Player Notes

Jay Cutler (Chi - QB)

Nov 3 - QB Jay Cutler has been sacked 15 times while throwing 209 passes after being sacked just 11 times with the Broncos in 2008, when he threw 616 passes.

Nov 2 - Cutler threw for 225 yards as the Bears beat the bumbling Browns 30-6 Sunday.
Advice: Even against Cleveland's woeful defense, Cutler threw an interception and failed to notch a touchdown for the first time this season. While the Bears won easily, this was a very disappointing fantasy performance from their new quarterback, who has an equal number of touchdowns and interceptions (11 of each) on the season.

Nov 1 - Cutler completed 17-of-30 passes for 225 yards and an interception in Sunday's win over the Browns.

Recommendation: Cutler has at least 225 yards passing in each of his last three games, but has thrown just three touchdowns against six interceptions over that span. Cutler will have a chance to redeem himself next week against a Cardinals secondary that is ranked fourth worst in the league.

Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac - RB)

Nov 3 - Jones-Drew went off for 177 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries during Sunday's loss to the Titans.

Recommendation: Jones-Drew had runs of 80 and 79 yards, but wasn't involved in the passing game as he only had one reception. Jacksonville was only down 13-7 at halftime, so head coach Jack Del Rio's strategy of 29 passes against just eight Jones-Drew rushes has to be questioned. After gaining a productive 178 yards and three touchdowns on 38 touches in a Week 6 win against the Rams, Jones-Drew received just nine touches in Sunday's loss.

Nov 3 - RB Maurice Jones-Drew said he wanted the ball more before the Rams game and the Jaguars gave it to him as he ran 33 times for 133 yards. But the Jaguars reverted to their old ways against the Titans when he had just eight carries. He still managed 177 yards because he ripped off touchdown runs of 80 and 79 yards. David Garrard has now been told to limit his checks out of running plays so Jones-Drew gets more carries.

Nov 3 - Jones-Drew went off for 177 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries during Sunday's loss to the Titans.

Recommendation: Jones-Drew had runs of 80 and 79 yards, but wasn't involved in the passing game as he only had one reception. Jacksonville was only down 13-7 at halftime, so head coach Jack Del Rio's strategy of 29 passes against just eight Jones-Drew rushes has to be questioned. After gaining a productive 178 yards and three touchdowns on 38 touches in a Week 6 win against the Rams, Jones-Drew received just nine touches in Sunday's loss. His next matchup is with a Kansas City rush defense yielding 131 rushing yards per game.

Nov 2 - Jones-Drew scored from 80 and 79 yards out and totaled 177 yards on just eight carries Sunday, but the Jaguars lost 30-13 on the road to the previously winless Titans.
Advice: It's the second straight 100-yard game for Jones-Drew, who is one of the few fantasy bright spots on an otherwise dismal Jacksonville team. Jones-Drew leads the NFL with 10 rushing touchdowns, three shy of his career high.

Matt Forte (Chi - RB)

Nov 2 - Forte ran for two touchdowns as the Bears beat the bumbling Browns 30-6 Sunday.
Advice: Forte had 90 yards on 26 carries - an unimpressive 3.5-yard average - and he still has just one 100-yard game this season, but the two scores were a nice reward for fantasy owners who've stuck with Forte through his struggles. He faces Arizona's ninth-ranked rushing defense this week, but the Cardinals were just gouged for 270 yards on the ground by Carolina.

Nov 1 - Forte had one of his best performances of the season Sunday against the Browns, rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

Recommendation: Sunday marked the first time Forte reached the end zone since Week 4 and was exactly the kind of performance fantasy owners were looking for after he had rushed for just 47 yards over the last two weeks. Forte will have a tough time following up this bounce back performance next weekend, however, as the Bears face a Cardinals rushing defense that is allowing a league-best 67.5 yards per game.

Devin Hester^Q (Chi - WR)

Nov 6 - WR Devin Hester (ankle) was listed as questionable after returning to limited practice Friday.

Nov 6 - Hester (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Arizona, but he practiced without limitations on Friday and is expected to start, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Recommendation: "I went 100 percent today," Hester said. "I'm ready to go." The Bears may pull Hester off his punt return duties Sunday, but he's expected to play a full complement of snaps on offense.

Nov 6 - Hester (sprained right ankle) missed practice Thursday for the second consecutive day, but coach Lovie Smith was hopeful that Hester would do some work Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Recommendation: For now, Hester is still expected to play Sunday against the Cardinals, but Earl Bennett could take over punt returns.

Nov 5 - Hester (ankle) did not practice for the second day in a row Thursday because of an ankle injury, the Chicago Daily News reports.

Recommendation: Coach Lovie Smith had hoped to have Hester (who appeared to be walking gingerly Thursday) back on the practice field Thursday, so what Hester does (or doesn't do) Friday will go a long way in determining his chances of being out there Sunday against the Cardinals.

Nov 5 - WR Devin Hester missed a second straight day of practice with a mildly sprained ankle, but he is still expected to play Sunday.

Nov 4 - WR-PR Devin Hester (ankle) did not practice Wednesday but is expected to play on Sunday.

Nov 4 - Hester did not practice Wednesday with what is believed to be an ankle or foot injury, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Recommendation: Details are sparse right now, but the practice participation report should hone in on what the injury is, and coach Lovie Smith may shed some light on the severity in his press conference.

Nov 4 - Hester missed practice Wednesday with what is officially being called an ankle injury, the Bears' official site reports.

Recommendation: Hester doesn't seem concerned about his availability for Sunday's game against Arizona. "I'm alright," he told the Chicago Sun-Times' Brad Biggs. "I'm going to play." The situation is worth monitoring as the week progresses, but we're not overly concerned about Hester's status at this point. If Hester were forced to miss this Sunday's game, the fantasy value of Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett would get a boost.

Nov 3 - WR Devin Hester has 21 catches for 265 yards in the past three games but just one touchdown.

Nov 2 - Hester had seven catches for 81 yards in the Bears' 30-6 win over Cleveland on Sunday.
Advice: Hester is becoming a fairly consistent if unspectacular fantasy receiver. This was his third straight game with at least 80 yards. The Bears face Arizona - 20th against the pass - on Sunday.

Pierre Garcon^Q (Ind - WR)

Nov 6 - Garcon (ankle) did not practice Friday and is listed as questionable for this week's game against Houston, the team's official web site reports.

Recommendation: He didn't report an injury after last week's game and was able to fully practice on Wednesday and Thursday, so we can only guess this is minor. However, watch his status before kickoff.

Nov 3 - WR Pierre Garcon had gotten the 2009 season off to a strong start. After catching 10 passes through the first four games of the season, he had been limited to four heading into the San Francisco game. Garcon responded with four receptions for 53 yards, including a 32-yarder that got the Colts out of a third-and-long situation.

Nov 1 - Garcon had four receptions for 53 yards in Sunday's win over the 49ers.

Recommendation: It's been four games since he's had a touchdown and has just 86 yards receiving in his last three games. He's become the No. 4 target in the passing offense as Austin Collie has moved ahead of him for receptions. However, Garcon has the speed to score from distance each week (he had a 32-yard reception on Sunday), so he still has upside for deeper leagues.

Chad Ochocinco (Cin - WR)

Nov 3 - WR Chad Ochocinco averages 4.8 catches and 73.6 yards per game in 18 career meetings against Baltimore. He also has seven TDs against the Ravens.

Greg Olsen^P (Chi - TE)

Nov 6 - Olsen (ankle) participated fully in Friday's practice and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against Arizona, the Bears' official site reports.

Recommendation: Olsen was limited earlier in the week, but it looks like he'll be ready to go against the Cardinals.

Nov 5 - Olsen (ankle) practiced fully Thursday, the Bears' official site reports.

Recommendation: It looks like Olsen will end up listed as probable Friday, but his Week 9 status does not appear to be in any danger.

Nov 4 - Olsen was limited in Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury, the Daily Herald reports

Recommendation: Given that Olsen was able to participate in practice this early in the week, we don't expect whatever ankle injury Olsen is suffering from to affect his status for Sunday's game.

Nov 3 - TE Greg Olsen's three catches for 40 yards last week gave him a total of nine catches for 121 yards in the past three games.

Nov 2 - Olsen caught three passes for 40 yards in Sunday's win over the Browns.

Recommendation: Olsen has now failed to find the end zone for consecutive weeks after catching touchdowns in three straight games. This brief drought can be partially blamed on Jay Cutler, who has just one touchdown against four interceptions over that span.

Robbie Gould (Chi - K)

Nov 3 - PK Robbie Gould has hit 40 straight FG attempts from inside 40 yards, including three last week.

Nov 2 - Gould went 3-for-3 on field goals in Sunday's win over the Browns.

Recommendation: Gould has now made 10-of-11 field goal attempts this season, his only miss being a 53-yard attempt in Week 3. The Bears offense doesn't usually give Gould a ton of opportunities, but he's made the most of his chances so far this year.