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THE BEST COVERAGE IN THE NFL. THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

Bears head coach is on the prowl for another ‘Year-Two Turnaround’

In-depth preview for Week One The matchups to exploit and avoid

PFW breaks down Packers, Vikings & Lions openers Evaluating the Bears’ positional units The debate rages on regarding this year’s expectations for QB Jay Cutler

Welcome to the 2016 NFL season and the 97th season of Chicago Bears football.

The path to this edition of the “Monsters of the Midway” has been a bit different than many, and this club may be a little tougher for us to get our arms around than many past ones.

Coming off a 6-10 campaign in their first year under general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox, the Bears elected to let 31 percent of the offensive production go by not attempting to re-sign free agent Matt Forte and trading Martellus Bennett.

Pernell McPhee’s offseason knee cleanup appears to have failed, as he will miss at least the first six weeks of the season, and the Bears released the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, placekicker Robbie Gould.

“We’re always looking for guys to improve our team. That includes all avenues – includes free agency, includes the draft and that includes the weekends of the final cuts,” Pace said. “These are all carefully discussed and these decisions never

happen just on a whim.

Tight end is clearly But when a player comes weaker than last year and available that we feel good may prove to be a trouble about, we have to consider spot. it and sometimes make the The offensive line is hard decisions.” improved with Kyle Long Let’s break those deciback at guard, Bobby sions down unit by unit.

Massie at right tackle and Jay Cutler is still the the arrival of Josh Sitton, key to the Bears’ offense. but the futures of Massie Despite a shaky preseason, and left tackle Charles Brian Hoyer is the best Leno are still a big quesBears backup since Josh tion mark.

McCown.

The front seven on deThere is promise at fense is where the Bears HUB ARKUSH running back in Jeremy are the most improved. harkush@ProFootballWeekly.com Langford and Jordan HowAkiem Hicks is a huge up@Hub_Arkush ard, but this group is cleargrade at the five-technique, ly weaker without Forte.

Eddie Goldman has a chance to be special, Wide receiver will be better than last and Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan year if Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White and may be the best pair of ILBs on any team.

Eddie Royal can all just stay healthy. The Willie Young and Lamarr Houston are unknown here is White’s progress has been healthy and both look great on the outside. slow.

While first-round pick Leonard Floyd has

shown little so far, his athleticism is exciting.

The secondary is at this point still an unknown. Tracy Porter is back after a solid 2015 but still oft-injured this year in training camp. Kyle Fuller still needs to show more and missed much of the preseason with a knee scope. Bryce Callahan shows promise at the nickel but is coming off a hamstring injury.

Safeties Adrian Amos and Harold Jones-Quartey are ... interesting. This defensive backs group includes a stable of youngsters who have shown promise.

After a rough stretch last season and some very difficult training camp practices, it is not hard to see why Gould’s job was in jeopardy, but there is nothing to suggest Connor Barth can be as good as Gould, let alone better.

These Bears will be better than last year because they are better in the trenches, but it also is clear there is still much rebuilding work to do.

Pro Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

Evaluating the 2016 Chicago Bears unit by unit

20. DALLAS COWBOYS 21. WASHINGTON 22. LOS ANGELES RAMS 23. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 24. CHICAGO BEARS 25. DETROIT LIONS 26. BALTIMORE RAVENS 27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 28. MIAMI DOLPHINS 29. TENNESSEE TITANS 30. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 31. CLEVELAND BROWNS 32. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Other than O-line, they appear loaded everywhere.

Might be worst defensive depth chart in the league.

Injuries were a lot bigger problem last year than talent.

Cousins has to do it twice for us to believe.

Benjamin return helps more than loss of Norman hurts.

Rams paid king’s ransom for No. 3 QB for now.

AFC club with least drama, regression during offseason.

Wentz goes from inactive to Week 1 starter.

Were in great shape until preseason injuries piled up.

Thought they’d be better but had an awful preseason.

Will shoot up rankings when Brady, Ninkovich return.

Bell suspension, Green injury hurt right now.

Not fair but Dalton, Lewis have to prove it again.

Flavor of the day, now have to prove it on the field.

‘D’ will still be very good, but roster is not the same.

Can overcome Bridgewater loss but can A.P. get it done?

If Watt’s OK, Osweiler decent, this is an improved team.

Will score plenty, but how good a defense did they buy?

Jim Caldwell might be first head coach to go this year.

The Seahawks top our Week 1 NFL Power Rankings.

14. NEW YORK JETS 15. BUFFALO BILLS 16. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 18. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 19. ATLANTA FALCONS

Can ‘D’ make enough improvements to help Brees?

Both Fitz and Wilkerson back, who’d of thunk it?

Fins did Coach Gase few favors with offseason moves.

Tough offseason and strange preseason for these guys.

Derrick Henry beats out Zeke Elliott for rookie of year.

A healthy Luck is worth a ton but where’s the talent on ‘D’?

Punch line is Bosa doesn’t improve them all that much.

How many wins did they buy overspending on free agents?

RG3 may be answer, now have 18 more starters to find.

Keep an eye on these guys; Winston looks good.

More talent than Browns, but most of it is unhappy or old.

Quinn knows defense but does he have the talent?

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2. GREEN BAY PACKERS 3. CAROLINA PANTHERS 4. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 5. ARIZONA CARDINALS 6. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 7. PITTSBURGH STEELERS 8. CINCINNATI BENGALS 9. OAKLAND RAIDERS 10. DENVER BRONCOS 11. MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12. HOUSTON TEXANS 13. NEW YORK GIANTS

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

AT

By

Pernell McPhee hurts the run defense outside the tackle, though, putting pressure on Willie Young and Leonard Floyd to set the edge. It’s a different run game for Houston and a different run ‘D’ for the Bears, but Vic Fangio’s unit gets the slight advantage.

KEVIN FISHBAIN

EDGE u BEARS

Bears rushing offense vs Texans run defense Congratulations, Jeremy Langford. In your first season opener as a starting running back, you get Houston’s front seven, featuring a now-healthy J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork, Brian Cushing and Jadeveon Clowney. Five times last season, the Texans allowed less than 60 yards rushing. But, they allowed 4.1 yards per carry and, ironically, let Lamar Miller run for 175 yards against them.

There can be holes for Langford – and Ka’Deem Carey and Jordan Howard – to run through, especially if Watt isn’t at his peak playing ability. The Bears, though, won’t be fully healthy, either. If he plays, the Bears’ best run blocker – Kyle Long – might be limited by his shoulder injury, but getting Josh Sitton on the field at the other guard spot should be very helpful. The question mark will be at center, where rookie Cody Whitehair could be making his first NFL start. Get used to this theme – the Bears will try to establish the run, as they were sixth in the league last year in carries, but until the O-line gets continuity, it could be early struggles for a run game sans Matt Forte, especially against a solid Houston ‘D’.

EDGE u TEXANS

Bears passing offense vs Texans pass defense Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph are solid, veteran corners who will be competitive matchups for Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White. Joseph was fourth in the league last season with 22 passes defensed. Jeffery tends to get his yards no matter who is covering him, but this will be White’s first NFL game and it might not come as easy for him right off the bat. Kevin Johnson will cover one of those wideouts when the Texans are in the nickel, with Jackson sliding inside to cover Ed-

Texans passing offense vs Bears pass defense Kyle Long is dealing with a shoulder injury

AP PHOTO

die Royal. Will Jay Cutler have enough time to throw?

The Texans had the third-best passing ‘D’ in the league last season thanks in part to Watt and Whitney Mercilus rushing the passer, and Houston expects Clowney to be more effective this year, too. Opposing QBs completed 59 percent of passes against the Texans in 2015 and the Bears aren’t sure on the status of their best offensive lineman.

EDGE u TEXANS

Texans rushing offense vs Bears run defense It’s a new era for Houston’s rushing attack, with Arian Foster now in Miami and former Dolphins back Lamar Miller taking over the lead role in Bill O’Brien’s backfield. Considered underutilized in Miami, Miller has a healthy 4.6-yard career rushing average. A quick back with good agility and the speed to break a run to daylight (he has touchdown runs of 85 yards and 97 yards in his career), Miller is going to test the Bears’ revamped front seven, going behind a Texans O-line that’s without starting center Nick Martin. How improved will the Bears be against the run? Instinctive inside linebackers Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan are a huge upgrade in the middle of the field. Putting the massive and strong Akiem Hicks on the D-line gives the Bears someone who can blow runs up in the backfield, next to Eddie Goldman, who is quicker in Year 2. Not having

The Bears concluded the preseason with their top three cornerbacks – Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan – all injured. Porter will be back, and Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan are hoping to be, but will they be at 100 percent? That’s a problem going against an offense with DeAndre Hopkins, one of the game’s best at going up and getting the football. He had 1,521 receiving yards last season, and now has the blazing fast Will Fuller opposite him. Those two will stress a very questionable Bears secondary that is starting two second-year players at safety. Brock Osweiler has the arm to beat the Bears deep, and in his first career start he picked apart Chicago’s defense to the tune of a 127.1 passer rating. It’s a different front seven that should be able to put more pressure on him, especially with left tackle Duane Brown sidelined. But is the defensive front good enough to make up for the questions in the defensive backfield?

EDGE u TEXANS

Sunday’s overall edge Where are the Bears’ biggest question marks right now? Kyle Long’s status and its impact on the O-line, and the health and inexperience of the secondary. Those go right up against the Texans’ strengths – defensive front and wide receivers. Now, the Texans might not be clicking so efficiently on offense either with a new quarterback and tailback, which can make the game close if the Bears’ front seven takes advantage. Following the preseason, it’s hard to have much confidence in the Bears being able to find a rhythm in Week 1 on the road.

EDGE u TEXANS

7:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC

Reigning MVP vs. former No. 3 QB. Can Carolina protect Cam? Can Siemian challenge young secondary?

BUCCANEERS AT FALCONS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Mike Smith and Brent Grimes should know how to attack Ryan and Julio; Birds must pressure Jameis.

BILLS AT RAVENS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS

In what could be final year in Buffalo, Ryan’s Bills begin where he cut his NFL coaching teeth.

PACKERS AT JAGUARS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Jacksonville’s new D-line must test Packers’ reconfigured O-line; Rodgers going after Ramsey, Jack?

CHARGERS AT CHIEFS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS

Flying under AFC West radar, both teams get key defenders back from holdouts in nick of time.

RAIDERS AT SAINTS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Two institutions – Raiders in Oakland and Brees in Big Easy – might be enjoying Week 1 swan song.

BENGALS AT JETS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS

Jay Cutler enters his 11th season following a career-best passer rating of 92.3 in 2015

AP PHOTO

Green vs. Revis always a treat; Forte, Clady make anticipated Gang Green debuts.

VIKINGS AT TITANS 12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Former Heisman showdown, sure, but it’s all about the run games and run defenses here.

BROWNS AT EAGLES 12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS

If Wentz plays well, Cleveland’s draft pick becomes more valuable but decision to pass more questionable.

DOLPHINS AT SEAHAWKS 3:05 p.m. Sunday, CBS

Brutal first draw for rookie coach Gase, cross-country trip to ‘The 12s’ and top scoring ‘D.’

GIANTS AT COWBOYS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX

Cowboys’ best defense against Eli, OBJ and Co. is … two rookies debuting on offense, Dak and Zeke.

LIONS AT COLTS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX

It’s possible Indy will miss Vontae Davis more than Detroit will miss Calvin Johnson in this one.

PATRIOTS AT CARDINALS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC

Garoppolo’s four-game audition for 2017 free agency opens against NFL’s most aggressive ‘D.’

STEELERS AT WASHINGTON 6:10 p.m. Monday, ESPN

Shorthanded Steelers offense should still be fine; can young pass ‘D’ stop Cousins’ upstart offense?

RAMS AT 49ERS 9:20 p.m. Monday, ESPN

With the Broncos last year, Brock Osweiler threw for two touchdowns in a win over the Bears

AP PHOTO

The biggest storylines here could be two quarterbacks who won’t play.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

PANTHERS AT BRONCOS

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

W E

+6 1/2 Hub

Kevin

Arthur

Bob

Adam

E

Pro Football Weekly

Pro Football Weekly

Pro Football Weekly

Daily Herald

Chicago Sun-Times

Bears 16 Texans 23

Bears 19 Texans 24

Bears 17 Texans 26

Bears 16 Texans 27

Bears 24 Texans 20

K

Season openers are the toughest, but I can’t see how Bears are going to handle Houston’s front 7, or Hopkins.

Weird things can happen in Week One, which allows the Bears to keep this close against Houston’s brand-new backfield.

In a matchup league, it’s a struggle to find many that favor Bears in this one.

Scary to think what Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins could do against Bears secondary.

J.J. Watt is a magnificent player, but his first game back from back surgery should be a struggle at times. Right?

SEASON RECORD: 0-0 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 0-0

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O N E

ARKUSH

FISHBAIN

ARKUSH

LEGERE

JAHNS

Jon

Kristin

Eric

Dan

Kyle

Northwest Herald

Kendall County Record

Daily Chroncile

Pro Football Weekly

Kankakee Daily Journal

STYF

SHARP

OLSON

McCALEB

NABORS

Bears 14 Texans 21

Bears 7 Texans 16

Bears 23 Texans 27

Bears 16 Texans 24

Bears 13 Texans 31

Yes, the preseason doesn’t mean anything. But it’s hard to ignore it either. The Texans look like the better team.

Too many preseason injuries for Chicago, and without guaranteed points from Robbie Gould, Houston has the edge.

The Bears won’t be as overmatched as everyone is expecting.

Is it possible the Bears offense is as bad as it looked in the preseason? Houston is not the best place to find out.

The Bears will quickly find out what kind of shape their offensive line is in.

SEASON RECORD: 0-0 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 0-0

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McPhee remains vital part of the Bears’ future

T

elling outside linebacker Pernell McPhee that he couldn’t play in the first six weeks because his left knee isn’t where it needs to be couldn’t have been easy.

“Man, you guys know his personality,” Bears general manager Ryan Pace said this week. “He’s a passionate guy. He gets emotional.”

The Bears undoubtedly will miss McPhee’s persona, passion and emotion as he remains on the physically unable to perform list to start the 2016 season. He can’t play until Week 7 at the earliest.

McPhee’s absence doesn’t look good for all involved. He underwent surgery that was said to be minor in February and then missed the entire offseason program, training camp and the preseason.

The six regular-season games he’ll miss are salt poured on an open wound.

Why didn’t the Bears shutdown McPhee last season? (They lost four of their final five games and his knee issue emerged mid-season).

What did the Ravens know about

McPhee that the Bears In other words, give the possibly missed? (The RaBears time to work with vens never let their most McPhee, who turns 28 in Devaluable players leave in cember. See what happens free agency). on the field when McPhee Did the Bears make a returns later this season and mistake in signing him to then what happens next seaa five-year contract with son. He’s still considered an $15.5 million guaranteed? important part of the Bears’ For now, the answer is future. no.

“He’s a leader on our Let’s see what happens. team, whether he’s playing The Bears have comright now or not,” Pace said. pletely revamped their “I think he feels, obviousADAM JAHNS health and training ly as a leader, my voice ajahns@ww.com @ajahns programs under Pace, a carries more impact when fitness freak himself. For I’m out there playing and the first time ever, the that bothers them. But that Bears have a full-time nutritionist. Pace time’s going to come. He’s so powerful as and coach John Fox want to be cutting a person.” edge when it comes to health technology.

McPhee needs to buy in to what the Pace and Fox deserve more credit for Bears want to do with him off the field signing veteran guard Josh Sitton than as much as on it. Knowing McPhee, they’re getting. Players of Sitton’s caliber who was voted a captain last season, he (a three-time Pro Bowl player) and age already has. His fitness and weight start (he turned 30 this summer) typically look with him.

•••

for the best opportunity to win.

That’s win – right now.

The Bears clearly are rebuilding, leaving Pace and Fox to sell him on what’s ahead. It surely helped to have plenty of money available, but an effective sales pitch still was required.

Pace provides the vision and honesty.

Fox has the charm, charisma and experience. Together, they make a formidable and respectable duo.

Pace and Fox successfully pitched Sitton as they did veteran defensive end Akiem Hicks, who turned down the Patriots and a phone pitch from coach Bill Belichick.

•••

Forget about superstar end J.J. Watt for a second.

What is Texans star receiver DeAndre Hopkins going to do against the Bears’ secondary?

The Bears better hope that Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan are healthy enough for the challenge.

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9

OPINION

T

hree-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton says he isn’t looking for revenge against the Packers, the team that parted ways with him after eight stel-

lar seasons.

He just wants to play football.

Fortunately for the Bears, who coincidentally had a dire need for O-line help, their Halas Hall headquarters are just 2½ hours from Green Bay. “Chicago had me in first, and they got it done first,” the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Sitton said of a whirlwind Sunday that ended with him signing a three-year $21.75 million deal. “It was the closest place for me, so it was pretty easy. That was actually a factor.

“Honestly, it didn’t have anything to do with sticking it to the Packers.

[It was] more [being] familiar with the division and close to where I was. I like the weather up here. We had a few other teams interested, [but] it’s too damn hot in the south.”

There were up to a dozen teams

interested in Sitton, and way came with our prepahe could have gone on a ration. That’s a testament nationwide job search. to our scouting departBut he didn’t want to miss ment.” the season opener, and he But the Bears also had knew missing even a day some trepidation, wonof practice would impede dering why the Packers his ability to get coached would part with a player of up enough to play in Week Sitton’s stature a week be1, which he is expected to fore the start of the regular do at left guard. season.

“I wanted to get the “That’s the first thing decision made as quickly that pops into your head,” as I could,” he said. “I Pace admitted. “This guy BOB LeGERE rlegere@dailyherald.com wanted to get to where I is talented. We’re watching @BobLeGere was going and be able to every single game from learn the offense and be last season and watching able to jump in this week. him play at an extremely The longer it took, the harder it would high level. What’s going on here, man? have been to learn the offense.”

What are the reasons?

The Bears also approached the nego“That’s when you do a ton of retiation with a sense of urgency. search; meeting the player, feeling his “He’s right up the road, [and] there’s personality and getting the medical a lot of teams interested in him,” Bears report. I have a lot of respect for that general manager Ryan Pace said. “Let’s [Packers] organization. But we did all get on this right now and be aggressive our research and, at the end of the day, and be decisive. The ability to be that we felt good about it.”

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Rookie Cody Whitehair, who had been the left guard since training camp started, is expected to compete with veteran Ted Larsen at center.

Whatever the configuration of the O-line, it’s better with Sitton, who hasn’t missed a start in four years and has missed just two games in the seven years since he moved into the Packers’ starting lineup.

“The skins are on the wall,” Pace said. “He’s extremely strong and powerful in the run game; and pass pro[tection], he’s one of those guys that just makes it look easy. You never see him stressed or exposed. He’s in good position and a very intelligent player. That shows up when you meet with him, and all the research we did on him echoed that as well.”

Sitton has had minor back issues in the past, but the Bears are not expecting that to be an issue.

“We went through all that, and it was a thorough process,” Pace said.

“Obviously we wouldn’t have signed him if there were major concerns.”

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

Addition of Josh Sitton provides boost to O-line

ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY |

PFW’s matchups to exploit, avoid in Week 1

By J.C.

Two 2015 playoff teams face off in a game with an over/ under hovering right around 50 points. Expect both teams to have success through the air.

TALON

F

Fantasy writer | ProFootballWeekly.com

or those of you who suffered through all those boring college games last weekend, you can rest assured that the NFL takes ample measures to ensure top-quality performance in Week 1.

That’s sarcasm, of course. It was a terrific weekend for college – proof positive that the NFL preseason is a total scam that subjects players to needless injury risk. Football is a violent collision sport, and football games should not be meaningless affairs.

But the joke of a preseason is over and it’s on to the real thing!

MATCHUPS TO AVOID Denver Broncos

OPPONENT: VS. CAROLINA PANTHERS, THURSDAY, 7:30 P.M. You might want to go easy on all your Broncos until we see how well Trevor Siemian can run an NFL offense.

Even if Siemian proves to be a productive QB (hardly a lock), he faces a tough Carolina defense in his first career start. Denver probably will go with a steady dose of C.J. Anderson, but the Panthers will be focused on stopping the run.

SOLID PLAY: Anderson, Broncos D/ST WORTH A LOOK: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Virgil Green, Brandon McManus LAST RESORT: Devontae Booker STAY AWAY: Siemian

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT Kansas City Chiefs

OPPONENT: VS. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, SUNDAY, NOON It’s hard to get too excited about KC’s offense on most weeks, but this is a nice matchup for them. The Chargers were 27th against the run last season and their total defense finished in the bottom third. Most pundits have tabbed them to finish last this season in the AFC West.

The Chiefs will pound the ball early and often, and that could help open some passing lanes for Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce. It’s a near lock that Jamaal Charles won’t play this game, which makes Spencer Ware one of the best backs on this week’s board.

MUST START: Ware, Kelce SOLID PLAY: Maclin, Chiefs D/ST WORTH A LOOK: Alex Smith, Charcandrick West, Cairo Santos LAST RESORT: Frankie Hammond, De’Anthony Thomas STAY AWAY: Charles*

Oakland Raiders

OPPONENT: AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, SUNDAY, NOON If Oakland is truly going to challenge for an AFC West title, this would be an ideal game to display some offensive firepower. The Saints finished 31st in defense in both 2015 and 2014. With meathead Rob Ryan now in Buffalo (coaching with his meathead brother), it’s possible New Orleans will improve on defense. However, that improvement will likely take some time and the Saints appear to be one of the league’s weakest teams. Per Vegas Insider, this game has the highest over/under (51 points) of Week One. MUST START: Amari Cooper SOLID PLAY: Derek Carr, Latavius Murray, Michael Crabtree WORTH A LOOK: Sebastian Janikowski LAST RESORT: Clive Walford STAY AWAY: Raiders D/ST

Green Bay Packers

OPPONENT: AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, SUNDAY, NOON The Jags’ defense – ranked 24th in 2015 – is going to be improved, but we still think the Packers will put up right around 30 points in this game. Jordy Nelson is a full “go” and Eddie Lacy looks like he is back in 2014 condition.

Don’t be surprised if Jacksonville, likewise, finds offen-

Chicago Bears

AP PHOTO

Spencer Ware may start this week for the Chiefs

sive success in this game.

MUST START: Aaron Rodgers, Lacy, Nelson SOLID PLAY: Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby WORTH A LOOK: Jared Cook LAST RESORT: Jared Abbrederis, Davante Adams STAY AWAY: Packers D/ST

Seattle Seahawks

OPPONENT: VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS, SUNDAY, 3:25 P.M. Seattle finished last season on a roll, and there is little evidence that Miami’s 25th-ranked defense has improved much from a year ago. The big question for Seattle is the health of key starters Thomas Rawls and Jimmy Graham. The former is a better bet than the latter. We list both as “worth a look,” but keep an eye on their injury status. If Rawls does not play, bump up Christine Michael a notch. Ditto for Graham and Luke Willson.

MUST START: Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Steven Hauschka, Seahawks D/ST SOLID PLAY: Michael WORTH A LOOK: Rawls*, Tyler Lockett, Graham* LAST RESORT: Jermaine Kearse

ALSO CONSIDER Indianapolis Colts

OPPONENT: VS. DETROIT LIONS, SUNDAY, 3:25 P.M. Expect a lot of scoring in this game, particularly from a Colts team that is looking to prove that 2015 was a fluke.

The game should shed some light on whether Donte Moncrief or T.Y. Hilton will be Andrew Luck’s top target in 2016.

Pittsburgh Steelers

OPPONENT: AT WASHINGTON, MONDAY, 6:10 P.M.

OPPONENT: AT HOUSTON TEXANS, SUNDAY, NOON By signing guard Josh Sitton, the Bears might have improved their offensive situation from “trainwreck” to a more palatable “dismal.” Even so, Houston has a ferocious defense, and the Bears have way too many offensive question marks to be counted on in this game.

SOLID PLAY: Alshon Jeffery WORTH A LOOK: Jeremy Langford, Zach Miller LAST RESORT: Ka’Deem Carey, Kevin White, Eddie Royal STAY AWAY: Jay Cutler, Connor Barth, Bears D/ST

Tennessee Titans

OPPONENT: AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS, SUNDAY, NOON The Vikings were successful last season by running the ball and playing superb defense. Despite all the hand wringing over the loss of Teddy Bridgewater, it’s important to note that the young QB threw only 14 TDs last year and was 22nd in the NFL in passing yards. With Bridgewater gone, expect the Vikings to double down on last year’s strategy (especially until Sam Bradford is up to speed) and that means a slow day for Tennessee’s offense. The Titans will try and pound the ball with their one-two punch of Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray (and that will probably be the order by midseason, if not sooner). The Vikings might give up some yards, but only four teams in 2015 surrendered fewer than Minnesota’s 18.9 points per game. It would be mildly surprising if Tennessee scored more than 17 in this one.

SOLID PLAY: Henry, Delanie Walker WORTH A LOOK: Murray, Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe LAST RESORT: Marcus Mariota STAY AWAY: Titans D/ST, Ryan Succop

ALSO BEWARE New York Jets

OPPONENT: VS. CINCINNATI BENGALS, SUNDAY, NOON This game features one of the lowest over/under projections (41.5) of the week. Neither offense should roll, but the Jets might struggle more considering the late signing of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

* — Check injury status

You think you have some teams figured out? Think again

By JOHN

SAHLY

jsahly@shawmedia.com

F

lash back to 2014 for a minute with me, please.

It’s the year of the World Cup, The Lego Movie and the ice bucket challenge. Good times, right?

We were also really, really, really sure of a few things at the start of the fantasy football season.

At or near the top of the list: The Dallas Cowboys were going to have one of the worst defenses, if not the worst, in the history of the NFL. I knew it. You knew it. Everybody in your fantasy league knew it, too.

You know who else knew that defense was bad? The Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys game-planned to keep their wretched defense off the field by playing keep-away. Running back DeMarco Murray ran the ball 392 times for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns. He finished nearly 500 yards ahead of second-place Le’Veon Bell and was

tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns.

Murray was a fantasy stud, and those who believed in him early saw huge dividends at cheap prices in DFS. Murray’s situation is an extreme example, but there are plenty of other cases (Doug Martin and Blake Bortles last season) of guys and situations we just knew we had figured out before the season started. I think oftentimes we as fans and fantasy football players consider ourselves just as smart as the coaches in the room, and time and again the early weeks of a season prove we know nothing. In other words, we are all Jon Snow.

With that in mind, here are a few guys we may be rushing to judgment on that we can exploit as under-owned tournament plays in Week 1, or even for the first month in DFS.

Melvin Gordon | RB | CHARGERS

Gordon’s rookie year was a train-wreck by any measure. He didn’t score once. He averaged just 3.5 yards a carry.

This season? Gordon has been a different back in the preseason. Reports out of Chargers camp are that Gordon has his burst and confidence back. In the first three preseason games, Gordon touched the ball 15 times and turned that into 130 yards, plus two touchdowns.

Yes, Danny Woodhead will suck up some red-zone carries, but third-stringer Branden Oliver was lost for the season to injury, so it’s just Gordon and Woodhead in the Chargers’ backfield. After dates at Kansas City and home against the Jaguars, Gordon gets the torchable defenses of Indianapolis and New Orleans back-to-back. So even if Gordon under-performs in Weeks 1 and 2, I’m already thinking of targeting him in Weeks 3 and 4.

Jared Cook | TE | PACKERS

Chances are, Jared Cook has burned you at least once in DFS. The 6-foot-5 former third-round pick has shown flashes over his career. He even opened the 2013 season with 141 yards and two touchdowns. That one game ended up being 21 percent of his yards for the season, and you may have written him off then.

Friend of the PFW Fantasy podcast Adam Levitan has this as a rebutal: Cook’s QBs over his career: Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Matt Hasselbeck, Jake Locker, Sam Bradford, Austin Davis, Nick Foles. Now? Aaron Rodgers.

Cook is $2,900 on DraftKings for Week 1, and is an interesting pivot from the Colts’ Dwayne Allen at $3,200. Cook has burned you, but this is his best situation in his career.

Christine Michael | RB | SEAHAWKS

C-Mike truthers, assemble! Michael is now in his third stint in Seattle. He’s been a classic ‘never going to get it’ guy. This time looks different, though.

Michael rushed for 157 yards in the first three preseason games, and reports are that even if Thomas Rawls is healthy, it could be a 50-50 split in the backfield. The Seahawks get a terrible Miami defense at home to start the season, and Michael is just $3,700 on DraftKings. If he’s burned you in the past, I encourage you to give him another shot.

Keep in mind, my colleague Arthur Arkush has been warning you about Rawls for months as a stay-away guy.

Brock Osweiler | QB | TEXANS

Fantasy experts are high on Lamar Miller. Heck, I’m high on Lamar Miller. But I’m not ignoring Osweiler, who will not be a $6,300 QB on DraftKings for long. He gets a Bears defense that is struggling to put healthy bodies on the field in the secondary right now in a home matchup in which the Texans are favored to win against a non-divisional opponent. That checks a lot of boxes for me in DFS. Whatever you thought of Osweiler in Denver last year, he’ll be a bigger factor in Houston.

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DFS: Go against the grain early on, it may be worth it

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

OVERVIEW

Sam Bradford, whom the Vikings acquired Saturday in a trade with Philadelphia, might be a more likely Week 1 starter in 2017 than 2016. Bradford will be in the lineup as soon as Norv Turner and his experienced staff can get him acclimated. But Bradford’s cost – a 2017 first-rounder and 2018 fourth-rounder – paired with the timing of Bridgewater’s catastrophic knee injury and May 2017 deadline to exercise his fifth-year option make the Vikings Bradford’s team for the foreseeable future. Turner, reigning rushing champ Adrian Peterson and one of the NFL’s top defenses make this the best situation the maligned former No. 1 overall pick has been in. Expect defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to prepare Tennessee for Turner’s system, not Bradford or backup Shaun Hill.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

If Minnesota’s ‘D’ had an Achilles’ heel in 2015, it was the NFL’s 17th-ranked run ‘D’. Mike Zimmer knows his unit must avoid a similar fate to Week 1 last season, when it permitted a season-worst 230 rushing yards in San Francisco. Titans coach Mike Mularkey’s “exotic smashmouth” attack awaits, led by DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. MLB Eric Kendricks, SLB Anthony Barr and NT Linval Joseph will get an early measuring stick against the NFL’s No. 2 ground game in the preseason.

OVERVIEW

Even after stunningly cutting three-time Pro Bowl LG Josh Sitton on Saturday, Green Bay’s offensive outlook is promising with the return of WR Jordy Nelson, the arrival of TE Jared Cook and after an impressive offseason for RB Eddie Lacy. Add in coach Mike McCarthy beginning the season calling plays again after relinquishing the responsibility for the first half of 2015, and the Packers are poised to prove last year’s offensive struggles are a thing of the past. Lane Taylor, the 26-year-old with just two starts in his first three seasons, takes over for Sitton after an uneven offseason. Add in a new starting center, JC Tretter, and the unit won’t be afforded its recent luxury of O-line continuity.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

An upstart Jaguars offense determined to lessen the burden on third-year QB Blake Bortles will run more with T.J. Yeldon and newcomer Chris Ivory. That pair will test an unproven Packers ILB trio –rookie Blake Martinez, Jake Ryan and Joe Thomas – and shorthanded front missing suspended five-technique Mike Pennel. With firstround NT Kenny Clark and fourth-round DE Dean Lowry also needed early, Capers hopes he won’t need a lot of safety help, because Jacksonville is dangerous and dynamic outside with Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.

OVERVIEW

Returning to their old Colts stomping grounds, coach Jim Caldwell and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter hope to resume where they left off in Matthew Stafford and the offense’s sizzling finish last season. Suffice to say, they can’t afford another slow start, not with rookie GM Bob Quinn’s aggressive offseason approach making it clear he expects Detroit to win now. The personnel on offense changed drastically, with Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin tabbed to help replace Calvin Johnson. Defensively, coordinator Teryl Austin has perhaps his most important defender, WLB DeAndre Levy, back leading a group with star power at all three levels but also no shortage of questions.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Detroit’s cornerbacks are young and inexperienced after No. 1 Darius Slay, who’ll likely spend his time traveling with T.Y. Hilton. That leaves Nevin Lawson and Quandre Diggs to deal with Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett. The key, then, against Indy’s formidable WR corps is Pro Bowl DE Ezekiel Ansah and Co. turning up the heat on Andrew Luck behind an offensive line that received a lot of help this offseason that’s yet to materialize into better security.

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W

e’ve heard from more than a few analysts and insiders around the NFL that the Vikings overpaid outrageously for Sam Bradford in one of the great NFL trade blunders of all-time.

But we also have several sources close to the Vikings’ situation who are telling us that while Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer obviously like Teddy Bridgewater, they were not yet anywhere near completely sold that they had any more than a game manager.

The Vikings did not give up a first- and fourth-round pick (the ladder could become a third- or a second- based on Bradford’s production) and take on $20-plus million in salary for a one-year rental.

Bradford has not, in fact, failed on an NFL field, he has failed to stay on an NFL field due to injury. In 14 games last year in Philadelphia – only the third time he has played more than 10 games – his stat line (19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 86.4 passer rating) wasn’t bad, considering the Eagles’ lack of exciting targets for him.

The Vikings aren’t loaded at receiver either, but in Laquon Treadwell, Stefon Diggs and tight end Kyle Rudolph, with all eyes often on Adrian Peterson, they might be better than Philly’s group.

Bradford might just be perfect for Norv Turner’s West Coast scheme, and multiple sources tell us Bradford, known more for his accuracy, has a much stronger arm than Bridgewater.

We’re hearing the former Ram and Eagle might give the Vikings an even better chance to compete for a Super Bowl trip this year than Bridgewater did. If that happens, suddenly the price the Vikings paid seems pretty reasonable.

49ers a mess but Kaepernick still there

The Way We Hear It, not only is Colin Kaepernick still a San Francisco 49er, short of a trade offer that was never coming that might have blown the Niners socks off, Kaepernick was never going anywhere.

Yes, Kaepernick is a bit of a coach’s Rubik’s Cube off the field, and his latest attempts at being a political activist might be something the 49ers don’t need right now.

But according to our sources, the gap between Kaepernick’s athletic and physical abilities with those of Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder is so great that

We hear Geno Smith is still in New York strictly because no one was willing to give the Jets even a seventh-round pick for him.

Bryce Petty in his second NFL season still looks like the product of Art Briles’ gimmick Baylor offense and is not close to processing or reading things quickly enough to run Chan Gailey’s NFL scheme.

And Christian Hackenberg is at least a year or two away from even being ready to evaluate.

The Jets now find themselves between a rock and a hard place because should Fitzpatrick get hurt or had they not been able to bring him back, Smith is the only backup even close to being able to run an NFL offense. He just doesn’t do it well enough to start over a period of time, and there’s no telling when Petty and/or Hackenberg will be ready if they ever are.

Seahawks gambling again with 15 rookies

Sam Bradford AP PHOTO

Chip Kelly is committed to exhausting every avenue possible to get the most out of Kaepernick before he is willing to give up on him.

Now that Kaepernick is over his “tired” arm and appears closer to being 100 Colin percent physically after Kaepernick three offseason surgeries, we’re hearing the issue is that he just isn’t grasping Chip Kelly’s high-speed, high-pressure system yet. While Kelly wants to snap the ball with 20 seconds left on the play clock, and Gabbert seems to have that piece down, Kaepernick still needs 5-10 seconds more to get plays off and that doesn’t work for Kelly.

According to our sources, Kaepernick eventually will get his chance to start. If he can get comfortable enough with the

playbook and the pace Kelly needs, he’s still most likely to be the long-term starter if any of this group lasts long enough to become that guy.

Fitzpatrick is back but Jets still need a QB

Why were the Jets so reluctant to pay Ryan Fitzpatrick before finally bringing him back on a one-year deal as training camp opened?

The Way We Hear It, it’s because he will be 34 in November and what he gave them last year might be the best he can offer, and it still included 15 interceptions and four fumbles.

The Jets’ hope is that with three other young quarterbacks on the roster, one will be ready by 2017, but according to our sources that may be wishful thinking.

A number of our sources were left scratching their heads over the Labor Day weekend when they got their first look at the Seattle Seahawks final 53-man roster and saw it included 15 rookies.

When was the last time a preseason Super Bowl favorite had 15 rookies on its roster? It’s a really tough one to research but working from memory, we’d say there’s a good chance the answer is never.

There is no question Seahawks general manager John Schneider and company have done a great job of outsmarting the rest of the league in unearthing gems like Russell Wilson, Thomas Rawls, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and, of course, Richard Sherman.

The Way We Hear It, though, just plugging in rookie Germain Ifedi at right guard with another rookie in Rees Odhiambo behind him and rookie George Fant as your backup left tackle on an offensive line that struggled last year, could be playing with fire.

Jimmy Graham appears to continue to be damaged goods at tight end, as he is doubtful for the opener with a bum knee.

But no worries, Pete Carroll tells us rookie tight end Nick Vannett is the next big thing.

Again, we learned a while ago not to doubt Schneider and Carroll when it comes to talent, but more than a few of our sources around the league are questioning what happens to this club if a few key injuries force too many untested rookies on to the field in big games.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

Did the Vikings overpay for Sam Bradford?

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

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Fishbain: I think our readers and Bears fans in general have to be thrilled about the lack of Jay Cutler talk this summer. What new is there to say? However, it’s time for real games, which is going to naturally shine the spotlight back on Cutler, who will still be the catalyst for this team to exceed or fall short of expectations.

My question for you, Patrick, is can Cutler improve in this, Year 11? He improved his ball security in Year 10, but is it asking too much for him to maintain that level of efficiency again and keep upping his level of play?

Finley: Of course it’s not asking too much. But before we dive deep into the “Cutler has ANOTHER new coordinator?” trope, let’s remind ourselves that Adam Gase is gone because Cutler was mark-

What is Jay Cutler’s ceiling in 2016?

NATE KEVINATKINS FISHBAIN edly better, not the other way around. The new Dolphins’ coach was creative with his personnel groupings and let Cutler move his feet. Whether Dowell Loggains does the same – I suspect he’ll rely even more on the running game – will be a trend to watch in the first month. I present this to you, Kev: in 12 preseason drives, Cutler-led offenses scored one touchdown and kicked one field goal. Reason for worry?

Fishbain: Oh no, Pat, you’ve

summoned my inner Cutler apologist! He did look good in the scoring drives against the Patriots.

The O-line wasn’t right against the

PATRICK FINLEY FINLEY PATRICK

Chiefs and everything seemed out of sync. The great quarterbacks, though, aren’t fazed by that. I’m trying not to put a ton of stock into the preseason, but one thing we can expect from Cutler this year is getting more opportunities to take chances down the field. Will he have enough time to do so? And if he does, will those extra shots he takes per game be worth it, or lead to more turnovers?

ball deep to Alshon Jeffery in the preseason. That will be their most dangerous weapon during the regular season, which is why assembling a serviceable offensive line will be so essential to Cutler’s health. Given that Cutler’s backup, Brian Hoyer, has been even worse this offseason, is Cutler’s ability to stay upright more important than ever? And what would you do to ensure that?

Finley: They’ll lead to more chunks of yards – and more interceptions. Still, it’ll be worth it. Cutler stressed following the Game 3 debacle that the Bears are intentionally not throwing the

Fishbain: Hope you’re not too old to have enjoyed “Little Giants,” but maybe wrapping Cutler in tons of foam padding like when the very scrawny kid Jake showed up for tryouts? If Kyle

Long is back, I’m actually not as concerned about the offensive line as many seem to be, and the Bears like what they have at tackle. This is still going to be a run-first team, too, and that will help keep the pressure off Cutler. We’ve talked for years about what the Bears are doing around Cutler, how they are helping him. This offseason, they took Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte away, but he does still have a pretty electric receiving tandem. I won’t say, ‘is it enough for Cutler to finally put it all together?’ because we’re well past that point, but what can we set as a bar for the Bears’ signal-caller?

Finley: I am a member of the “Little Giants” generation, Kevin – and it’s overrated. It’s “Little Big League,” but much worse.

As for Cutler, I won’t measure him by yards. The three categories I’ll consider are: TD-to-interception ratio (last year’s was 21-11), fumbles (eight in 2015) and games played. Cutler appeared in 15 games in each of the past two years. He needs to do that again for the Bears to have a chance.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

I

n this week’s edition of ‘Take Two,’ Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times and Kevin Fishbain of Pro Football Weekly take a look at the reasonable expectations for Jay Cutler entering the 2016 season.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016

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