Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001

Bearing down

With Miller at quarterback, WRs Robinson and Booker have seen their fantasy values rise

By Jeff Agrest, Senior editor

After years of fantasy neglect, the Chicago Bears have themselves some players, and fantasy owners should pay attention. Since QB Jim Miller took the reins in Week Two, rallying the Bears past Minnesota, Chicago’s passing game has come to life.

The primary benefactors have been WRs Marcus Robinson and Marty Booker. Sunday at Atlanta, Robinson caught nine passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, and Booker caught a 63-yard TD pass. Booker also threw for a score, a 34-yard toss to Robinson.

Don’t look now, folks, but Booker, an unheralded third-round pick of the Bears from Northeast Louisiana in 1999, ranks sixth in the NFC with 19 receptions. He also has 207 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Booker has become an integral part of the Bears’ offense, and with QB experience in high school, he might have some chances to air it out, as he did Sunday.

Robinson appears to have made a complete recovery from back surgery, which sidelined him for the Bears’ opener in Baltimore. Since then, he’s caught 16 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Bears WR coach Todd Haley said there’s still a small concern about Robinson’s conditioning, but he added that Robinson’s confidence in his back is growing.

But it all starts with Miller. Though he’s not a fantasy starter just yet, he has proved to be a good backup — when he plays. In three seasons with the Bears, Miller has played only eight games and started five. In 1999, Miller missed the final four games after being suspended by the NFL. Last season he missed the final six games with an Achilles injury after replacing the injured Cade McNown in the starting lineup.

Entering this season, Miller had thrown for 1,624 yards and eight touchdowns as a Bear. In six quarters of action this season, he’s thrown for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Miller owns a strong arm and has looked like a standout in some games, like last year’s upset of the Colts. Most importantly, Miller has the confidence of his coaches and teammates, and the Bears’ offense takes a different shape with him in there.

Chicago hopes its upgraded passing game will jumpstart the running game, which ranks last in the league. The ground attack finally generated some yardage Sunday, as rookie Anthony Thomas set a team season high with 57 rushing yards while scoring the Bears’ first rushing touchdown of the year.

Both Robinson and Booker started for their teams in the PFW office fantasy league, and Miller is on a team’s taxi squad. Another Bears wideout who could figure in the mix at some point is rookie David Terrell, but for the time being, Booker has taken away his playing time. As for Thomas, he’s expected to see more action in the weeks to come and could wrestle important carries from James Allen.

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