Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: TB 17, CHI 27 (Line: CHI by 5)

UPDATE: Doug Martin may be able to play this week after being limited all week. Charles Sims is also listed as questionable with a sore ankle and he too was limited this week. This is not a favorable start and going in both Martin and Sims are not a lock to play. If they do, the rotation is a question as well. I won’t change the mediocre projections but know this is a risky situation above being a bad matchup.

The 2-8 Buccaneers come off their big win in Washington and head to Chicago to face the 4-6 Bears who also just came up with a big win to end a losing streak.The key here is that the Bears throw better and the Bucs defense faces one of the best passing attacks they have seen all year..

The same Buccaneers who could not beat the visiting Vikings or Falcons steamroll the Redskins in Washington. A win is a win and the Bucs needed to stop that five game slide. This week is a shot at a win if only because the Bears secondary is so bad but the rushing offense still has yet to turn in a good game thanks to poor blocking and the change in quarterbacks really just put another jersey number out there doing largely the same thing as Mike Glennon. The rest of the schedule doesn’t contain any soft spots so last week’s victory may need to last.

QUARTERBACK : To his credit, Josh McCown threw for 288 yards and two scores last week and had no turnovers for the first time. McCown turned in 301 yards and two touchdowns the previous week against the Falcons which is not unlike what Glennon was doing. This week is a nice matchup for the passing game but the rest of the season won’t likely offer as much.

RUNNING BACK : Doug Martin has a chance of returning this week but to what role is less certain. Charles Sims two games so far have totaled just 21 runs for 59 yards (2.8 YPC) and Bobby Rainey declined to only five touches last week. This has been one of the least effective units all year and mostly from a bad offensive line. Adding Martin back in to any measure at all would only serve to water down a backfield that already falls short of fantasy consideration. I’ll assume Martin is held out and project for the two runners. Updates if warranted.

WIDE RECEIVER : The bad news is that Vincent Jackson is in obvious decline with only two touchdowns on the season and an average of around 55 yards per game. But he is still a factor if only as a possession receiver to help move the chains. The good news is that Mike Evans is on fire and over the last three weeks turned in at least 120 yards and a score in every game. Last week in Washington, he ended with 209 yards and two scores. And that after the quarterback change occurred and two of those were road games. The rushing effort is poor. But the passing game with Evans could not be going better.

TIGHT END : Austin Sefarian-Jenkins scored in two of the last four games but when he didn’t he had just one catch for under ten yards. And his only two scoring games both came at home. His single catch efforts happen on the road.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Bears were able to hold off the Vikings last week for their much needed win but the two games prior saw their secondary give up a total of 11 touchdowns and 669 yards thanks to hosting the Packers and Patriots. McCown is not near the level of five scores but the Bears are the worst team against quarterbacks and tight ends so expect a good effort here by McCown and a chance that the rookie Sefarian-Jenkins also scores.

Nice win over the Vikings sort of felt like pulling out of a nosedive at the last second. After surrendering 106 points over two horrific losses, any win was welcomed and facing the visiting Buccaneers this week should be just what the Bears need (or so thought the Redskins last week). The reality is that at 4-6 the season is already over even though the schedule lightens up considerably from here on out with only two road games and a three game stretch of home venues from week 14 through 16. The Bears fortunes may already be decided but at least the fantasy prospects of the players still look bright.

QUARTERBACK : Jay Cutler recovered from his 272 yard, one touchdown loss to the Packers by posting one of his best games of the year – 330 yards and three touchdowns versus the Vikings. Cutler still has a problem with turnovers since the last four games had him with six interceptions and three lost fumbles. But entering into critical time for fantasy teams, Cutler’s penchant for big games at home will pay off.

RUNNING BACK : Even Matt Forte comes off a season high 117 rushing yards on 26 runs and he gained 58 yards on six receptions. Forte already scored six times this year and should also enjoy having four home games over the next five weeks. Forte doesn’t always score but he’s a lock for high total yardage and already has 67 catches on the season. That’s not only ten more than any running back, it ranks fourth best in the NFL regardless of position.

WIDE RECEIVER : Santonio Holmes was released but he was never a factor anyway with pass sponges like Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. Jeffery comes off his best game of the year with 11 catches for 135 yards and one score while Brandon Marshall turned in 90 yards and two scores on the Vikings. Both receivers have turned in more than one bad game this year but they combined for 12 touchdowns already and they dominant the field if the defense cannot handle them both. Good defenses are on the way but they are not here this week.

TIGHT END : Martellus Bennett loves September and then he turns into a blocker for the rest of the year, Bennett still good for 50 yards or so in most weeks but has just one score in the last seven games. After racking up four touchdowns in just the first three games, he’s settled down to just being another tight end.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: What’s not to love about a defense that gave up four straight 300 yard games with at least two scores in each to opposing quarterbacks in road games until Robert Griffith ruined it. Forget about RG3 – this will be a big disappointment if Cutler ends with anything short of those 300 pass yard and three touchdowns. Cutler, Forte, Marshall and Jeffery should all shine this week.

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