into more receptions.
News: Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said Wednesday he expects wide receiver Earl Bennett to become a more important factor on offense now that he is fully healthy. "I have a comfort level with him," Cutler said of Bennett, who was his teammate in college at Vanderbilt. Chicago faces Tennessee in Week 9, and the Titans are one of the worst teams in the NFL in defending the pass, allowing the seventh-most receiving yards per game so far this season.
Analysis: Bennett has played the last two games after sitting out a few weeks with a hand injury. He has six catches for 74 yards since returning, but doesn't have a touchdown in five games this season. However, the Bears are still without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand), so the team could use some help in the passing game. Bennett isn't a big-time receiver and his impact could mean more for the Bears than Fantasy owners. Over the last two weeks, Bennett has averaged five targets and three receptions, and has just one 100-yard game in his career, in 2010. Bennett's best season was in 2009, when he caught 54 passes for 717 yards and two touchdowns. Despite Cutler's enthusiasm for him, Bennett remains a low-end Fantasy option who can be left on the wires in most formats.
News:Earl Bennett's stat sheet won't set the world on fire, but his three catches for 47 yards came up big for the Bears against the Panthers in Week 8. All three of the grabs came in the second half including one for a 24-yard gain that proved to be the longest play of the day for Chicago. He came right back on the next play and caught a pass for 10 yards to move the chains for a second consecutive time. He later aided the game-winning drive with a chain-moving 12-yard catch. He exited the game following that catch but told ESPN he just had the wind knocked out of him and was fine.
Analysis: The Bears desperately need a second receiver to take some pressure off of Brandon Marshall, and Bennett has long been considered not quite good enough for the job. But with Devin Hester struggling in the No. 2 receiver role, maybe Bennett sees more playing time going forward. Consider him a low-end one-week replacement option against the Titans in Week 9.
News: After missing the previous two games due to a hand injury, Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett returned in Week 7 against the Lions. He caught three passes for 27 yards in the 13-7 win. Bennett nearly had his first touchdown of the season in the third quarter but the defender knocked the ball away from him. Bennett was targeted six times in the victory.
Analysis: Bennett finished tied for second on the Bears in targets Monday night as he proved again to be a favorite target for Jay Cutler. With Alshon Jeffery (hand) expected to miss a couple more games, the 25-year-old will be given every chance to step up so keep an eye on his progress going forward. Bennett might be worth a look in deeper Fantasy formats for Week 8 against the Panthers.
News: Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett, who has missed two games with a hand injury, believes he will return to action Week 7 vs. Detroit. "My hand feels good," Bennett said after Monday's practice. "I got a chance to run around and catch the ball. No pain at all. I feel good." The Bears are looking forward to Bennett's return now that rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery is out with a fractured hand. "Earl has helped us win a lot of games around here," coach Lovie Smith said. "He has been in different roles, also. It was hard for him to be out. But when you have a good player like Alshon that goes down and you can replace him with a guy like Earl, it says a little bit about how strong our 53-man roster is."
Analysis: Bennett seems to be returning at an ideal time since he has a strong history against the Lions. In four career games against Detroit, Bennett has totaled 18 catches for 244 yards, averaging 61 yards per game. Bennett has history with quarterback Jay Cutler, but he is not a big-time threat. He has just one 100-yard game in his career. Bennett is only worth having on rosters in the deepest of Fantasy formats.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday that Bears rookie wideout Alshon Jeffery could miss four to six weeks with a fracture in his right hand. Earl Bennett, who has missed the last two games due to a hand injury of his own, stands to see an increased role in his absence. Head Coach Lovie Smith said that he anticipates Bennett returning after the bye week and play Week 7 against the Lions.
Analysis: Bennett caught six passes for 82 yards in three games before going down with his injury but has a chance to make a difference in Fantasy once again. He has proven in the past to be a reliable pass catcher for quarterback Jay Cutler in Chicago and should be able to get open with opponents targeting top-wideout Brandon Marshall. Keep an eye on his status leading up to Week 7 as Bennett might be worth adding in deeper Fantasy formats.
News: Chicago wide receiver Earl Bennett (hand) was inactive for the Week 4 Monday night game in Dallas. Bennett was listed as questionable entering the game and could not get healthy enough to be active.
Analysis: Bennett will look to return Week 5 at Jacksonville before the Bears go on bye Week 6. Bennett has six catches in three games this season for 82 yards without a touchdown. He has low-end Fantasy value, when active.
News: Chicago wide receiver Earl Bennett (hand) was listed as questionable on the official injury report for the Week 4 Monday night game at Dallas. Bennett practiced in a limited capacity Saturday.
Analysis: Bennett has six catches in three games this season for 82 yars without a touchdown. He is not a recommended Fantasy option, healthy or not, for Week 4.
News: Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett was targeted four times on Sunday, catching one pass for 11 yards.
Analysis: Bennett now has 82 receiving yards on the season. Since putting up 717 receiving yards in 2009, Bennett has seen his numbers shrink every successive season. As of now, he's on pace for about 434 total yards, which would be a slight improvement over 2011, when he only played 11 games. Bennett was once thought to be a nice sleeper, as he played in college with Jay Cutler, but he has no Fantasy value at this time.
News: Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett had a touchdown taken away from him Week 1 against the Colts. Bennett was originally awarded a 26-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter before it was overturned. Bennett was ruled down at the 1-yard line after the play was reviewed. Bennett finished with three catches for 50 yards. He was targeted four times.
Analysis: Bennett can probably be considered a safety blanket for quarterback Jay Cutler. He will have some nice performances every now and then, but he isn't expected to put up numbers like teammate Brandon Marshall, who went over 100 yards Sunday. Bennett remains more of a Fantasy reserve heading into Week 2 at Green Bay.
News: Bears receivers coach Darryl Drake told the official team website he expects wide receiver Earl Bennett to have a big year thanks to what's being asked of him in the offense. "He’s very underrated because of the things that he does," Drake said. "He’s going to do all the dirty work. He’s going to make the catch that some guys can’t make. He’s a security blanket for the quarterback in crucial times. ... He continues to improve. I think that he will really flourish in what we’re trying to do with this new offense and I’m very excited about watching him play."
Analysis: Bennett looked poised to break out as the Bears' top receiver in 2011 but didn't follow through. After suffering a rib injury against the hard-hitting Saints, Bennett caught 14 balls for 251 yards and a touchdown over three weeks. But he couldn't find the end zone or crack even 50 yards receiving in the six games thereafter. We like that he's a favorite of quarterback Jay Cutler and could see him playing regularly as the Bears' slot receiver, but until we see him sustain consistent production he'll be nothing more than a reserve Fantasy option. Draft him with a late-round pick if you'd like.
News: For the second week in a row, Bears WR Earl Bennett hauled in a single catch for more than 20 yards. In Week 16 against the Packers, Bennett caught one pass from new starting QB Josh McCown for a 49-yard gain. He was targeted three times total in the Bears 35-21 loss to Green Bay. He just missed a touchdown on the catch, as he was caught at the 1-yard line.
Analysis: Bennett hasn’t had more than one catch in a game in the five games since Jay Cutler went down with an injury, and Cutler is almost certainly not returning in the final game with the Bears not having much to play for. Bennett is not a recommended Fantasy option for Week 17 against Minnesota.
News: Despite the Bears' insistence earlier in the week that they wanted to get him more involved in the offense, WR Earl Bennett was again hardly a factor Week 15 against the Seahawks. He caught one pass for 20 yards. It was his only target on the day. He now has a combined three catches for 30 yards over his last four games.
Analysis: Bennett had a combined 14 catches for 251 yards in the three games leading up to this four-game drought, so he's clearly capable of being a relevant Fantasy contributor. But his production has gone in the tank with starting QB Jay Cutler sidelined by a thumb injury. Bennett's Week 15 performance is especially discouraging considering fellow WR Johnny Knox missed most of the game with a lower back injury. Bennett's productivity might increase with Knox sidelined over the final two weeks, but with Caleb Hanie under center, it can only increase so much. Bennett is just a low-end Fantasy WR for Week 16 at Green Bay.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett, who had 14 catches for 251 yards in Weeks 9-11, has only two catches for 10 yards in Weeks 12-14 -- a drought that directly coincides with starting QB Jay Cutler's (thumb) absence. But according to offensive coordinator Mike Martz, Bennett's slump has less to do with the loss of his former Vanderbilt teammate than the way opposing defenses have chosen to attack him. "They know what Earl is on third down to us," Martz said. Caleb Hanie, Cutler's replacement at quarterback, agrees. "We haven't been able to find Earl the last couple of weeks, for whatever reason. Teams have been keying on him," Hanie said. "We just got to find ways to keep getting him open and we've got to find ways to get in a position where we can use him." Bennett doesn't have the most favorable matchup for a rebound Week 15 against the Seahawks. Seattle has allowed the ninth-fewest Fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Analysis: The Bears may want to get Bennett more involved on offense, but wanting to do it and actually doing it are two different things. The Bears haven't exactly gotten the best quarterback play over the last three weeks, with Hanie completing less than 52 percent of his passes for an average of 167.3 yards. As long as the Bears passing game continues to flounder, Bennett will remain useless in Fantasy. You wouldn't want to start him in Week 15, but it's nice to know he's not a forgotten man on offense.
News: After recording one catch for 5 yards in each of his previous games, the bottom fell out for Bears WR Earl Bennett in the Bears’ 13-10 Week 14 overtime loss to the Broncos. Bennett didn’t catch a single pass, and was targeted just once by QB Caleb Hanie in the loss.
Analysis: The entire Bears’ receiving corps has been impacted negatively by Hanie’s promotion to the starting role following Jay Cutler’s thumb injury, but none have seen as precipitous a decline as Bennett. Bennett had averaged 83.7 yards per game in Cutler’s final three games, making him a useful Fantasy option, but since then he has disappeared completely. At this point, he likely isn’t even worth a roster spot in most Fantasy leagues, and shouldn’t be considered for Week 15 against New England.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had three straight games with at least 75 yards after returning from a chest injury that cost him five games early in the season. Unfortunately, after the third game back, he lost QB Jay Cutler to a thumb injury. In two starts, QB Caleb Hanie has barely been able to see Bennett. He has a single catch for 5 yards in each of the Bears’ last two games. The Bears travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in Week 14, a team Bennett has never faced in his career.
Analysis: Bennett went from arguably Cutler’s top receiver (and, subsequently, a decent Fantasy option each week) to almost entirely invisible since Hanie has taken over. Part of that is that Hanie has simply struggled to find any receivers, but he has targeted Bennett just four times in each game, so there hasn’t been much for Bennett to do. The team values his production enough to have given him a four-year contract extension last week, but he is not providing his Fantasy owners any value right now and should not be considered a starting Fantasy option in any leagues for Week 14.
News: After averaging 83.7 receiving yards in his previous three games, Bears WR Earl Bennett had just one catch for 5 yards Week 13 against the Chiefs. He was targeted four times in the contest.
Analysis: Bennett was one of the biggest casualties of QB Caleb Hanie's 133-yard performance. Still, he was outperformed by Devin Hester (three catches, 35 yards), who had gone three games without a catch prior to Week 13. Bennett emerged as the Bears' go-to guy when Jay Cutler was under center, and he clearly had a better rapport with his former Vanderbilt teammate than with Hanie. Bennett is too unreliable to start in most Fantasy formats when the Bears visit the Broncos in Week 14.
News: The Bears announced Friday that it signed WR Earl Bennett to a four-year contract extension. "I'm very excited," Bennett said. "It said a lot about the organization and how much they care about us."
Analysis: With QB Jay Cutler sidelined by a thumb injury, Bennett was a bust Week 12 at Oakland, catching one pass for 5 yards after averaging 82.3 yards over his previous three games. New QB Caleb Hanie seemed to prefer Johnny Knox, completing four passes to him for 145 yards. Bennett can only hope Hanie will look to spread the ball around Week 13 against the Chiefs now that he's a little more comfortable in the offense. The Chiefs rank 12th against the pass, allowing 225.3 yards per game, and have been fairly tough on wide receivers, giving up the 10th-fewest Fantasy points to them. The Bears don't have a clear No. 1 wide receiver, so the distribution of passes between Knox and Bennett is a fluid situation. Because Bennett is the better possession receiver, he'll most likely have his chances in the weeks ahead. Until he develops some kind of rapport with Hanie, though, he's not worth starting in Fantasy.
News: With QB Jay Cutler sidelined by a thumb injury, Bears WR Earl Bennett was a bust Week 12 at Oakland, catching one pass for 5 yards after averaging 82.3 yards over his previous three games. New QB Caleb Hanie seemed to prefer Johnny Knox, completing four passes to him for 145 yards. Bennett can only hope Hanie will look to spread the ball around Week 13 against the Chiefs now that he's a little more comfortable in the offense. The Chiefs rank 12th against the pass, allowing 225.3 yards per game, and have been fairly tough on wide receivers, giving up the 10th-fewest Fantasy points to them.
Analysis: Cutler was familiar with Bennett from their days together at Vanderbilt, so you can understand why Bennett might lose some looks with Cutler injured. The Bears don't have a clear No. 1 wide receiver, so the distribution of passes between Knox and Bennett is a fluid situation. Because Bennett is the better possession receiver, he'll most likely have his chances in the weeks ahead. Until he develops some kind of rapport with Hanie, though, he's not worth starting in Fantasy.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had his worst game of the season in Week 12. He caught just one of the four passes thrown his way, a 5 yard gain. The Bears, working in a new QB as Caleb Hanie replaced the injured Jay Cutler, lost 25-20 to the Raiders. It was just the second one catch game of the season for Bennett.
Analysis: Bennett was Cutler's top target, and he had three straight games with at least 75 yards before Cutler went down with the thumb injury that should keep him out for the rest of the regular season. Obviously losing Cutler is going to be a big issue for Bennett, and will likely continue to adversely affect his Fantasy value going forward. Hanie targeted him just four times, and his accuracy was poor throughout the game, giving Bennett a tough time just bringing in the passes he saw. Looking ahead to Week 13, the Bears take on the Chiefs, the 10th best passing defense in the NFL. Even if he had a good matchup, we cannot recommend Bennett as a starter with Hanie under center for the Bears, so keep him on the bench in all Fantasy formats.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett faces a decent matchup in Week 12, as the Bears travel to Oakland to take on the Raiders. The Raiders have allowed a TD to WRs in all but two of their games this year. Since returning from injury in Week 9, Bennett had emerged as QB Jay Cutler's favorite target. However now Bennett will have to work on establishing a rapport with new starting QB Caleb Hanie, as Cutler appears to be out for the rest of the regular season.
Analysis: There's not much of a history to go on, but during the 2011 NFC Championship game against Green Bay, Bennett did catch three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown after Hanie came into the game for an injured Cutler. There's a possibility the two of them could work well together, given what we have to go on, then. However with the uncertainty about what to reasonably expect from Hanie it's best to defer to other options and consider Bennett no better than a low-end No. 3 Fantasy WR for Week 12.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett may be catching passes from a new quarterback for the next six to eight weeks. Multiple sources are reporting that QB Jay Cutler broke the thumb on his throwing hand in Week 11 against the Chargers and could miss the remainder of the season. That doesn't bode well for Bennett, who finished with three receptions for 75 yards in the 31-20 win over San Diego. Bennett was targeted nine times in the contest and had a long of 34 yards.
Analysis: Bennett turned in another fairly productive performance on Sunday and looked to have a touchdown reception, but the call was overturned after a booth review. Still, he has now racked up at least 75 yards receiving in each of his last three games and has hauled in 14 receptions over that stretch. However, the latest news on Cutler is a huge blow to the Bears and Fantasy owners alike. This means Caleb Hanie is likely to resume the starting QB duties moving forward, which obviously will affect Bennett's value. Fantasy owners should continue and monitor the situation moving forward, but the news does not look good at this point. Bennett could be considered a No. 2 Fantasy WR most weeks, but with Hanie under center, he will likely be more of a No. 3 option. The Bears will face the Raiders in Week 12.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett will be looking for another productive outing in Week 11 against the Chargers. Bennett, who missed five games earlier in the season due to a chest injury, has hauled in 11 receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown over his last two contests. San Diego enters Sunday's contest ranked eighth in pass defense, allowing 203 yards per game. The Chargers have surrendered 17 touchdowns through the air and are allowing an average of 20.1 Fantasy points to opposing WRs on the season.
Analysis: Bennett has really played well in the games since he returned from his injury and will look to register his third straight game with at least five catches and 80 receiving yards. However, that might be easier said than done against the Chargers. San Diego has been very good at defending the pass thus far and only four of the 17 touchdowns they have surrendered through the air have been hauled in by WRs. Still, Bennett has clearly emerged as Jay Cutler's favorite target of late, so he should plenty of passes thrown in his direction on Sunday. Consider him a No. 2 Fantasy WR against the Chargers.
News: In a game where Bears QB Jay Cutler completed just nine passes, WR Earl Bennett made the most of his looks. Bennett caught all six passes thrown his way on the day totaling 81 yards. It was a windy day in Chicago, but the Bears were able to beat the Lions 37-13.
Analysis: Bennett has put together two solid performances in a row and will try to keep that trend going in Week 11. The Bears face the Chargers, a team that has allowed 17 passing touchdowns, but just 203.4 passing yards per contest. Bennett is definitely Cutler's favorite target, but he remains a No. 3 Fantasy WR option at best.
News: After catching five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in his return a week ago, Bears WR Earl Bennett will be looking for continued success in Week 10 against the Lions. Detroit ranks sixth in the league in pass defense, giving up under 194 yards per game, and have allowed an average of 17.2 Fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Bennett did not play when the division foes met earlier in the year.
Analysis: Bennett had a solid performance against the Eagles in Week 9 and could see a larger role in the offense going forward. As a former college teammate of Cutler, he appears to have a solid rapport with his QB and could be in line for more success down the road. The Bears do not have any standouts in the receiving corps so the 24-year-old has every opportunity to step up. Owners should consider Bennett a low-end No. 3/high-end No. 4 Fantasy WR for Week 10.
News: After missing the previous five games due to a chest injury, Bears Earl Bennett returned in Week 9 against the Eagles. He led Chicago in receiving as he caught five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in the 30-24 win. His first score of the season came when he caught a 5-yard touchdown strike from QB Jay Cutler in the fourth quarter. Bennett, who was targeted five times, had a long reception of 28 and averaged 19 yards per catch in the victory.
Analysis: Bennett caught just three passes for 20 yards in his first two games this season but he was able to find some space in the Eagles' secondary on Monday night and had a solid performance. As a former college teammate of Cutler, he appears to have a solid rapport with his QB and could be in line for more success down the road. The Bears do not have any standouts in the receiving corps so the 24-year-old has every opportunity to step up. With the Lions up next on the schedule, owners in deeper Fantasy formats should consider picking Bennett up for Week 10.
News: Bears WR Earl Benett's only two-TD game came against Philadelphia last season. Bennett has been given the go-ahead to play Week 9 at Philadelphia after missing 5 1/2 games with a chest injury. "He’s a starting receiver, he can do a lot of things for us," coach Lovie Smith said. "We don’t have to wonder what he can do, we’ve seen him in just about every situation." Bennett back this week from a chest injury to face Philadelphia is big for QB Jay Cutler , particularly on third downs or on hot reads against the Eagles blitz. "He’s very stable," Cutler said of Bennett. "He’s going to be in the right spot. He’s going to make plays after the catch."
Analysis: Even with the emergence of Dane Sanzenbacher, it sounds as though Bennett has been a missing piece on offense. However, it's very hard to say Bennett will have another big outing against the Eagles. He is merely a desperation Fantasy option for Week 9.
News: Despite being listed as probable on the injury report, Bears WR Earl Bennett (chest) was deactivated for Week 7 at Tampa Bay. Bennett had practiced in full throughout the week.
Analysis: Healthy or not, Bennett does not appear to be in the team's offensive plans at the moment. Until his situation changes -- and drastically -- he should not be considered a viable option in any Fantasy format.
News:Earl Bennett practiced in full for a third straight day on Friday and is listed as probable for Week 7 against the Buccaneers. He didn't play in Week 6 after being listed as questionable despite practicing. He hasn't played since Week 2.
Analysis: Bennett could eventually catch on as a low-end receiver for Fantasy owners, but until his playing time is substantially increased he shouldn't be on any rosters.
News:The Sports Xchange notes Bears WR Earl Bennett practiced without restrictions Wednesday and could play Week 7 against the Bucs for the first time since Week 2 when he took a helmet to the chest from Saints S Roman Harper. "He's just a dependable guy who does a great job in the slot," coach Lovie Smith said. "He's a consistent football player in just about any role we put him in, from being on special teams to returning a punt to of course playing receiver."
Analysis: Bennett has been one of QB Jay Cutler's favorite targets since they played together at Vanderbilt. "I love playing with Earl," Cutler said. "He's a tough player who helps the running game and the passing game. Without him, obviously we took a little bit of a step back." However, Dane Sanzenbacher has thrived in the slot with Bennett out, so you wonder how effective Bennett will be now that he will probably share reps with Sanzenbacher. Leave Bennett on waivers until he proves healthy and productive.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett (chest) returned to full participation in practice on Wednesday. He has missed the last four games due to a chest injury.
Analysis: Bennett has not played since taking a big hit in Week 2 but it looks as though he might be able to return on Sunday in London. Keep an eye on his progress going forward as the Bears could definitely use his services in the passing game. But since he is not a huge contributor in Fantasy, leave Bennett for deeper leagues when healthy.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett was able to practice for the second straight day on Friday and is listed as questionable for Week 6 against the Vikings. He has missed the last three games due to a chest injury.
Analysis: Bennett has not played since taking a big hit in Week 2 but it looks as though he might be able to return on Sunday. Keep an eye on his progress going forward as the Bears could definitely use his services in the passing game. But since he is not a huge contributor in Fantasy, leave Bennett for deeper leagues when healthy.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett was ruled out for Week 5 against Detroit with a persistent chest injury. Bennett did some running on the side during Saturday's practice and is getting closer to a return. However, he will miss his third straight game on Monday night.
Analysis: Bennett was unable to practice with the team during the past week and will continue to stay on the sideline. The 24-year-old has registered just three catches for 20 yards in two games this season, and will be replaced by WR Dane Sanzenbacher in the starting lineup. Consider Bennett a marginal option in all Fantasy formats at this point.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett, who had already been ruled out for the team's Week 4 matchup against Carolina, was officially listed among the team's inactives prior to the game. Bennett was also inactive for last Sunday's game as he continues to be hampered by a chest injury that he suffered in Week 2 against New Orleans. Bears WR Dane Sanzenbacher is expected to start again in his place.
Analysis: Bennett has been unable to practice because of the chest injury and will now miss his second game in a row. The 24-year-old reportedly might not be able to return in Week 5 so Fantasy owners should monitor his progress. However, he only has three receptions this year and was considered a marginal Fantasy option in all formats.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett has been ruled out for the team's Week 4 matchup against Carolina, according to ESPNChicago.com. Bennett was also inactive for last Sunday's game as he continues to be hampered by a chest injury that he suffered in Week 2 against New Orleans. Bears WR Dane Sanzenbacher is expected to start again in his place.
Analysis: Bennett has been unable to practice because of the chest injury and will now miss his second game in a row. The 24-year-old reportedly might not be able to return in Week 5 so Fantasy owners should monitor his progress. However, he only has three receptions this year and was considered a marginal Fantasy option in all formats.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett, who was already ruled out Week 3 against the Packers because of a chest injury, was listed among the team's inactives for the game on Sunday.
Analysis: Bennett has been diagnosed with a bruised chest, but apparently he is still hurting enough for the Bears to sit him. He still plays a part in the Bears passing game when he is healthy, but Bennett has marginal Fantasy appeal. Keep him reserved Week 3.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett has been ruled out Week 3 against the Packers because of a chest injury, which could mean more work for rookie Dane Sanzenbacher in the slot. “Injuries are a part of it,”coach Lovie Smith said. “It’s like that each week. Each year you go through things like that, and the next guy knows his number could be called at any time and you can go from being a role player to one of the guys that we’re really counting on each down.”
Analysis: Bennett has been diagnosed with a bruised chest, but apparently he is still hurting enough for the Bears to sit him. He still plays a part in the Bears passing game when he is healthy, but Bennett has marginal Fantasy appeal. Keep him reserved Week 3.
News: ESPN.com reports a league source indicates that Bears WR Earl Bennett will not play Week 3 against the Packers due to a bruised chest he suffered in Week 2.
Analysis: A bruised chest doesn't sound severe, but the Bears might give him time to rest, especially with how rookie Dane Sanzenbacher played in his absence against the Saints. Bennett is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy reserve when healthy, so plan to start healthier alternatives in Week 3.
News: Bears coach Lovie Smith told reporters Monday that WR Earl Bennett sustained a bruised chest in Sunday's game against the Saints. He had one catch for 9 yards before leaving the game.
Analysis: A bruised chest doesn't sound severe, but the Bears might give him time to rest, especially with how rookie Dane Sanzenbacher played in his absence against the Saints. Bennett is not a starter for the Bears, but he has totaled 46-plus catches the last two seasons, so he works his way into the offense. He is just too unreliable to trust in Fantasy right now -- healthy or not. Bennett remains nothing more than a Fantasy reserve heading into Week 3 against the Packers.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett left the game Week 2 against the Saints with a knee injury. He had one catch for 9 yards before leaving the game.
Analysis: Bennett is not a starter for the Bears, but he has totaled 46-plus catches the last two seasons, so he works his way into the offense. He is just too unreliable to trust in Fantasy right now -- healthy or not. Bennett remains nothing more than a Fantasy reserve heading into Week 3 against the Packers.
News: In the Bears' Week 1 win vs. the Falcons, WR Earl Bennett caught two passes for 11 yards on four targets but was on the field nearly every time the team went into a three-receiver set.
Analysis: Bennett is going to have some weeks where he scores and plays moderately well but they'll be tough to predict. He's not worth considering for Week 2 against the Saints, even though Roy Williams (groin) got banged up a little bit.
News:Earl Bennett was targeted seven times in the Bears' preseason loss at Tennessee. He caught six of them for a game-best 89 yards. All but one of his catches came off the arm of Jay Cutler.
Analysis: Bennett is sort of buried on the depth chart behind Devin Hester, Roy Williams and Johnny Knox, but it won't take much for him to overtake those receivers and earn some playing time considering the drops we've seen from Hester and Williams. Bennett is someone to remember after Draft Day as a possible one-week replacement option off waivers.
News: Despite missing some practice time with an undisclosed injury, Bears WR Earl Bennett was on the field for Monday's preseason game against the Giants. He looked just fine, hauling in three passes for a game-high 58 yards in the loss. Bennett was targeted five times on the night.
Analysis: Bennett had some moments over the last two seasons that made it seem like he was on the cusp of making a Fantasy impact, but he could rarely sustain the momentum. He has just five total scored over the two campaigns, but he has totaled nearly 1300 yards receiving in the process. Bennett will have to fight for the rest of the preseason to make his mark along with Roy Williams, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Unless he somehow pulls away from the pack, Fantasy owners should only target him in deep PPR formats on Draft Day.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett was not with the team at practice on Monday. No word was given as to why; he was not on the team's injury report following Saturday's preseason win over Buffalo.
Analysis: Bennett is battling for playing time this summer but is behind the likes of Roy Williams, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Fantasy owners shouldn't draft him outside the deepest of PPR formats.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports the Bears don't have a slot receiver on their depth chart, but it appears Earl Bennett is ahead of rookie WR Dane Sanzenbacher to grab that starting role. However, Sanzenbacher has impressed in training camp and Bennett's job might not be as safe as it once was. When asked about who would be the starting slot receiver, Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said, ''Bennett -- for now.''
Analysis: The thing working in Bennett's favor is that he has rapport with QB Jay Cutler going back to their days in college at Vanderbilt. But Sanzenbacher seems like a perfect fit for the quick passes needed in Mike Martz's offense, so Bennett better not rest on his laurels. He remains at best a late-round Fantasy option in deeper leagues.
News: The Chicago Tribune reports that Bears WR Earl Bennett is working hard this offseason with the hopes that he can start in 2011. “My biggest thing is I am ready to get back to football,” Bennett said Friday on a local radio show. “I have been down in Pensacola, Fla., training ever since the season has been over with. I am just ready to get back to football, get back to Halas Hall, get back to practicing and get ready for this season. Hopefully, they get something resolved pretty quickly.” Bennett also has been doing some work in the area with QB Jay Cutler and some skill position players. Bennett is entering the final season of his contract with a chance to set himself up well. Now, it’s about going out and putting up a big season, something offensive coordinator Mike Martz is already pointing to. Martz is prepared to extend an opportunity for Bennett to earn a starting job, likely across from Johnny Knox. “Once I get the opportunity I have to take advantage of it and pretty much catch everything that comes to me and continue to help move the ball downfield,” Bennett said. “I am just excited for the opportunity and look forward to it. My expectation is to always do better than I did the previous year and just continue to build on that. I don’t set any individual goals like Pro Bowl or anything like that. I just want to continue to get better and become a better player – blocking, fundamentals, catching the ball, running routes. Each year I work on the little things and the little things will take you a long way. My biggest thing is to come in and compete. Last year, I was injured and I really wasn’t able to compete for a starting job. This year, I look to come in and compete. Hopefully, I can come in and win a starting job. If not, I know my role, it’s the No. 3 or No. 4. The biggest thing is for me to come in and help the team out and help us anyway possible.”
Analysis: We like Bennett as a sleeper in 2011, especially in PPR leagues. He could easily get to 60-plus catches if he can remain healthy, and he and QB Jay Cutler have a solid rapport from their days at Vanderbilt. In standard leagues, Bennett is only worth drafting with a late-round pick in deep formats. But in PPR leagues, plan on taking Bennett in all formats on Draft Day since he could play well and outperform his draft status.
News: The Bears official team website reports that no NFL receiver had more reliable hands in 2010 than Earl Bennett. According to Pro Football Focus, Bennett and the Bengals’ Jordan Shipley were the league’s only players who had at least 50 receptions without dropping a pass. “Earl is one of those receivers who has a unique ability to make an adjustment on the ball in the air,” said offensive coordinator Mike Martz. “He can get himself all turned around and twisted like a pretzel and still make the catch. He’s just a natural.” Bennett finished the regular season with 46 receptions for 561 yards and three TDs. He then added four catches for 58 yards and one TD in two playoff games. As Martz plans for this season, he vows to give Bennett even more opportunities than he received in 2010. “We didn’t throw it to him enough,” Martz said. “That will be remedied. He will figure in a much larger role than he did last year. He came to us late. He was injured. I wasn’t really sure where he was with all the stuff. But he established himself as a guy who needs to get a lot more balls than he did. He’s extremely reliable. I know Jay feels comfortable with him in the slot doing some of those things,. But he should be able to play outside for us as well.”
Analysis: We like Bennett as a sleeper in 2011, especially in PPR leagues. He could easily get to 60-plus catches if he can remain healthy, and he and QB Jay Cutler have a solid rapport from their days at Vanderbilt. In standard leagues, Bennett is only worth drafting with a late-round pick in deep formats. But in PPR leagues, plan on taking Bennett in all formats on Draft Day since he could play well and outperform his draft status.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett tallied three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' 21-14 loss to Green Bay in the NFC Championship game on Sunday. Bennett, who was targeted five times, hauled in the longest pass of the game on his 35-yard strike from third-string QB Caleb Hanie in the fourth quarter. He also lost yards during a questionable end around call on third down with 1:15 left in the fourth quarter that the Packers defense stopped for a 2-yard loss.
Analysis: Bennett was the only Chicago wide receiver to score a touchdown in the Bears' two playoff games (tight ends caught two). He amassed his totals in the second half of Sunday's game with Chicago trailing 14-0 entering the third quarter. He finished with four receptions for 58 yards in the postseason after totaling 561 yards in the regular season. He is a risky Fantasy play and should only be considered in deeper leagues during 2011 drafts.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett managed just one reception for 13 yards in the Bears' 35-24 victory over Seattle in an NFC Divisional Playoff game on Sunday. Bennett, who was targeted four times by QB Jay Cutler, has now caught only one pass in back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Analysis: Bennett seemed to be building a nice repoire with Cutler but that seems to have tapered off recently. The two teammates, who also played together in college at Vanderbilt, has connected for eight catches in the last four games after a seven-reception performance in Week 13. Bennett is likely too risky to utilize in Fantasy playoff leagues and should be considered in deeper leagues of 2011 Fantasy drafts.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett has been the team's go to guy in one of the most critical moments of any game -- third down. He had 11 receptions on third downs over the final nine games of the regular season, all for first downs. "I just try to make myself available, being quarterback friendly, just finding the spots and the holes," said Bennett, who sat out the final regular-season game at Green Bay with an ankle injury. "(Offensive coordinator Mike) Martz has done a good job with the game plan, setting people up, putting us in the right position to be successful." Bennett and the Bears take on the Seahawks on Sunday in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Analysis: Though he excels on third down, Bennett had a down season overall from his solid 2009 campaign. He is among a Bears WR corps that has no defined No. 1 WR, so each player has an equal chance at having a big game, something very risky in Fantasy Playoff Challenge leagues. Heading into 2011, Bennett figures to be nothing more than a reserve Fantasy option, suitable for a late-round draft pick at best.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett returned to practice Monday with his ankle heavily taped. He missed all last week after injuring his ankle Dec. 26 against the Jets and didn't play in the regular season-finale against Green Bay. The Bears don't have to address Bennett's status until Wednesday.
Analysis: Bennett would not be a popular Fantasy option for Playoff Challenge leagues even if he were healthy because expectations are low with him. Then again, expectations were low with him earlier this season and he had some breakout games. Your safest play is to pass on Bennett in postseason leagues for now.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett (ankle) missed practice Wednesday. Bennett did not play in Week 17 at Green Bay and has been dealing with this ankle injury for a couple of weeks. The Bears are on a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
Analysis: Continue to monitor what happens with Bennett heading into the second week of the playoffs. Hopefully he will be able to play and finish the postseason strong. Bennett should be considered a No. 4 Fantasy WR heading into 2011 and is worth a late-round pick in all leagues.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett was listed among the inactives for Week 17 against the Packers. He was unable to practice all week leading up to Sunday's game due to an ankle injury. With Bennett out, WR Rashied Davis is expected to get a lot of the snaps in the slot.
Analysis: Ever since his 104-yard performance in Week 13 against the Lions, Bennett hasn't really come through for Fantasy owners and will be out for the season finale. This ankle injury has been a problem the last few weeks, especially during his one-catch outing last Sunday against the Jets, so check back to see if he will be able to go in the playoffs. Heading into 2011, Bennett will be a low-end Fantasy WR.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett is questionable for the team's Week 17 game at Green Bay. Bennett did practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury. The Chicago Tribune speculates that Bennett won't play against the Packers.
Analysis: Don't count on Bennett to help your Fantasy team in Week 17. Ever since his 104-yard performance in Week 13 against the Lions, Bennett hasn't really come through for Fantasy owners. The weather in some of the games has been a factor, but this ankle injury has been a problem the last few weeks, especially during his one-catch outing Sunday against the Jets. Kick him off rosters at this point.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett did not practice again Thursday because of a lingering ankle injury he originally suffered in Week 15 against the Vikings. Chicago plays at Green Bay in Week 17.
Analysis: Ever since his 104-yard performance in Week 13 against the Lions, Bennett hasn't really come through for Fantasy owners. The weather in some of the games has been a factor, but this ankle injury has been a problem the last few weeks, especially during his one-catch outing Sunday against the Jets. Even if Bennett dresses for Week 17, he remains a risky Fantasy option. He had three catches for 21 yards against Green Bay in Week 3.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett did not practice Wednesday because of a lingering ankle injury he originally suffered in Week 15 against the Vikings. "Of course Earl has had a little bit of trouble with his ankle, but hopefully he'll be good to go [if not Thursday], by the end of the week," coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday as his team prepares for Week 17 against the Packers.
Analysis: Ever since his 104-yard performance in Week 13 against the Lions, Bennett hasn't really come through for Fantasy owners. The weather in some of the games has been a factor, but this ankle injury has been a problem the last few weeks, especially during his one-catch outing Sunday against the Jets. Even if Bennett dresses for Week 17, he remains a risky Fantasy option. He had three catches for 21 yards against Green Bay in Week 3.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had a 14-yard catch in Week 16 vs. the Jets. He was targeted four times in the game. Bennett saw teammates Johnny Knox and Devin Hester make end zone visits for the second week in a row.
Analysis: Bennett's star has fallen fast. He's not a reliable option in Week 17 against the Packers, so consider other receiving options.
News: As anticipated, Bears WR Earl Bennett (ankle) was listed as active for Week 16 against the Jets. He had been listed as probable on the injury report.
Analysis: Bennett saw a nice boost in value when he went for two scores against the Eagles and 104 yards vs. Detroit, but those might have been flukes. Chicago has a ton of semi-competent receiving options for QB Jay Cutler to throw to, so Bennett sometimes vanishes. Consider him a No. 3 Fantasy WR or flex option for Week 16.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett's ankle clearly felt a lot better on Friday as he was upgraded to probable after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The Bears play the Jets in Week 16. New York ranks eighth in the NFL against the pass, allowing just under 206 yards per contest, and have given up an average of 20.1 Fantasy points to opposing wideouts.
Analysis: Bennett saw a nice boost in value when he went for two scores against the Eagles and 104 yards vs. Detroit, but those might have been flukes. Chicago has a ton of semi-competent receiving options for QB Jay Cutler to throw to, so Bennett sometimes vanishes. Consider him a No. 3 Fantasy WR or flex option for Week 16.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett (ankle) missed practice Thursday as Chicago continues preparations for its Week 16 game vs. the Jets. Coach Lovie Smith called the ankle injury not "anything serious."
Analysis: Bennett saw a nice boost in value when he went for two scores against the Eagles and 104 yards vs. Detroit, but those might have been flukes. Chicago has a ton of semi-competent receiving options for QB Jay Cutler to throw to, so Bennett sometimes vanishes. Consider him just a flex option for Week 16 if he's able to play on Sunday.
News: The Chicago Tribune reports that if the Bears had practiced Wednesday, WR Earl Bennett would have missed the session with an ankle injury. Chicago hosts the Jets in Week 16.
Analysis: Bennett saw a nice boost in value when he went for two scores against the Eagles and 104 yards vs. Detroit, but those might have been flukes. Chicago has a ton of semi-competent receiving options for QB Jay Cutler to throw to, so Bennett sometimes vanishes. Consider him just a flex option for Week 16.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett did not have one of his better performances in Week 15 against the Vikings. He was targeted four times by QB Jay Cutler, making three grabs for 37 yards in the 40-14 win. He also fumbled the ball once but it was recovered by Chicago.
Analysis: Bennett had been one of the more productive wideouts for the Bears in recent weeks but he could not get much going on Monday night. He has 250 yards receiving with two touchdowns over his last four games but he is not the play maker that WRs Johnny Knox and Devin Hester are. Bennett has become a viable Fantasy option this season and could be a sleeper next Sunday against the Jets. While DBs Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie will have their hands full with Knox and Hester, the 23-year-old should be able to find some open spaces in New York's secondary. Consider using Bennett as a low-end No. 3 Fantasy WR or flex option for Week 16.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett has come into his own over the last few games and could be in for another solid performance in Week 15 against the Vikings. Minnesota ranks 12th in the league against the pass, allowing 208 yard per contest, and have given up an average of 20.5 Fantasy points to opposing wideouts. When the division foes met earlier in the year, Bennett caught three passes for 21 yards and also had a 4-yard carry.
Analysis: Bennett has 213 yards receiving with two touchdowns over his last three games and has become one of the more reliable options for QB Jay Cutler. The "Commodore Connection" got slowed down by the weather a week ago and with Monday's game likely to be played in the University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium, temperatures will be below freezing again. But Bennett will be going up against a weaker pass defense in Week 15 so consider the 23-year-old a No. 3 Fantasy WR against the Vikings.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett led his team in both receptions and receiving yards in Week 14 against the Patriots. He was targeted for seven passes by QB Jay Cutler, catching three for 53 yards in the 36-7 loss. He had a long reception of 33 and averaged 17.7 yards per reception.
Analysis: Bennett has become one of the more reliable options in Chicago's passing game the last few weeks as he and Cutler have been dubbed the "Commodore Connection." He had a pair of touchdown grabs two games ago and posted seven catches for 104 yards last week. He has seen 34 targets over his last six games and could be in line for another solid performance against the Vikings next Monday. He had just 21 yards on three receptions the last time the division foes met but his role has improved since then. Consider Bennett as no worse than a No. 3 Fantasy WR for Week 15.
News: The Patriots-Bears Week 14 matchup in Chicago will be impacted by freezing temperatures, strong winds including gusts over 40 m.p.h. and several inches of snow. That could impact the Bears' passing offense even though they've made alterations in recent weeks, going with a shorter pass attack. So even though Earl Bennett has been playing red hot and in line to face a Pats pass defense that has allowed just under 277 yards per contest and given up seven touchdowns to wide receivers over their last four games, he could have a hard time seeing passes thrown his way and landing lots of yards after the catch given the conditions. “There will be low visibility, probably even in the stadium,” National Weather Service meteorologist Richard Castro told the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. “There will be snow on the field, and that will be blowing around with the very strong winds. The other thing is, being right on the lakefront, that’s where we’re expecting the strongest wind gusts out of this storm.”
Analysis: You can read more on the weather at Soldier Field in Chicago here. Because of the weather, owners are advised to go in a different direction than Hester in Week 14. Bennett's seen a lot of targets thrown his way of late (27 in his last give games including eight last week) but save for his work near the line of scrimmage he's not going to get a lot going. Consider him no better than a No. 3 Fantasy WR for the matchup against the Pats.
News: With seven catches for 107 yards in Week 13 and two touchdowns in Week 12, WR Earl Bennett has officially arrived in the Bears' offense. But he's been close to breaking out for a while as he's totaled 19 catches for 246 yards and three scores over his last five and has accumulated 32 targets over his last seven games. "He’s a security blanket I guess you could say," coach Lovie Smith said. "He’s reliable with where he’ll be, and of course just making the catch."
Analysis: Bennett is second on the Bears with 39 catches and the "Commodore connection" he has with Jay Cutler (the two were teammates for a year at Vanderbilt) is proving to stick. With the Patriots and their weak pass defense coming to town on a short week, there's a shot for Bennett to at least contribute some decent yardage. He's not a bad choice as a No. 3 WR or deeper flex option in PPR leagues (and deeper standard-scoring formats).
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett may be quickly becoming Jay Cutler's favorite receiving target after scoring two touchdowns Week 12 against the Eagles. Bennett came right back in Week 13 at Detroit and led the team with eight targets. He caught a team-high seven passes for a team-high 104 yards. Bennett didn't get into the end zone, but three of his seven catches prolonged eventual touchdown drives. Four of his seven grabs were third-down conversions.
Analysis: Bennett has 11 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games against the Eagles and Lions. The Bears play New England Week 14 and the Patriots have been horrendous against the pass. That could bode quite well for Cutler and Bennett, the tandem who both played college ball at Vanderbilt, to continue to hook up against the Patriots. Consider Bennett to be gaining Fantasy value by the boat load. He might be able to be used as a No. 3 Fantasy WR, or better, for Week 14.
News: Chicago receiver Earl Bennett heads into Week 13 in Detroit a pretty hot receiver after scoring two touchdowns against the Eagles Week 12. Bennett is coming off a four-catch, 56-yard and two touchdown performance against Philadelphia. He now has three touchdowns on the season. Bennett was not even active the last time the Bears played the Lions in Week 1.
Analysis: Bennett is still a pretty shaky Fantasy play for Week 13, despite his two touchdowns in Week 12. He's simply not a consistent option. Jay Cutler threw four touchdown passes Week 12 and found Bennett twice but Johnny Knox remains the team's top option in the passing game. Bennett for sure could have a solid game against the Lions, which have not been great at limiting opposing wide receivers. Just last week New England's Deion Branch and Wes Welker combined for 11 catches and 203 yards with four touchdowns against the Lions. Bennett is a bit of a risk but Fantasy owners can take a chance and use him as a No. 3 or 4 Fantasy option in a pinch in Week 13.
News: Chicago wide receiver Earl Bennett had his best game of the season in the Bears' Week 12 win against Philadelphia, hauling in two touchdowns and finishing with 56 yards on four receptions. Bennett was targeted five times by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler -- his former teammate at Vanderbilt -- and became the first Chicago receiver to score twice in a game this season.
Analysis: Before you head to the waiver wire, temper your expectations for Bennett. The Eagles, who were playing without their two starting cornerbacks Asante Samuel (inactive) and Ellis Hobbs (out for season), struggled against the pass all game and allowed Cutler to finish with 247 passing yards and four touchdowns. Bennett's previous season high in receptions was five in Week 2, and entering Sunday's game had 28 catches total on the year. Bennett, who has been plagued by inconsistency all season, should get a few targets against a poor Detroit defense in Week 13 but don't expect Fantasy greatness.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett caught one pass in the Week 11 win over the Dolphins on Thursday night. QB Jay Cutler looked his way three times, but the two only connected on a 13-yard pass in the first quarter.
Analysis: Bennett, a teammate of Cutler at Vanderbilt, has been up-and-down all year. On Thursday, he matched his season-low with just one catch on the night. Yet, he has hauled in at least three passes in each of the other seven games. He is tough to grasp in Fantasy play because of the spotty games, so he remains a risk to start in all formats. Continue to bench him in the Week 12 game against the Eagles.
News: Last week Earl Bennett broke out for four catches for 52 yards and his first touchdown of the season. With playing time coming more often to the former Vanderbilt star, Fantasy owners are considering Bennett for Week 10 vs. the Vikings. Bennett will take on a Vikings pass defense ranked 10th in the league, giving up on average 208.4 yards through the air per game. Minnesota has allowed 10 passing scores allowed on the year, but six to wide receivers in their last four games. Furthermore, Bennett scored on these Vikings in a Week 16 matchup in Chicago last year (three catches, 35 yards, one score).
Analysis: Bennett isn't worth starting this week, but he is worth considering off of waivers, particularly to replace a disappointing receiver like, say, Devin Hester of the Bears. Perhaps in the deepest of PPR leagues Bennett is a good flex option.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett, who caught a TD pass Sunday in Week 9 against Buffalo in Toronto, was involved in a car accident in Chicago upon returning from the trip. Bennett is OK, according to coach Lovie Smith on Monday. "He was working out down there (in the weight room)," Smith said. "He's fine." The Chicago Sun-TImes reports Bennett tweeted that he's glad to be "alive" after his car was rear-ended. Bennett tweeted that he was OK, but his car wasn't as fortunate: "... guy ran into back of my ole skool we smashed into wall ole skool done!!! But I'm alive that's all that matters. Thanking God I'm alive!!!!" No injuries were reported after the driver of another car failed to slow down and rear-ended Bennett¹s car. Police called the crash a "minor property damage" accident and said there was no indication alcohol was involved. The driver of the other vehicle was the only one to be issued a ticket for failing to reduce speed.
Analysis: Bennett had four catches for 52 yards, including the game-winning touchdown, in the Bears' 22-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. He should be fine for Week 10 against Minnesota, but Bennett has minimal Fantasy value -- the TD was his first of the season and he's never gone over 76 yards in any game. Don't plan on starting him in the majority of leagues this week against the Vikings.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett led the team with 52 receiving yards in the Week 9 win over the Bills. Bennett made a game-winning 2-yard TD catch with 6:41 to play in the fourth quarter in Sunday's win. He hooked up with Jay Cutler four times and was targeted five times in the game. That said, Bennett's five targets tied him for second on the team with Johnny Knox and Matt Forte behind Greg Olsen's eight. Bennett added 5 yards rushing on one carry.
Analysis: Bennett was the hero on Sunday as he led the Bears in receiving and caught the big game-winning TD pass. That said, the TD was his first of the season and he's never gone over 76 yards in any game. The Bears passing game has been a mess and Bennett is generally not even close to being the top option for Cutler. Until this becomes a trend, he's not worth starting Week 10 against the Vikings.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett caught a 48-yard pass down to the 1-yard line on Sunday in Week 7 during a loss to Washington. The Bears promptly fumbled on the next play. Bennett finished with four catches for 76 yards in the game and was targeted five times by QB Jay Cutler.
Analysis: Bennett easily had his biggest game of the season in Week 7. That is two weeks in a row that he's improved his numbers and Cutler is definitely looking his way more often. That said, he's yet to really gain Fantasy value at this time. The Bears are on bye Week 8 and return Week 9 at Buffalo.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had his best game of the season in a Week 6 loss to Seattle. Bennett went for 55 yards on three catches and was targeted six times.
Analysis: This was Bennett's first game with over 30 yards this season, so Fantasy owners shouldn't get too excited about this performance. Bennett will try to build on this outing when Chicago hosts the Redskins in Week 7 and he can continue to be ignored in Fantasy play for the time being.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett made one catch in Sunday's Week 5 win over the Panthers. He was targeted once and snagged it for a gain of 4 yards.
Analysis: Bennett didn't play in Week 1, and has managed just 13 catches for 80 yards this year. The lack of looks for Bennett could be attributed to backup QB Todd Collins being under center and not Jay Cutler. Bennett and Cutler both went to Vanderbilt, and had started to build a connection over the past few weeks. Until he starts producing on a more consistent basis, Bennett is not a player we recommended picking up in any format, even though the Bears have a favorable matchup in Week 6 against the Seahawks.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett was second most on his team in receptions and yards in Week 4 against the Giants. He caught four passes for 26 yards in the 17-3 loss. Bennett has 12 catches on the year for 76 yards.
Analysis: Bennett was inactive for Week 1 but has has gotten more involved in the offense over the past few weeks. He appears to have the upper hand on WR Devin Aromashodu and should see some decent playing time down the line out of the slot. But until Bennett starts producing on a larger scale, Fantasy owners would be wise to stay away from him in most leagues.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett caught three passes in Week 3 against the Packers, gaining 21 yards in the 20-17 win. He was targeted for six passes from QB Jay Cutler while averaging seven yards per reception.
Analysis: Bennett was inactive for Week 1 but has caught eight passes for 50 yards over the past two weeks. He appears to have the upper hand on WR Devin Aromashodu and should see some decent playing time down the line out of the slot. He and Cutler know each other from their days at Vanderbilt and seem to have a growing rapport. But until Bennett starts producing on a larger scale, Fantasy owners would be wise to stay away from him in most leagues.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett was a healthy scratch Week 1 but played in Week 2 in Dallas. Bennett got involved in the passing game as he finished with a team-high-tying five catches for 29 yards. Bennett was targeted six times by quarterback Jay Cutler.
Analysis: Bennett went from being a healthy scratch to being targeted as many times as any other receiver for the Bears. What does that mean for Week 3 against Green Bay? We're not really sure just yet. Bennett is an unproven commodity. Bennett is down on the depth chart and shouldn't be used Week 3 until he continues to prove himself.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett was listed among the team's inactives for Week 1 against the Lions. He was not on the team's injury report. He did miss the team's four preseason games due to a hamstring injury, however.
Analysis: Bennett really hurt his chances of being an impact receiver in 2010 as he spent most of the preseason recovering from injury. Guys like Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Devin Aromashodu had strong camps and were able to leapfrog Bennett on the depth chart. He does have history with QB Jay Cutler going back to their days in college at Vanderbilt, but Bennett is still nothing more than a reserve Fantasy WR for the deepest of leagues.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett missed his fourth straight preseason game on Thursday against the Browns because of a hamstring injury. However, Bennett thinks he's 100 percent ready for the season after missing almost all of training camp and OTAs due to knee surgery and a pulled hamstring. He's going full speed at practice. "I'm definitely trusting my hamstring. It feels a lot better," he said.
Analysis: Bennett really hurt his chances of being an impact receiver in 2010 as he spent most of the preseason recovering from injury. Guys like Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Devin Aromashodu had strong camps and likely leapfrogged Bennett on the depth chart. He does have the history with QB Jay Cutler going back to their days in college at Vandy, but Bennett is still nothing more than a reserve Fantasy WR for the deepest of leagues.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett (hamstring) missed his third straight preseason game Saturday against the Cardinals. Bennett ran some routes on the field before the contest, however.
Analysis: Bennett might not be able to play in Thursday's preseason finale, but the fact he did some cutting on Saturday means he might be OK for Week 1. If healthy, Bennett should be the No. 4 receiver on the Bears depth chart and might see enough action in Mike Martz's offense to be worth using in very deep Fantasy formats. Draft him late if you must.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett remained out of practice Monday with a hamstring issue. Sitting is starting to get to the third-year player. "There’s definitely a high level of frustration because I want to be out there playing and helping these guys out and going through everything that they’re going through," said Bennett. "It’s tough just sitting back watching."
Analysis: Bennett could be a nice sleeper option this season as the No. 4 wide receiver in Chicago and with Mike Martz at the offensive helm, but he's no good to anyone while he's not playing. Bennett remains worth taking late in deeper Fantasy formats for now, but the longer he remains out the less chance there is of him having an early impact this season.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett did not participate in practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury, according to the Chicago Tribune. Bennett has missed two weeks of practice, and remains questionable for Saturday's game against Oakland.
Analysis: Bennett is the Bears' No. 4 receiver behind Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu, but his inability to practice can't be helping his cause. He had a nice season in 2009, hauling in 54 receptions for 717 yards and two touchdowns, and if healthy should contribute this year even as the No. 4 wideout in what should be a wide-open scheme with offensive coordinator Mike Martz on board. Bennett is worthy of a late-round pick in deeper Fantasy leagues.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett (hamstring) remains sidelined Monday. Bennett has been out almost two weeks and missed Saturday's preseason opener against San Diego. He will be listed as questionable for the second preseason game against Oakland.
Analysis: Bennett is competing for playing time in Chicago's WR rotation. Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are expected to start with Devin Aromashodu as the No. 3 option. Bennett could still play a prominent role for the Bears now that Mike Martz is calling plays since he's uses multiple receiver sets, but Bennett is only worth a late-round pick in deep leagues. He is entering his third season, which could be a breakout year, but he has to stay healthy to make that happen.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett (hamstring) was still out for Wednesday's practice. He also missed Monday and Tuesday's practice and will not play in Saturday's first preseason game at San Diego, according to the Chicago Tribune.Analysis: Bennett is competing for playing time in Chicago's WR rotation. Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are expected to start with Devin Aromashodu as the No. 3 option. Bennett could still play a prominent role for the Bears now that Mike Martz is calling plays since he's uses multiple receiver sets, but Bennett is only worth a late-round pick in deep leagues. He is entering his third season, which could be a breakout year, but he has to stay healthy to make that happen.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett (hamstring) was still out for Tuesday's practice. He also missed Monday's practice and will likely be listed as questionable for Saturday's first preseason game at San Diego.
Analysis: Bennett is competing for playing time in Chicago's WR rotation. Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are expected to start with Devin Aromashodu as the No. 3 option. Bennett could still play a prominent role for the Bears now that Mike Martz is calling plays since he's uses multiple receiver sets, but Bennett is only worth a late-round pick in deep leagues. He is entering his third season, which could be a breakout year, but he has to stay healthy to make that happen.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett missed practice Monday with an injured hamstring. He will likely be listed as questionable for Saturday's first preseason game at San Diego.
Analysis: Bennett is competing for playing time in Chicago's WR rotation. Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are expected to start with Devin Aromashodu as the No. 3 option. Bennett could still play a prominent role for the Bears now that Mike Martz is calling plays since he's uses multiple receiver sets, but Bennett is only worth a late-round pick in deep leagues. He is entering his third season, which could be a breakout year, but he has to stay healthy to make that happen.
News: The official team website for the Bears reports that WR Earl Bennett, who was limited to individual work in minicamp while recovering from minor knee surgery, was back participating in 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 drills Wednesday. "It felt good," said Bennett. "I'm just coming out here to compete, try to get better and continue to work hard." After the minicamp, offensive coordinator Mike Martz indicated Bennett was the No. 4 WR on the depth chart. Martz praised starting receivers Devin Hester and Johnny Knox and noted that Devin Aromashodu had stepped up significantly as well. Asked if those comments motivated him, Bennett said: "I just come out and work hard. That's all I can do. Come out and compete, show what I've got and let my play handle the rest."
Analysis: Bennett, who is entering his third season in the NFL, which is typically a breakout year for wide receivers, had 54 receptions for 717 yards and two touchdowns in 2009 after not catching any passes in limited action as a rookie. He will likely see plenty of playing time in Mike Martz's offense since Martz uses plenty of three and four wide-receiver formations. We still like Bennett as a quality Fantasy reserve WR, and he's worth a late-round pick in all leagues.
News: According to the official team Web site, Bears WR Earl Bennett is excited about playing for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz. "He's a mastermind offensive coach who's going to spread the ball around and wants to take us to that next level," Bennett said. "I'm ready to work hard for him." Bennett, who is entering his third season in the NFL, which is typically a breakout year for wide receivers, had 54 receptions for 717 yards and two touchdowns in 2009 after not catching any passes in limited action as a rookie. Bennett is eager to play for Martz, who operated one of the most potent passing attacks in NFL history as an offensive coordinator and head coach with the Rams from 1999-2005. "As a receiver, you've got to be excited," Bennett said. "You've got to stay dialed in and get ready for his playbook and just get ready to eat it up."
Analysis: Bennett should be considered a sleeper heading into 2010. He has a good rapport with QB Jay Cutler since the two played together at Vanderbilt. And since he's entering his third season, Bennett could be in line for a breakout year. Plan on drafting Bennett with a late-round pick in all leagues, especially now that he will be playing in Martz's offense.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett caught three passes for 27 yards in a Week 17 win over the Lions.
Analysis: Bennett had some OK numbers as a first-year starter with the Bears, but many Fantasy owners thought he might do a little better with his old college QB. He'll have to fight for touches with Greg Olsen, Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Devin Aromashodu again in 2010 and will only be worth drafting in very deep leagues.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett hooked up with former Vanderbilt teammate and current Bears QB Jay Cutler for a 20-yard touchdown reception in the 4th quarter of the Monday night overtime win over the Vikings Week 16. Bennett finished the game with three catches for 35 yards and the score and the TD catch was his longest grab of the night.
Analysis: Bennett has been solid all season with at least one catch every game. Still, he’s never gone over 100 yards and caught just his second touchdown pass in the Monday night game. Bennett could be a decent sleeper for Week 17 at Detroit’s terrible defense. Still, we don’t expect much out of him as Cutler looks to Greg Olsen and Devin Aromashodu first.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had two catches for 50 yards Sunday at Baltimore. He also had four punt returns for 76 yards and a touchdown. He led the Bears in receiving yards.
Analysis: Bennett continues to play well for the Bears, but he has minimal Fantasy value. Jay Cutler is struggling at QB for Chicago, and the Bears receiving options are too inconsistent to count on in the majority of leagues.
News: In the Bears' Week 14 loss vs. the Packers, WR Earl Bennett had just one catch for 6 yards. He was targeted four times.
Analysis: Typically Bennett has produced better totals than this but struggled against a good Packers secondary. He's not a recommended option at Baltimore in Week 15.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had two catches for 74 yards in Week 13 against St. Louis, including a 3-yard touchdown. He was targeted four times in the game.
Analysis: Bennett did not have a touchdown coming in to Week 13 and really wasn't much of a factor outside of two deep balls that he was able to bring down. We still view him as a low-end Fantasy receiver for Week 14 against Green Bay and beyond.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett caught three passes for season-low 14 yards Week 12 at Minnesota. He has less than 30 yards receiving in three of his last five games.
Analysis: Bennett isn't a complete non-factor in the Bears' passing game, but he's too inconsistent for Fantasy purposes, especially since he hasn't scored a touchdown all season.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had five catches for 57 yards Sunday against the Eagles. He led Chicago in receiving yards in this game.
Analysis: Bennett is a good source of catches but little else, so his main value lies as a No. 4 Fantasy WR in deep PPR leagues. Don't plan on starting Bennett in most leagues in Week 12 at Minnesota.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett officially caught three passes for 27 yards at the 49ers in Week 10, but a fourth catch that was good for 40 yards was taken away due to a Bears penalty. Worse yet, Bennett was open in the end zone on the final play of the game and was ignored -- QB Jay Cutler even said after the game that he didn't see Bennett there.
Analysis: Bennett seems like he's lost in the shuffle in a Bears offense that probably should consider using him more. Hand in hand with that is the fact that the Bears' Week 11 opponent, the Eagles, are very thin at cornerback behind their starters and thus might be ripe for the picking by Cutler to hit Bennett, who is his slot receiver. Problem is, can we trust the Bears' offense to do such a thing? Frankly, consider Bennett a low-end reserve receiver who has an outside chance of being effective in his next game against Philadelphia.
News: We've caught an interesting trend with Bears WR Earl Bennett, but it's one that makes plenty of sense. In each of the Bears' losses Bennett has caught four passes with two games with seven receptions. He is averaging 66 yards per game in those contests while hauling in just under 41 yards per Bears win. It makes sense since the Bears pass from behind in their losses and run more in their wins, of course. Bennett and the Bears will play at the 49ers this Thursday as part of Week 10 action, and the second-year receiver is coming off his best game of the season (seven catches, 93 yards) but has yet to score.
Analysis: Bennett is a decent low-end No. 3 Fantasy WR in deeper PPR leagues because he'll probably see a lot of work in the Chicago offense against a 49ers pass defense that ranks 24th in the league. He's more valuable in those formats that Johnny Knox at this point.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett caught seven passes for a season-best 93 yards vs. the Cardinals in Week 9. The Bears were playing from behind most of the game, giving Bennett the chance to catch a lot of passes from Jay Cutler.
Analysis: Interesting fact: Bennett has caught at least four passes in each of the Bears' losses. The Bears are expected to have their hands full in Week 10 at San Francisco on Thursday night, so consider Bennett a very low-end No. 3 WR for that game since he might see more work go his way.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had a pretty quiet game on Sunday in a Week 8 win over the Browns. He made only two receptions in the contest, gaining a total of 29 yards. He once again failed to score a TD and is yet to score this season.
Analysis: Bennett has been pretty consistent with his output so far this season, but is yet to break out this year with Jay Cutler at the helm in Chicago. He was a hot commodity as a sleeper on Draft Day this year but is yet to put up the numbers Fantasy owners have hoped for. He remains a low-end Fantasy option for Week 9 against the Cardinals.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett made four receptions on Sunday in the team's Week 8 blowout loss to the Bengals. His longest catch of the day went for 26 yards. Bennett was targeted six times in the contest.
Analysis: Bennett has put up pretty consistent numbers week in and week out so far this season, but Fantasy owners can't be too impressed with his inability to find the end zone. A potential breakout candidate to open the year, Bennett has been fair for Fantasy owners this season. He remains a low-end option for Week 8 against the Browns.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett tallied 57 yards on four catches at the Falcons in Week 7. Bennett's best grab came late in the game when he snagged a 24-yard pass from Jay Cutler to give the team a chance to score.
Analysis: Bennett has 257 yards on the season with 19 catches, but no touchdowns. That hurts his Fantasy value considerably. If you're on the lookout for a one-week replacement receiver for Week 7, Bennett might be your guy as he'll get some looks against a good but not great Bengals pass defense in his next game.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had two catches for 32 yards Sunday against Detroit. Bennett was the Bears leading receiver in yards.
Analysis: Bennett continues to be hit-or-miss for Fantasy owners, which is expected for a young receiver. You should view him as a No. 4 Fantasy WR going forward, and the Bears are on a bye in Week 5, so keep him reserved in all leagues.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett had four catches for a team-high 80 yards during a Week 3 win against the Seahawks. He was targeted five times in the game and had a long reception of 31 yards. Bennett has 13 catches for 168 yards in three games.
Analysis: You can definitely see the rapport building between Bennett and QB Jay Cutler. They are starting to look like they are back in college at Vanderbilt. Bennett is only expected to get better, but he is nothing more than a No. 3 Fantasy WR or flex option heading into Week 4 against the Lions.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett will face a non-division opponent in Week 3 at Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed the second fewest passing yards in the NFL through two weeks. They have allowed just 293 net passing yards and have not allowed a passing touchdown.
Analysis: The Seahawks have faced the Rams and 49ers in the first two weeks of the season and have allowed very little through the air. Bennett got off to a strong start in Week 1 at Green Bay with seven catches for 66 yards, but he was held to two catches for 22 yards against a stronger defense in Week 2 against Pittsburgh. We like Bennett's upside due to his history with QB Jay Cutler (they were teammates at Vanderbilt), but don't think of Bennett as a strong play this week due to the matchup.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports Bears rookie WR Johnny Knox, who caught a seven-yard touchdown pass in the Week 2 victory over the Steelers and led the team with six receptions for 70 yards, could replace Earl Bennett as a starter. Bennett currently starts opposite Devin Hester, but the paper speculates Knox could eventually move past Bennett on the depth chart.
Analysis: For now, Knox is the No. 3 WR, and he's playing well. Consider adding him in deeper leagues even though Bennett will likely continue to start. Knox and Bennett should be considered No. 3 Fantasy options at best in Week 3 at Seattle in standard formats.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett, who reunited with former college teammate Jay Cutler for seven receptions in Week 1, was virtually nonexistent Week 2 against the Steelers. He caught two passes for 22 yards.
Analysis: Bennett is still a starter for the Bears and has a good connection with Cutler, but he's more of a possession receiver than someone who'll stretch the field. He should fare better against a weaker defense Week 3 at Seattle, but he's no more than a No. 3 Fantasy WR.
News: Bears WR Earl Bennett will face a non-division opponent in Week 2 against Pittsburgh. The Steelers allowed 234 net yards passing in Week 1 against Tennessee, including one touchdown pass.
Analysis: Bennett hooked up with quarterback and former Vanderbilt teammate Jay Cutler seven times in Week 1's loss to the Packers in Green Bay. Bennett went for 66 yards in the 21-15 loss. He seems like the clear No. 2 option behind Devin Hester. We view him as a possible sleeper who could develop into a reliable starter down the road, but we don't recommend activating him as anything more than a replacement option low-end No. 3 receiver or flex option.
News: Chicago WR Earl Bennett hooked up with quarterback and former Vanderbilt teammate Jay Cutler seven times in Week 1's loss to the Packers in Green Bay. Bennett went for 66 yards in the 21-15 loss.
Analysis: Bennett might make Fantasy owners in points per receptions leagues happy this season because of his familiarity with Cutler, who incidentally did not look very good with four interceptions. He seems like the clear No. 2 option behind Devin Hester. The Bears play the Steelers in Week 2 at home and that is a tough matchup. We would still keep him as nothing more than a No. 3 sleeper option in Week 2 but keep an eye on him going forward.
News:The Sports Xchange notes that Chicago WR Earl Bennett, who is being counted on as a starter this season after failing to catch a pass last season, was the Bears' leading receiver Saturday night with two catches for a team-best 42 yards.
Analysis: Bennett has the chance to make a huge leap in production this year after a disappointing rookie season. Remember, Cutler and Bennett played together at Vanderbilt, so they have already developed a rapport. Consider Bennett a good sleeper with a late-round pick. There's a chance he could shine this year now that he's reunited with Cutler.
News: At least for now, the Bears are ready to go to training camp with the wide receivers on their roster to complement new QB Jay Cutler. However, former Giants WR Plaxico Burress and disgruntled Broncos WR Brandon Marshall are intriguing possibilities for the Bears. Marshall, who caught 102 and 104 passes the past two seasons while Cutler was Broncos quarterback, has asked Denver for a trade. Burress is a free agent after being waived by the New York Giants. The Bears used Devin Hester, second-year WR Earl Bennett and sometimes Rashied Davis and Brandon Rideau with the starting WR corps throughout their organized team activities. Acquiring a No. 1 wide receiver would seem a natural move since Hester is by far the most accomplished of their receivers and has only played the position full time for one season. "I think we've got one," Cutler said about No. 1 receivers. "I think we've got one in Devin, and I think Earl is going to be dangerous on the back side as well." Cutler said he hasn't spoken to Marshall and hasn't talked to the Bears about Marshall.
Analysis: Bennett has the chance to make a huge leap in production this year after a disappointing rookie season. Remember, Cutler and Bennett played together at Vanderbilt, so they have already developed a rapport. Consider Bennett a good sleeper with a late-round pick. There's a chance he could shine this year now that he's reunited with Cutler.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that for now, second-year WR Earl Bennett is projected to start opposite Devin Hester. The Bears are banking on contributions from rookie Juaquin Iglesias and slot receiver Rashied Davis. Brandon Rideau and Johnny Knox are in the mix.
Analysis: This is good news for Bennett, who has reportedly played well during offseason workouts and is being reunited with former college QB Jay Cutler. Bennett is worth a flier in all leagues since the Bears passing game should be improved with Cutler now in the fold.
News: The Chicago Sun-Times reports Bears WR Earl Bennett is having a good offseason. The paper says "multiple sources have said Bennett has caught everything in sight during workouts, and he's in line for a starting job now that his former college QB (Jay Cutler) is on board."
Analysis: This is good news for Bennett, who had a disappointing rookie season. He and Cutler played together at Vanderbilt, and the reunion could be just what Bennett needs to jump start his career. We like Bennett as a sleeper this year, especially if he's in a starting role. Devin Hester should be considered a definite starter for the Bears, but Bennett could start ahead of Rashied Davis or rookie Juaquin Iglesias. Keep an eye on what happens during training camp, but plan on taking a flier on Bennett based on how this offseason is going.
News: The Denver Broncos have agreed to trade disgruntled QB Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears on Thursday. The Broncos get QB Kyle Orton in return, along with two first-round draft picks and a third-rounder. The Broncos get the Bears' top pick in this year's draft, which is No. 18 overall, and Chicago's first-round draft pick in 2010, along with a third-round selection this year (No. 84 overall). Denver also gave up a fifth-rounder this year. Cutler asked for a trade last month after his relationship with Josh McDaniels soured when the new 32-year-old coach talked to other teams about trading him. Cutler and his agent didn't think McDaniels was upfront with them about the trade talks. "We felt that (Cutler) is a very good person, a good leader," Bears GM Jerry Angelo said. "He had some things that happened in Denver. We recognized those, but we treated them as just speed bumps, part of the growing process. He's highly competitive, he's highly emotional. That just comes with the territory."
Analysis: This move should help Bears WR Earl Bennett, who played with Cutler at Vanderbilt. Bennett was a disappointment in his rookie season, but this trade could help make Bennett a sleeper in deeper formats. Take a flier on Bennett in 2009, especially if Cutler and Bennett show an early connection right away in training camp.
News: The Chicago Tribune reports that second-year receiver Earl Bennett feels more comfortable in the Bears' offense and thinks he can make an impact in 2009. Bennett admitted he fell behind in learning the playbook last season and couldn't find playing time as a result. The paper reports that Bennett is running and playing more fluidly, and coach Lovie Smith has said he'll give Bennett every opportunity to win a starting job. "If my number is called, I just have to make the best of it," Bennett said.
Analysis: Bennett isn't a ridiculous blazer, but he has some good speed and excellent hands (he's the SEC career-leader in receptions). He's got potential to be good for five catches and 75 yards per week with the occasional touchdown grab. Consider him nothing more than a sleeper in the deepest of leagues for now, but a strong preseason could push him into the later rounds of all drafts this summer. Watch him.
News: RB Kevin Jones, WR Earl Bennett, TE Kellen Davis, WR Rashied Davis and QB Rex Grossman did not record stats in Week 15's game against Saints.
Analysis: Keep all of these players reserved for Week 16. None of them have any Fantasy value.
News: RB Kevin Jones, WR Earl Bennett, TE Kellen Davis and QB Rex Grossman did not record stats in Week 15's game against Saints.
Analysis: Keep all of these players reserved for Week 16. None of them have any Fantasy value.
News: The Bears DST had two sacks and one interception Sunday at Minnesota. Alex Brown and Tommie Harris had the sacks, and Kevin Payne had the interception. Danieal Manning led the Bears with five kickoff returns for 138 yards, and Earl Bennett had one punt return for 17 yards.
Analysis: The Bears DST should bounce back in Week 14 against Jacksonville. Consider the unit a No. 1 option.
News: The Bears have listed the following players as being inactive for Week 12 at St. Louis: QB Caleb Hanie (3rd QB), DB Marcus Hamilton, RB Kevin Jones, LB Darrell McClover, DL Matt Toeaina, WR Earl Bennett, WR Marty Booker and DL Ervin Baldwin.
Analysis: In his second stint with the Bears after spending the past four seasons with Miami, Booker has just 11 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns and has not caught a pass the past three games. His last reception was against Minnesota on Oct. 19. He obviously has little to no Fantasy value when healthy. The other players on this list have no Fantasy value at this time.
News: The Bears have announced the inactives for their Week 11 game at Green Bay. Not in uniform will be: QB Caleb Hanie (coach's decision), CB Marcus Hamilton (coach's decision), RB Kevin Jones (coach's decision), DT Matt Toeaina (coach's decision), WR Earl Bennett (coach's decision), NT Anthony Adams (coach's decision) and DE Ervin Baldwin (coach's decision).
Analysis: Apart from Jones, who has some minor appeal in deeper league, none of these other players have any Fantasy value at this time, so continue to ignore them in all formats.
News: The following Bears did not record any stats in Week 10's loss to Tennessee despite being active and playing in the game: RB Garrett Wolfe, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Earl Bennett and TE Kellen Davis. Backup QB Caleb Hanie did not play in the game but was active.
Analysis: None of these players ever does enough statistically to matter in Fantasy. Leave them all on waivers.
News: Bears RB Garrett Wolfe, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Earl Bennett and TE Kellen Davis didn't record offensive statistics Week 9 against the Lions.
Analysis: None of these players ever does enough statistically to matter in Fantasy. Leave them all on waivers.
News: Chicago WRs Earl Bennett and Kellen Davis played in Week 7's win over the Vikings but did not record any stats.
Analysis: Neither of these players contributes enough on offense to matter in Fantasy. Leave them on waivers.
News: Bears RB Garrett Wolfe, RB Adrian Peterson, TE Kellen Davis, WR Earl Bennett and QB Rex Grossman didn't record offensive statistics Week 7 at the Falcons.
Analysis: None of these players contributes enough on offense to matter in Fantasy. Leave them all on waivers.
News: Bears FB Jason McKie, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Earl Bennett, TE Kellen Davis and QB Rex Grossman didn't record offensive statistics Week 5 at the Lions.
Analysis: None of these players contributes enough on offense to matter in Fantasy. Leave them all on waivers. The Bears play at the Falcons in Week 6.
News: The Bears listed DL Tommie Harris among their inactives for Week 4 against the Eagles after he missed practice all week with a knee injury. QB Caleb Hanie, DB Craig Steltz, DB Marcus Hamilton, DL Matt Toeaina and WR Earl Bennett were also inactive.
Analysis: Harris is a better Fantasy performer than most defensive tackles, but his role on the defense still limits his Fantasy upside, making him a low-end IDP option. None of these other players has any Fantasy value.
News: The Bears list the following players at inactive for Week 2 against the Panthers: QB Caleb Hanie, DB Craig Steltz, RB Adrian Peterson, DL Matt Toeaina, WR Earl Bennett and DL Anthony Adams.
Analysis: None of the aforementioned players have any Fantasy relevance at this time. Leave them all on waivers.
News: The Bears listed QB Caleb Hanie, WR Mark Bradley, DB Craig Steltz, DL Matt Toeaina, WR Earl Bennett and DL Anthony Adams among their inactives for Week 1 at Indianapolis.
Analysis: None of these players has any significant Fantasy value in seasonal formats. Leave them all on waivers.
News:The Sports Xchange notes that WR Earl Bennett did not catch a pass in the Bears' second preseason game Saturday against Seattle, but he had a 75-yard punt-return TD that gave the Bears a 19-9 lead vs. the Seahawks.
Analysis: Bennett, unfortunately, will not be getting many chances to return punts this season if he makes the team because of Devin Hester being on the team. Bennett is a good-hands slot receiver with excellent route-running ability. So long as he learns the Bears' playbook, the potential is there for a 600-yard season with a few touchdowns. He's worth a late-round pick in deeper seasonal leagues and an early-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
News: The Bears agreed to a four-year deal with wide receiver Earl Bennett on Tuesday, getting their explosive third-round draft pick in the fold. Bennett, taken 70th, caught an SEC record 236 passes for 2,852 yards in three seasons at Vanderbilt. Many consider him to be the most NFL-ready wide receiver of the 2008 draft class.
Analysis: Bennett is a good-hands slot receiver with excellent route-running ability. So long as he learns the Bears' playbook, the potential is there for a 600-yard season with a few touchdowns. He's worth a late-round pick in deeper seasonal leagues and an early-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
News: The Bears drafted WR Earl Bennett in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Bennett, from Vanderbilt, is expected to play right away for Chicago. The Bears currently have Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd as their top two wide receivers, so Bennett could make an impact in 2008.
Analysis: Bennett is a decent sleeper wide receiver. The Bears still have QB issues with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton competing for the starting job, but Bennett should be OK. Take him with a late-round selection in most seasonal Fantasy leagues and middle-round pick in keeper formats.
