The vibe in Chicago is considerably more upbeat now than it was at the same time last year. At that point, Chicago was coming off a 5-11 season and had fired its head coach and general manager. Though the Bears only improved to 6-10 this year, things are much rosier. Jay Cutler bounced back in a big way, throwing for 3,659 yards with 21 touchdowns and a 64.4 percent completion rate. He cut his interceptions down to just 11. And to think, he did all that without Chicago's No. 1 pick from 2015, wide receiver Kevin White.
White missed his entire rookie season with a stress fracture in his shin. However, the receiver is expected to be fully healthy for 2016. With a rare combination of size and speed, White is a popular breakout candidate in fantasy football.
"After trading Brandon Marshall to the Jets, Chicago looked to replace the veteran by spending the seventh overall draft pick on the 6-foot-3, 215-pound White," ESPN's Mike Clay wrote. "Things didn't go according to plan, as White missed the entire season with a shin injury. The Bears figure to re-sign Alshon Jeffery, but White won't have any legitimate completion for the team's No. 2 wide receiver gig and a healthy dose of targets. Armed with plenty of size, sub-4.4 wheels and pro-ready as a run-blocker, White will quickly make an impact as a deep threat on the perimeter. White is a highly intriguing post-hype sleeper with a massive fantasy ceiling."
Critics point to White's lack of an established resume for why he may fail to live up to expectations. It's true that he doesn't have much experience; he was at West Virginia for just two seasons and produced just one eye-catching year. But, boy, what a year it was. In 2014, White caught 109 balls for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns. That and his physical gifts were enough to convince Chicago to take the plunge.
In terms of fantasy, White likely won't cost more than a late-round pick. There's little risk involved with targeting him for the 2016 season and the possibility for a big reward should things go right.
