Brandon Marshall has been traded to the Chicago Bears for two third round picks.
B-Mac will be heading to the Windy City to play with the quarterback that made him a household fantasy name and helped him to ascend to number two on the single game reception list with eighteen.
This is a questionable move for the Dolphins but a great move for the Bears.
Fantasy Impact:
Brandon Marshall – Marshall gets a big boost in value with this trade and should push to be a top-10 fantasy receiver in 2012. Cutler targets Marshall relentlessly and if he makes it through the season healthy he is almost assured to threaten 100 receptions for the year. Marshall is once again a the sure-fire WR1 he was when he played with Cutler on the Broncos.
Jay Cutler – Jay Cutler gets a huge boost and should get a slight upgrade in your rankings. He now has the true number one he lacked the entire time in Chicago and is now set up to have a successful season with the competitive Bears. Cutler has always been a QB1 but now has the makings to be an upper echelon fantasy QB once again.
Johnny Knox – Knox will now be cast in the No. 2 role receiver role that he is more suited for and should be a much more efficient player with Marshall commanding double teams across from him. Knox may lose some snaps to Hester but figures to be a solid flex with WR3 upside in this revamped offense.
Devin Hester – Devin Hester should go back to being a special teams specialist but with his contract he is sure to see some work as a situational deep threat. Hester will be no more than a flex2 for those who don’t play in return yardage leagues
Earl Bennett – Bennett will remain one of Cutler’s favorite targets but will potentially only see snaps in three receiver sets and on plays designed for him in the playbook. We still like him as a flex and he has the talent and QB to surpass 50 receptions next season but he will need to be consistent and stay healthy to see the requisite number of snaps to make it happen. Like Hester we are tabbing Bennett as a flex2 with upside for the 2012 season.
Matt Forte – Forte should benefit greatly from this deal as it will open up the field for the running game. Marshall is an extremely dangerous receiver and will keep opposing defenses from stacking the box to stop the run. Forte will remain a RB1 next season.
