Bears Blitz

Matt Forte: Injured Chicago Bears RB Not Worth Keeping for Fantasy Playoffs

Published by Patrick Clarke on November 27, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears starting running back Matt Forte has had a disappointing season by all accounts, and it’s not going to improve any time soon.

Forte injured his ankle in Week 12’s win over the Minnesota Vikings, finishing with 14 carries for just 42 yards. Even worse, before Forte’s injury his poor play was becoming a trend. He has now scored a combined 11 fantasy points in ESPN standard leagues over the past three weeks, rushing for 144 yards and zero touchdowns on 51 carries since the start of Week 10.

Given Forte’s recent injury setback and his increasing struggles, fantasy owners are best suited to cut ties with the Bears back this fall and move on to a player with more potential down the stretch.

He’s Banged Up

Forte has been banged up plenty this season and is running out of different ways to injure his right ankle. He missed Week 3’s matchup with St. Louis after turning the ankle against Green Bay back in September, and now he’s questionable for Week 13’s game versus Seattle because of a bum right ankle.

According to Sports Illustrated’s injury expert Will Carroll, Forte’s injury looks to be an ordinary ankle sprain, but shouldn’t be expected to heal from this injury as quickly as some other players have in the past.

The best route to take would be to acquire Forte’s backup, Michael Bush, who ran well in Week 12 against Minnesota, racking up 60 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

Not Forte’s Year

After rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2010 and maintaining a 1,000-yard pace in 2011 before being lost for the season to injury, Forte is in the midst of his worst season since 2009, when he averaged a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry.

Forte is averaging just 4.3 yards per attempt in 2012, and has only three touchdowns in 10 games.

After three straight underwhelming outings this November, and only two 100-plus-yard rushing games under his belt in 10 outings, it looks as if 2012 will be a wasted fantasy year for Forte. Twenty-one running backs are averaging more yards per carry than Forte this season, and 17 are averaging more yards per game than Forte in 2012.

With fantasy playoffs quickly approaching and owners running out of room for error, Forte is not a promising option. Starting him would be foolish, and holding on to him would be every bit as risky.

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