Jimmy Clausen and Brandon Weeden take over as replacement quarterbacks in Week 2. And having covered the fantasy outlook of injury-plagued Dallas, it's only fair to do the same for Clausen and the Chicago Bears.
1. Unlike Weeden, Clausen has healthy talent around him
Lucky for Clausen, he is blessed to have two and possibly three offensive weapons at his disposal for his Week 3 start. Clausen has two productive offensive options ready for Week 3 in Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett. WR Alshon Jeffery might also return from a calf injury; a healthy Jeffery would give Clausen three weapons at three different positions.
Outside of Jeffery, Clausen's main passing target is likely to be Bennett, who offers a massive target at 6-foot-5. Should Jeffery sit out, Bennett would likely see a huge increase in targets - particularly in the red zone. Bennett is an upper-echelon tight end that finished 2014 with 916 receiving yards, 90 receptions, and six touchdowns.
Clausen will also rely on Forte, who has long been the most consistent option in Chicago for fantasy players and is an elite DFS back. This week, Forte should be the focal point of the Bears offense against a formidable Seahawks defense. Forte could rack up the receptions in dump-off scanerios if Clausen starts to feel the heat, earning valuable points in PPR formats.
2. Keep it simple
The Bears' matchup against the Seahawks could be a major hindrance to Clausen’s performance. The Seahawks defense will also see a significant addition in Week 3 with the return of strong safety Kam Chancellor. With Chancellor patrolling the medium to deep portion of the field, Clausen would be wise not to test the deep ball.
The combination of these factors will force the Bears offensive staff to simplify the offensive play calling. Forte and Bennett should lead this conservative play calling and be targeted on short but efficient plays. It is only sensible for the Bears to play within their means and try to grind out a win rather than get involved in a back-and-forth tilt.
Last year, Forte was a top pass catching back with 102 receptions for 808 yards and four touchdowns, and his dual-threat nature should help Chicago work around the Seahawks' stout run defense.
The ceiling for Forte and Bennett is limited by the Seahawks' defense, but their workload increase elevates their floor. Both are cash game options but the salary savings on Bennett likely make him more attractive.
3. It gets easier
Even with Clausen at the helm, the Bears are not guaranteed to go 0-2 as most might expect. The Bears host Oakland in Week 4, a matchup that should coincide with Jeffery's return to action.
With Forte, Bennett, and Jeffery all active, Clausen could manufacture a win after getting valuable reps in Week 3. A 1-1 mark with matchups against Seattle and Oakland isn't the worst outcome for Bears fans - particularly with Clausen at the helm.
