RADIO
The wide receiver position for fantasy football is a very deep pool. The question is should you wade in with any of the Chicago Bears wide receivers? Equanimeous St. Brown is listed as WR2, while Byron Pringle is listed as the team's third wide receiver.
Pringle has been dealing with a quadriceps injury since early August. Velus Jones Jr. has also missed practice with an undisclosed injury. N'Keal Harry, who the Bears acquired from the New England Patriots this offseason, was placed on Injured Reserve after undergoing surgery to address a high-ankle sprain. The former first-round pick will be out until at least Week 5.
For the Bears WR2, you are now left with Dante Pettis and Ihmir Smith-Marsette for your fantasy football options. Should you consider any wide receiver other than Darnell Mooney for your fantasy football team?
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Bears general manager Ryan Poles is confident with Chicago's current group of wide receivers. "Mooney is 'balling, Velus Jones has an electric skill set, and Byron Pringle's upside is real." It leaves the question for fantasy managers: should you consider any Chicago Bears wide receiver other than Darnell Mooney for your fantasy football team?
Ryan Poles has more confidence in the #Bears WRs than football media. And I think he has a point. Mooney is 'balling,' as he said. Velus Jones has an electric skill set. Byron Pringle's upside is real. As Poles mentioned re: OL, we'll see what this team has when the lights go on.
— Bryan Perez (@BryanPerezNFL) September 1, 2022
The Case Against Equanimeous St. Brown
Brown owned 3.9% of Green Bay's target share last season and finished with nine receptions on 17 targets in 13 games.
Last season, Green Bay was 17th in passing percentage (58.61%) and 18th in passing attempts per game (34.6). Chicago (albeit with different coaches) was 24th in passing percentage (55.81%) and 23rd in passing attempts per game (31.9).
Brown now finds himself on a team that passes less and has a more mobile quarterback.
Last season in 16 games, Aaron Rodgers ran the ball 33 times for 101 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Justin Fields played in 12 games last season. He carried the ball 72 times for 420 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The Bears Receiving Options In 2021
Mooney led the Bears with 140 targets, 81 receptions, and 1055 receiving yards in 2021. The second leading receiver was tight end Cole Kmet with 60 receptions on 93 targets for 612 receiving yards. Running back David Montgomery had a 12.1% target share, ran 229 routes (Brown ran 120), and Montgomery finished with 42 receptions and 301 receiving yards.
If you are looking for a second receiving option in Chicago, it will not be Brown or Pringle. Put that draft capital on the tight end, Kmet.
The Case To Draft Equanimeous St. Brown
Wide receiver Allen Robinson is gone. Last year in 12 games, he had 66 targets, a 19.2% target share, and ran 289 routes in an 81.7% snap share. Someone must pick up that slack.
After a drive of successful runs by David Montgomery, the Bears went back to the play-fake, this time on first down. Fields nails Equanimeous St. Brown for an 18-yard gain down to the Cleveland 25. pic.twitter.com/YLMid7rjGv
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) August 29, 2022
Those stats made Robinson WR81 in fantasy football. With Brown being healthy, he is the likely candidate to replace Robinson’s production. And if he can play more than 12 games, his fantasy ceiling is raised.
According to Kevin Fishbain of the Athletic, the Bears are set to open the season with St. Brown as the team's No. 2 receiver. The former Green Bay Packer will see an uptick in target share and have the opportunity to be the team's second-best receiving option behind Mooney.
Conclusion
As you can tell by the arguments, you have no reason to draft Brown. The options for the fantasy draft are Mooney, Montgomery, and Kmet, in that order. Don’t kid yourself.
Fields and the Bears will rely on what is comfortable. For the time being, that is Fields' speed, his football acumen, and the receiving options he knows.
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