Fantasy football season is just around the corner, which means drafts have begun, mock drafts are in full effect, and degenerates everywhere are preparing for the season. Every year, there are a few rookies that have fantasy value, not just in dynasty leagues, but in redraft as well. Last year, we saw Le’Veon Bell, Eddie Lacy, and even guys like Cordarrelle Patterson and DeAndre Hopkins contribute in year one. Who will it be this year?
This is part six of a 32-part series, where one offensive rookie from each team will be analyzed, and their fantasy value will be determined. Each player’s ADP, college statistics, depth chart status, and more will be broken down, and a proper value will be placed on each player.
Without further ado, part six of Rookie Profiles. Meet Chicago Bears running back Ka’Deem Carey.
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 207 pounds
Carey will not be mentioned with the top rookie backs in fantasy football this year, but all it takes is one play for him to be handed one of the best roles in fantasy football.
In college, Carey was one of the best running backs in the country, totaling 3,800 yards and 42 touchdowns in the last two seasons. For those who played college fantasy football, he was a surefire first round pick, and one of the hot commodities every week in daily fantasy. Can he translate that production to the NFL level?
At the NFL combine, Carey ran a 4.70 40-yard dash, had 19 reps of 225, a 32.5 inch vertical, and measured in at a small 5-foo-9 and 207 pounds. His athletic abilities will not catch your eye, and some statistical analyses show that he is unlikely to succeed in the NFL. But as far as fantasy football is concerned, he is still second on the depth chart to Matt Forte, who was the second-best running back (PPR) in fantasy football last season. What does that mean? Carey is not nearly as good as Forte is, but if he should become the starter for any reason, Carey will possess immense value in fantasy football.
His current ADP is as the 47th running back drafted (at best), and is not likely to be drafted in your league. But as a last-round flier, he should be added, especially if you have Forte as your top running back. Regardless if we like a player or not, regardless of how we feel about a player’s skill set, fantasy football is fantasy football and if they score points, there is always room on our team.
Last year Forte ran for 1,339 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 74 catches for 594 yards and three touchdowns through the air. On average, that comes out to 4.6 catches per game, 120.8 total yards per game, and 0.8 total touchdowns per game. Can Carey keep that production up if he gets an opportunity to play? Probably not, but even half of that is double-digit fantasy points per week, and in the Chicago Bears offense, that is about status quo.
Add Carey in every dynasty league you have, because he could be the starting running back for the Bears if Forte is unable to go, but even in re-draft leagues, he is worth stashing. At his size, you might wonder about his durability, but in college he was able to withstand over 25 touches per game and still produce for two straight years. While he does not possess the current value of Bishop Sankey or Devonta Freeman, Carey is just one play away from being the starting running back for the Chicago Bears, which holds immense value.
Projection: 75 carries for 300 yards and two touchdowns, 20 catches for 200 yards and one touchdown.
Statistics via College Football Reference, NFL.com, ESPN.com
