2012 Fantasy Football Profile: Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears
|
Updated: August 2, 2012
|
To see all of our fantasy profiles, click here. To keep track of our updates, follow us on Twitter (@EDSFootball).
|
| |
While it's a new beginning for wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who was traded in March to the Bears, there is a built-in level of familiarity for Marshall in his new environment.
In his second year in the league (2007), Marshall had a breakout season with the Broncos.
Not only did Marshall have his first of three consecutive 100-reception seasons that year, but he also posted a career high in yards (1,325) as well. That season, his quarterback was Jay Cutler and his positions coach was Jeremy Bates.
After all being in different places this past year, the trio has been reunited in Chicago this season.
While several elite receivers weren't in the league back in 2007 (Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, etc.), Marshall is one of only three players to post five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons along with Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Atlanta's Roddy White.
When it comes to receptions, only Wes Welker (554) has more than Marshall (474) during that span. In his final season in Denver (2009), Marshall set the NFL single-game record for receptions (21).
Marshall is a big-bodied receiver (6-4, 230 pounds), but one of the knocks on him is his (relative) lack production in the redzone. Although he ranks second in receptions and fifth in yards (5,938) during that five-year stretch, Marshall is tied with Santonio Holmes, Vernon Davis and Dallas Clark for only 14th in touchdowns (32).
Off the field, it's natural to be concerned about his level of maturity, which could impact his play (or suspension from it) on the field. While he has borderline personality disorder, he has generated his fair share of negative headlines from domestic disputes, alleged involvement in nightclub altercations, etc. Marshall already has one league suspension under his belt (2008, Week 1).
Despite his consistency (five-for-five in 1,000-yard seasons since 2007), Marshall was certainly more productive in Denver than he was the past two seasons in Miami.
Over his three seasons in Denver, Marshall averaged 102.3 receptions, 1,236.7 yards and 7.7 touchdowns per season. In his two seasons with the Dolphins, those averages declined to 83.5 receptions, 1,114 yards and 4.5 touchdowns per season.
In other words, a reunion with Cutler and Bates should only be viewed as being a positive for Marshall's on-field production in 2012.
|
|
| |
Strength of Schedule
|
Based on the cumulative fantasy points allowed to wide receivers last year by all of the Bears' opponents this year,
Marshall and Bears' receivers have the fifth-most favorable schedule from a fantasy perspective and second-most
favorable in the fantasy postseason (Weeks 14-16). The Bears face the Vikings, who allowed the most passing
touchdowns in the NFL last year, in Week 14 and the Packers, who allowed the most passing yards last year, in Week
15 as well as the Cardinals in Week 16.
|
| |
- Resources: Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule | Team Schedule (Tickets: TicketCity | SeatGeek)
|
| |
2012 Outlook
|
With his best days and production being those where he and Cutler were together, Marshall should see his numbers
improve over last year's production. In an ideal world, I would prefer to draft Marshall as a high-end WR2 with his
upside of being a low-end WR1. That said, you can bank on a 1,000-yard season, at a minimum, from Marshall.
|
| |
Dynasty Outlook
|
Assuming off-field distractions and incidents don't interfere with his on-field production, Marshall, who turned 28 in
March, is a solid dynasty receiver, especially now that he's in a situation where he actually respects his quarterback.
Like in redraft leagues, however, I'd prefer to draft Marshall as a high-end WR2 in dynasty leagues.
|
| |
2012 Projection: (Receiving) 90 receptions, 1,145 yards, eight TDs
|
- More Fantasy Profiles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
