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| Other Week 3 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at NE | CAR at DAL | CHI at SEA | CLE at BAL | DEN at OAK | GB at STL | IND at ARI | JAX at HOU |
| KC at PHI | MIA at SD | NO at BUF | NYG at TB | PIT at CIN | SF at MIN | TEN at NYJ | WAS at DET |
Week 3 Game Recap: Chicago Bears 25, Seattle Seahawks 19
Chicago Bears
| QB Jay Cutler, Pass: 21 - 27 - 247 - 3 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - -1 - 0 |
Cutler showcased the many reasons why the Bears were thrilled to bring him aboard this off-season. He completed all but six of his 27 attempts, working well within and outside the pocket. Cutler was unafraid to go deep to Devin Hester or over the middle to Greg Olsen despite good coverage on both at various points of the game. Cutler was not only taking whatever the Seahawks gave him, but he also put balls in places where his guy could go up and make a play on the ball such as on Hester's leaping grab between two defenders. Hester made the play and turned upfield for one of Cutler's three touchdown tosses.
| RB Matt Forte, Rush: 21 - 66 - 0, Rec: 6 - 40 - 0 (6 targets) |
Forte did not explode as expected against a thin Seattle linebacker group, but he did combine for over 100 yards with 27 total touches. The offensive line of Chicago never got Forte the space to hit that second level and test those backup linebackers. Forte also had Red Zone opportunities but could not convert against a solid front four from Seattle. Forte should bounce back next week against Detroit.
| RB Garrett Wolfe, Rush: 3 - 8 - 0 |
Wolfe had one series unto himself, rushing three times to open the fourth quarter. He did not do much with those chances, gaining nine yards on his first two attempts to setup up a third and short, but his next attempt was unable to convert for a first down. Wolfe saw no other work the rest of the game so his fantasy value is minimal at best.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 2 - 12 - 0 |
Peterson had just two carries late in the fourth quarter, gaining twelve tough yards between the tackles and a first down late in the contest. These were his only two touches of the game so unless Matt Forte is injured, Peterson's value is negligible.
| WR Earl Bennett, Rec: 4 - 80 - 0 (4 targets) |
Bennett reestablished his spot on the depth chart, stepping up to take back the WR2 role for the Bears in Week 3. His catches were not highlight reel material but the important point is that it was Bennett on the field in two WR sets, not Johnny Knox. If Jay Cutler continues to get more and more comfortable throwing for the Bears, Bennett would be a beneficiary of Cutler's passing stats.
| WR Johnny Knox, Rec: 1 - 7 - 1 (3 targets) |
The speedy rookie wideout made the most of his one catch, grabbing a short pass outside the numbers in the Red Zone and turning upfield, tiptoeing along the sidelines enough to put the ball inside of the pylon for a touchdown. Knox is not going to get a ton of looks but the chemistry is building with Knox and Jay Cuter and he appears to be the solid WR3 for Chicago and first in line to replace someone should Devin Hester or Earl Bennett need some time off.
| TE Greg Olsen, Rec: 5 - 44 - 1 (6 targets) |
So much for teams taking away Olsen, for he got open enough over the middle for Cutler to connect with Olsen several times against the Seahawks in Week 3. He was able to sneak out for a short pattern behind coverage on fourth and goal from the one yard line and grabbed an easy scoring pass. Olsen did not do much with the ball after the catch but his five grabs marked a season high and should boost his confidence going into a favorable matchup next week against Detroit.
Seattle Seahawks
| QB Seneca Wallace, Pass: 26 - 44 - 261 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Seneca Wallace stepped in for Matt Hasselbeck in Week 3, getting his number called to start against the Chicago Bears. Wallace had respectable numbers on the day thanks in part to 44 attempts, but his yards per attempt (under 6.0) reflect Wallace's shortcoming. Wallace tends to throw the ball under 20 yards and often 10 yards or less. Wallace's short route tendencies allowed the Bears to forego deep coverage and focus on the short routes, taking away many options in the passing game. Wallace does bring good speed and elusiveness to the position but until he is willing to help stretch the field the Seahawk passing attack will suffer.
| QB Matt Hasselbeck |
Hasselbeck was inactive due to a cracked rib. He may see action next week as Seattle cannot wait for their bye week (Week 7) to buy Hasselbeck extra time off.
| RB Julius Jones, Rush: 19 - 98 - 0, Rec: 3 - 38 - 1 (4 targets) |
Julius Jones was surprisingly effective against the Bears. He ran with attitude, running hard and striking defenders first rather than waiting for contact. Jones accelerated quickly with the ball and after the catch. His Week 3 performance was highlighted by his 39-yard catch and run down the sideline for a touchdown. As long as Jones runs with this new commitment to using his strengths he should prove to be an effective runner and solid flex play or spot starter for fantasy team backfields.
| RB Edgerrin James, Rush: 4 - 7 - 0 |
With Julius Jones' strong performance in Week 3 against Chicago, Edgerrin James was an afterthought in the Seahawk offense. James may see more playing time if Jones does not keep up his intensity, but for now his fantasy value is barely above zero.
| WR Nate Burleson, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 9 - 109 - 0 (12 targets) |
Burleson was Seneca Wallace's favorite target against the Bears in Week 3, leading the Seahawks in targets, receptions and yardage. Burleson went over the middle and down the sidelines on shorter routes, often working back to the scrambling Wallace but most of all he was getting open to help out a consistently pressured Wallace. Burleson managed to top 100 yards but with nine catches and a long of only 24 yards, the short catches took a while to get up to the century mark.
| WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Rec: 4 - 35 - 0 (9 targets) |
Houshmandzadeh left the Week 3 game against Chicago briefly with a hand injury but he returned to provide Seneca Wallace with a nice big target over the middle. Houshmandzadeh struggled some with getting open as the coverage from the Bears emphasized taking him out of the offense, but Wallace still threw his way multiple times. Regardless of the Seattle quarterback next week, Houshmandzadeh is a must start in most formats, especially in PPR leagues.
| WR Deion Branch, Rush: 1 - -8 - 0, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (3 targets) |
Branch saw his first action of the season in Week 3 against Chicago, grabbing two short passes as the third wide receiver for the Seahawks. Considering the pecking order of targets for Seattle, Branch is fourth or fifth at best for chances and has very little fantasy upside at this time.
| WR Ben Obomanu, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets) |
Ben Obomanu rarely saw the field on offense, working predominantly on special teams and returning kicks. He did grab one ball for 11 yards but is not worth rostering in fantasy leagues right now.
| WR Deon Butler, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Butler caught his one fourth quarter target for 11 yards, but for the most part his fantasy value is minimal even in very deep leagues.
| TE John Carlson, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (10 targets) |
Seneca Wallace connected with his big tight end just once in the first half, but later in the game it was Carlson who was Wallace's main target. Carlson had eight targets in the fourth quarter but Wallace only connected with him twice for 15 yards. Wallace still needs to get the ball further downfield, but for now as long as he wants to look over the middle and only 10-15 yards from the line, Carlson should be in store for bigger afternoons regardless of who is the Seahawk quarterback.
| TE John Owens, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
Owens had one short catch in Week 3 but his fantasy value is virtually zero.
| TE Cameron Morrah, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Morrah had one short catch in the first half for just three yards, but he has no fantasy value at this time.