The Chicago Bears had enough with Martellus Bennett. Chicago traded the disgruntled former Pro Bowl tight end to New England in the offseason, paving the way for Zach Miller to assume the No. 1 job on the roster. Miller is an extremely popular presence inside the locker room, but only time will tell if he can replicate Bennett’s impressive numbers on offense. Fresh off the best year of his NFL career, Miller, who re-signed with Chicago in the offseason, is hoping to double the statistics he put up in 2015 when he played alongside Bennett for much of the season.
Zach Miller
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 60 catches, 655 yards, 4 touchdowns
Over or under: I’ll take the over in all three categories. The only issue with Miller is health. He’s missed a ton of time in the NFL and even suffered a concussion early in camp this year that kept him out for 13 days. But from a talent standpoint, Miller proved last season he can play. Miller had a career-high five touchdown catches in 2015, tied for seventh-most among tight ends in Bears single-season history. And his 87-yard touchdown grab in a victory over St. Louis showcased his above average speed in the open field. Jay Cutler is one of the tight end’s biggest fans. That is another important factor.
Who else could see time: Undrafted Harvard rookie Ben Braunecker was making a push in camp until he suffered an ankle injury. Veteran Tony Moeaki has come on strong as of late, but he also has durability concerns. Expect the Bears to further address the tight end position next offseason, but for now Miller is the only real reliable weapon. If Miller goes down again, the Bears could be in real trouble.
