In this second Bears 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW of the day, we’re going to be covering the individual defensive players (IDPs) on the Bears that you should consider rostering for the 2021 fantasy football season.
While this Bears’ team might have SOME “Monsters Of The Midway”, they are not THE “Monsters Of The Midway”. Not much has changed in a big fashion this offseason other than the loss of Kyle Fuller in free agency. Aside from that things are just more of the same in Chicago.
Yup….thought I had something more clever planned for this introduction, didn’t you?
So did I…… so did I. But alas…here we are.
Anyhow…enough of this glowing endorsement of the team. Let’s talk some fantasy football!
Who are the Bears’ IDP players you should consider rostering this season? Find out NOW in our 2021 Bears IDP 4-EYED Team Preview!
*This season at Fantasy In Frames we’ll be using IDP123 scoring as our default scoring rubric when talking about the fantasy relevance of IDP player performance.*
EDGE RUSHER (DL/LB)
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Khalil Mack (Current ADP: DL11/ LB19 )
KHALIL MACK’S STRENGTH IS ABSURD 😤 @FiftyDeuce @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/dP7xIWrpVg
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 9, 2020
How good is Khalil Mack? I’ll tell you! The recently ranked 6th best player in the NFL, according to PFF, Mack finished 2020 rated as the best edge rusher in the NFL! His win % versus offensive lineman (a measure of how effective a player is at beating blocks set by offensive linemen) was 5th best in the NFL. His 16 total pressures of a quarterback, according to Pro Football Reference, ranked 10th best amongst ALL defenders in the NFL. His missed tackle % is one of the lowest in the NFL at his position as a starter. His tackle for a loss number, 15, was 6th best amongst all linebackers. While his sack numbers aren’t as high as the “elite of the elite” EDGE rushers in the NFL, make no mistake this man plays like a force nature on the football field.
How does he stack up from a fantasy football perspective? That’s where things get tricky.
In 2020, he finished as the EDGE (ED) 23 in IDP123 fantasy point scoring with an average 12.3 fppg and ED18 in total points scored. If he didn’t have to face so many double and triple teams due to there being a lack of pass rush presence on the other side of the defensive line he would most certainly have elite ED1 upside. However, that is not the case which is why he is deserving of being your low-end ED1/ high-end ED2 this season.
Defensive Linemen
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Akiem Hicks (Current ADP: DL78 )
Akiem Hicks is using offensive linemen to make tackles for him now 😳 @The_Dream99 @ChicagoBears
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 23, 2020
(h/t @BrandonThornNFL) pic.twitter.com/cb7ycvsQa8
Akiem Hicks is one of the beneficiaries of Khalil Mack’s presence on the defensive line. In 2020, Hicks tallied the 9th most QB hits amongst defensive linemen and was the DL21 in solo tackles. According to PFF, he ranked as the 12th best interior defensive linemen in total QB hurries and was the DL17 in win %. This guy can do some damage against opposing offensive lines.
In fantasy last season, he finished as the DL51 in fantasy point scoring with a 9.4 fppg average. For those in leagues with defensive tackle roster spots available, Hicks certainly is deserving of being your DT2. For those with just a non-specific DL spot, you can find better prospects elsewhere.
Linebackers
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Roquan Smith (Current ADP: LB4)
Roquan Smith….wow!
— PFF (@PFF) January 6, 2019
(Via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/0UTA6mEkf3
Roquan Smith finished the 2020 fantasy football season as the LB2 in fantasy scoring with a 21.1 points per game average. Smith had the 6th most total tackles amongst all defenders and had the second-most solo tackles in the NFL. Combine that with him having the 4th most tackles for a loss, Smith is one of the most elite pure linebackers in all of football AND fantasy football. He is definitely someone I WOULD be fine with using my first IDP pick on and so should you!
Danny Trevathan (Current ADP: LB85)
The model of consistency at linebacker. The, now, 10-year veteran had another 100+ total tackle season in 2020 and in fantasy averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game. While he might have “lost a step” athletically in 2020 according to coaches, some might chalk that up to a lack of offseason preparation due to the pandemic. Honestly speaking, gone are the days of him having high LB2/ low LB1 upside. There are just too many other good linebackers in fantasy. But as an LB3 or IDP flex, I am more than happy using him in that fashion.
Defensive Backs
*Positional designations & ADP data brought to you by Sleeper.
Eddie Jackson (Current ADP: DB39)
Finishing as the DB24 in solo tackles and DB74 in fantasy point scoring in 2020, Eddie Jackson showed you just who he is on this Bears’ defense. A thumper. Not a real asset in coverage or making plays behind the line of scrimmage. He’s just a thumper who hits who is in front of him, and THAT’S OK…..as your DB3/DB4. Now if we saw more of his ball-hawking ability as seen below, that might paint a different picture for his value
Give me 2018 Eddie Jackson back this season
— Austin F (@PodGuyFuges) July 12, 2021
pic.twitter.com/7TOnTKqyiU
