Who will be the No. 1 wide receiver for the Chicago Bears now that Brandon Marshall is gone?
The most obvious answer is Alshon Jeffery, who is coming off two straight 85-plus catch seasons with at least 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns. Not too shabby. But the Bears also invested a top-ten pick into wide receiver Kevin White in this past draft. With upside like that, White could develop chemistry with quarterback Jay Cutler on the earlier side of his developmental curve.
So which WR is poised to fill Marshall's role? It's a question that was posed to ESPN NFC North writers and Minnesota Vikings reporter Ben Goessling had a particularly sound answer.
"Jeffery has really impressed me over the last couple years," Goessling wrote. "He was more dangerous than Marshall last year, and I think he's growing into one of the best receivers in the division. He's torched the Vikings in three of their last four meetings, and Jay Cutler could look to him every time he needed a big play last November in the Bears' 21-13 win over Minnesota. He'll be the No. 1 option, but considering how much Cutler targeted a small group of receivers last year, there should be opportunities for White, too. According to ESPN Stats & Information, 499 of the Bears' 596 targets went to four players last season: Marshall, Jeffery, Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett. White should step into a sizable role and see plenty of chances."
That's good news for fantasy owners who are interested in taking a flier on the rookie. White has a high ceiling and although he is very raw at the moment, his large frame (6-foot 3, 215 pounds) and speed (4.35 40-yard dash) will afford him opportunities to make plays this year.
It's also good news for Jeffery owners who assumed he would replace Marshall as the official go-to guy in this passing attack. This season is critical for Jay Cutler's career so expect the QB to be on top of his game.
