Matt Forte is still someone to target in the majority of leagues. He's not yet someone to avoid.
That wasn't the case in two recent mock drafts I've done, including our latest #iwannamock on Tuesday. I took Forte at No. 10 overall, and I also got him at No. 11 in another draft with analysts. Both times I was thrilled he was there.
I have Forte as the No. 5 running back in all leagues, ahead of C.J. Anderson, LeSean McCoy, Marshawn Lynch and Arian Foster. I'm still expecting a big season from him in 2015.
There are some changes for Forte, who will be 30 in December and is getting close to some negative milestones. He has 1,817 career carries and 2,260 career touches in seven seasons, but he should be good for one more year, which happens to be a contract season.
The loss of coach Marc Trestman is a negative for Forte, but don't expect new coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase to make the Bears into a committee backfield. Jeremy Langford, Ka'Deem Carey or Jacquizz Rodgers are not going to take Forte off the field for significant stretches.
He won't get the 102 catches he had in 2014, but he's still a candidate for at least 1,500 total yards, nine total touchdowns and 57 catches -- he's reached all three of those in four of seven seasons -- and that's a rare find. If you're nervous about Forte, just handcuff him with Langford with a late-round pick.
I still expect him to dominate carries -- 300-plus is a given if healthy -- and the Bears bad defense should still allow him plenty of chances to catch the ball. Fox and Gase have had two running backs get at least 200 touches since Gase became offensive coordinator for the Broncos in 2013 with Knowshon Moreno and Anderson. Moreno was the No. 5 running back in standard leagues in 2013, and Anderson was No. 11 in limited action last year.
If Forte goes all out for a new deal as expected then he should be in the mix for a Top 5 finish for the third year in a row. I believe getting him at the back end of Round 1 is a steal, and I love my team after drafting him in Round 1.
But you can judge for yourself with the first 12 rounds of Tuesday's standard #iwannamock here.
Round 1 of #iwannamock: Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, Antonio Brown, Eddie Lacy, Marshawn Lynch, Odell Beckham, Demaryius Thomas, Le'Veon Bell, Arian Foster, Matt Forte, C.J. Anderson, Dez Bryant
- Pick I like: Lacy and Bell. They are both steals where they got drafted here.
- Pick I hate: Brown. He's the No. 1 receiver, but he shouldn't be drafted Top 3 overall.
- My pick: Forte. See above.
- Pick I like: Green. He should easily go ahead of both Murrays and Evans.
- Pick I hate: Latavius Murray. There's no reason he should be drafted in Round 2.
- My pick: Gronkowski. He's a steal in Round 2 in any format.
- Pick I like: Rodgers. He could easily be the No. 1 quarterback ahead of Luck.
- Pick I hate: Cooks. I love the upside, but not ahead of Hilton or Kelvin Benjamin.
- My pick: Hilton. I was thrilled to see him here.
- Pick I like: Miller. Even with Jay Ajayi, Miller in Round 4 is excellent value.
- Pick I hate: Maclin. He's headed for a down year with Alex Smith.
- My pick: Ingram. I love his outlook this season with the Saints set to run more.
- Pick I like: Spiller. I was hoping he would fall two more spots to me in this round.
- Pick I hate: Bryant. He has tremendous upside, but this is too soon.
- My pick: Abdullah. I thought I could get him and Bell on this turn, but it didn't work.
- Pick I like: Edelman. Even with Tom Brady's suspension he should still do well.
- Pick I hate: Johnson. He should not be drafted ahead of Isaiah Crowell.
- My pick: Bernard. I love my RB corps now with Forte, Ingram, Abdullah and Bernard.
- Pick I like: Crowell. He should be great behind Cleveland's stout offensive line.
- Pick I hate: Sankey. He shouldn't be drafted ahead of David Cobb.
- My pick: Marshall. He loses value going to the Jets, but he is worth drafting here.
- Pick I like: Ryan and Newton. This is when it pays to wait on a quarterback.
- Pick I hate: Gray. I'm not sure he'll get drafted in the majority of leagues.
- My pick: Robinson. It's time for me to stockpile receivers with upside.
- Pick I like: Brown. I'm expecting a breakout season for him this year.
- Pick I hate: Rudolph. He's a nice sleeper, but you should wait to draft him.
- My pick: Cobb. The value was too good to pass on here.
- Pick I like: Brady. This will be a steal when his suspension is reduced.
- Pick I hate: Herron. It's too soon since he's not guaranteed to be Gore's handcuff.
- My pick: Stafford. Again, waiting on a quarterback pays off.
- Pick I like: Adams. I was hoping to draft him here or a round later.
- Pick I hate: Stills. It's too soon with Steve Smith and LaFell on the board.
- My pick: Parker. The foot injury scares me, but he's worth the gamble here.
- Pick I like: Latimer. I debated him and Terrance Williams since Latimer is on the rise.
- Pick I hate: Jackson. His role should be diminished behind McCoy.
- My pick: Terrance Williams. I like gambling on third-year breakout candidates.
- QB - Matthew Stafford
- RB - Matt Forte
- RB - Mark Ingram
- WR - T.Y. Hilton
- WR - Brandon Marshall
- TE - Rob Gronkowski
- FLEX - Ameer Abdullah
- K - Mason Crosby
- DST - Jets
- BENCH - Giovani Bernard, David Cobb, Allen Robinson, DeVante Parker, Terrance Williams
