Fantasy Football: Take advantage of woeful Bears
The best throw by a Bear at Lambeau Field on Sunday did not come from the arm of Jay Cutler.
No, that "honor" went to a fed-up and clearly over-served fan sitting two rows behind me in the end zone.
After the Packers' third or fourth touchdown (they came so fast, who can keep track?!?!), Mr. Superfan went down to the front row and launched his 16-ounce Miller beer right at Bears kick returner Chris Williams.
The can sailed a good 15-20 yards and doinked Williams right on the helmet.
The police were quickly on the scene, but any Bears fans who witnessed the feat probably think the guy deserves a 3-year contract. At the minimum - while clearly doing something incredibly stupid - he summed up a city's worth of frustration with one well-executed toss.
This was my first NFL game in the stands since the mid-1990s, and the experience at Lambeau Field left an indelible mark. From the fans to the concessions to a stadium that looks like it was built this year, it's something all big-time football fans should get to see at least once.
It also shines a glaring spotlight on just how bad things have gotten in Chicago, where you have:
• A defense with players either past their prime or who don't belong on an NFL - or maybe CFL - roster.
• A coach who - after watching his team get outscored 80-7 in the first half of the last two games - said: "This team and this locker room is in a good place at this time." Just wondering, Marc Trestman, but what would constitute being in a bad place? Or even a mediocre place?
• A disinterested, uninspiring quarterback who was blasted on local radio by former all-pro QB Rich Gannon. "It's almost like he's convinced that this isn't going to work," Gannon said, "and he's just kind of going through the motions, to me, at times. I don't see the fight. I don't see the passion. I don't see him in the huddle challenging guys." Later on CBS Sports Network, Gannon said he'd bench Cutler.
Fans should be done with this mega-joke of an operation until they completely clean house. Why spend hundreds of your hard-earned dollars on players, coaches and management who can't send a clear message that they will do whatever it takes to win?
For you. The fan.
There hasn't been a world championship here in 29 years. The team has made the playoffs once since 2006 and just four times since 1994.
The city deserves more. And you deserve more.
And the only way to show it is by sealing your wallet until real change takes place.
The bright side:
Of course in fantasy football circles, some of you are smiling all the way to the bank.
That was certainly the case in one of my leagues when a team - trailing 107-7 entering Sunday night - racked up an unheard of 151 points from players on ONE TEAM.
Yep, he had Aaron Rodgers (59 points), Eddie Lacy (20), Jordy Nelson (35), Mason Crosby (15) and the Green Bay defense (21). Final score: 179-107.
DA BEARS!
So line up your players to take advantage of this situation. And maybe make a trade for Matthew Stafford and / or Calvin Johnson. The Lions, after all, play the Bears in Weeks 13 and 16, the latter being fantasy championship week in many leagues.
Knowing what kind of carnage they will inflict, do your best to take advantage a truly comical situation.
Good bets
• Washington QB Robert Griffin III vs. Tampa Bay. RG3 wasn't overly impressive in his return from injury two weeks ago, but that was at Minnesota against a solid defense. At home against the putrid Bucs, he could easily finish in the top 10 among QBs.
• Falcons QB Matt Ryan at Carolina. I'm going back to the well one more time with Ryan. He ought to give you 2 TD passes and 250 yards if a you're a Tony Romo owner needing a decent play.
• Niners RB Frank Gore at N.Y. Giants. A big disappointment this season, I like Gore to score 10-15 points against a Giants squad that just allowed 4 TDs to Marshawn Lynch.
• Broncos RB C.J. Anderson at St. Louis. With Ronnie Hillman out for about two weeks with a mid-foot sprain, Anderson should step into the feature back role. If he does, Anderson will trample a Rams D trying to slow down Peyton Manning.
• Vikings WR Greg Jennings and TE Kyle Rudolph at the Bears. He's not setting the world on fire, but Jennings is a solid WR3 against the hapless Bears. Rudolph has been out with a groin injury since Week 2 and is likely on your waiver wire. He's a solid play if you're hurting at TE.
• Packers WR Davante Adams vs. Philadelphia. As a flex, I like Adams to snare you at least 5-6 points.
• Broncos defense at St. Louis. Once Denver gets up big, the sacks and interceptions will be coming left and right.
Bad bets
• Seahawks QB Russell Wilson at Kansas City. You need to pick your spots wisely when it comes to Wilson, and this isn't one of them.
• Bengals QB Andy Dalton at New Orleans. Don't get sucked into thinking this will be a shootout and starting a QB with just 10 total TDs on the season.
• Cardinals RB Andre Ellington and WR Larry Fitzgerald vs. Detroit. As a top-8 tailback all season, it would be near impossible to sit Ellington. But with Carson Palmer out, an already stout Lions D will be daring the Cardinals to beat them through the air.
• Patriots RB Shane Vereen at Indianapolis. Bill Belichick's inconsistent usage of Vereen scares the pants off me.
• Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins at Cleveland. It will be interesting to see if the Browns decide to stick CB Joe Haden on Hopkins, who has 318 receiving yards the last three games.
• Bears TE Martellus Bennett vs. Minnesota. One of the biggest victims of the Bears' demise has been Bennett. He's managed more than 5 fantasy points just once over the last five games.
• Houston defense at Cleveland. The ultra-conservative Browns don't give opponents many chances to rack up fantasy points.
• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh