| Year |
Team |
Gms |
Plays |
Car |
Rush
Yards |
YPC |
Rush
TDs |
Fum |
Targets |
Catch |
Catch
Yards |
Catch
TDs |
Total
Yards |
Total
TDs |
100+ Yard
Gms |
1+ TD
Gms |
| 2005 |
CHI |
9 |
68 |
67 |
272 |
4.1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
275 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2006 |
CHI |
15 |
168 |
157 |
647 |
4.1 |
6 |
0 |
11 |
8 |
54 |
0 |
701 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
| |
Avg |
12 |
118 |
112 |
460 |
4.1 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
29 |
0 |
488 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
| 2006 Game Logs |
| Wk |
Opp |
Car |
RYd |
RTD |
Cat |
CYd |
CTD |
| 1 |
@GB |
11 |
34 |
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
DET |
10 |
25 |
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
SEA |
11 |
37 |
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
BUF |
14 |
48 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
|
| 6 |
@ARI |
1 |
4 |
|
1 |
8 |
|
| 8 |
SF |
8 |
26 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
| 9 |
MIA |
8 |
34 |
|
|
|
|
| 10 |
@NYG |
6 |
7 |
|
1 |
-1 |
|
| 11 |
@NYJ |
10 |
51 |
|
|
|
|
| 12 |
@NE |
10 |
46 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 13 |
MIN |
9 |
60 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 14 |
@STL |
16 |
64 |
|
|
|
|
| 15 |
TB |
15 |
53 |
1 |
|
|
|
| 16 |
@DET |
15 |
49 |
|
2 |
8 |
|
| 17 |
GB |
13 |
109 |
|
1 |
22 |
|
| 2005 Game Logs
|
| Wk |
Opp |
Car |
RYd |
RTD |
Cat |
CYd |
CTD |
| 1 |
@WAS |
3 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2 |
DET |
16 |
49 |
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
@CLE |
5 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
MIN |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
BAL |
2 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
@DET |
3 |
35 |
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
@NO |
14 |
79 |
|
|
|
|
| 10 |
SF |
12 |
50 |
|
|
|
|
| 17 |
@MIN |
9 |
35 |
|
1 |
3 |
|
2007 Outlook
The Bears have finally chosen to get a payoff on their first round pick in 2005 and after two “sit there and shut-up" seasons, any of the bravado that led Benson to his lengthy holdout is gone. Benson supported Thomas Jones again last year and gained 647 yards with six touchdowns in 2006. What’s intriguing is that Benson gained 4.1 yards per carry in both his shortened seasons and now takes over a rushing attack that produced 1856 yards between he and Jones last year with a total of 12 touchdowns. Before you decide that it all belongs to Benson now, realize that required 454 carries – about 40 more than the NFL record for rushing attempts.
To Benson’s benefit, the Bears have their typically soft rushing schedule and will once again feature a defense that will often hold the score down and allow the rushing game to take over. Thomas Jones has left for New York and while Adrian Peterson remains, this will be a heavy load season for Benson. Peterson has never had more than 76 carries in a season and that was pumped up by 24 rushes in a single game when Jones was out in 2005. This is Benson’s big opportunity only two years later than he thought it would come. The schedule is good, the depth chart is kind and the Bears like to run. Benson spent his entire life as a heavily-used running back so stepping up this year only returns him to a role he is used to playing.
Recent Priority News
06/09/08
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Bears have waived running back Cedric Benson after his latest arrest on charges of driving under the influence. Benson was also arrested less than five weeks ago on other alcohol related charges. "Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears."
Huddle Up: Benson, drafted fourth overall by the Bears, has never lived up to his lofty pick. He has underachieved on the field as well as off the field since coming into the league and his latest altercation with the law was obviously the last straw for the Bears. Chicago drafted rookie running back Matt Forte in this years draft and as expected he could play a vital role in the Bears running game now. Fantasy owners should look at Adrian Peterson (Bears version) and Matt Forte to be the primary ball carriers unless Chicago picks up another back somewhere else.
05/05/08
The Bears former first-round pick of the 2005 NFL draft was charged with being intoxicated while boating over the weekend and also for resisting arrest. "I was not intoxicated," Benson said. "There was alcohol on the boat and others were enjoying themselves, but I wasn't drunk."
"They gave me a field sobriety test, told me to say my ABCs and told me to count from 1 to 4 up and down," Benson told the Chicago Tribune. "I'm thinking, I passed all the tests, did everything right. Then the officer told me we needed to go to land to take more tests. I politely asked him why we needed to go to land to take more tests when I took every test. Then he sprayed me with mace, on his boat. "I'm not handcuffed. I'm not under arrest. I'm not threatening him. I'm not pushing him. I'm not touching him. And he sprays me right in my eye."
Huddle Up: Regardless of what happened in this incident this is very alarming for the Chicago Bears and Benson's status with the team. Benson has underachieved in his stint with Chicago and this could signal the end of his stay in the Windy City if he is found guilty of the charges. The Bears drafted RB Matt Forte from Tulane in the second round of this years draft and expects him to give Benson a run for the starters job in the offseason. Fantasy owners should stay away from Benson until his status with the team becomes more clear.
02/28/08
Benson underwent surgery to insert a small metal plate into his ankle to help heal his broken leg and hold his bone together. One unnamed source said that it could "cost him a step".
Huddle Up: That's hardly what Benson owners want to hear after an incredibly "slow" 2007 season. The Bears still have Garrett Wolf and Adrian Peterson (the lesser) but so far the 2008 season is not shaping up as promising for the Bears backfield.
11/27/07
Benson was officially ruled out for the rest of the
season on Monday due to an injury to his lower leg and
ankle suffered against the Broncos on Sunday.
Huddle Up: Another disappointing season ends prematurely for
Benson. Adrian Peterson will get the lion's share of
carries for the Bears the rest of the way.
11/26/07
Chicago running back Cedric Benson was carted off the field Sunday with what has been described by coach Lovie Smith as a "pretty good ankle injury." Benson carried the ball 8 times for 47 yards and busted a 21-yard run before departing with the ankle injury.
Huddle Up: The injury is considered serious with further evaluation to be done on Monday to determine the extent. It appears likely that Benson will miss the remainder of the season with this injury and is recommended that RB Adrian Peterson be acquired in all leagues as the potential replacement if Benson is out of action.
11/14/07
The Chicago Bears have had trouble all season running the ball consistently and may be in line to mix it up a little more in Week 11. ''We're not pleased with where our running game is right now,'' Coach Lovie Smith said.
Huddle Up: Expect the Bears to utilize reserve running back Adrian Peterson and rookie RB Garrett Wolfe more in the coming weeks as Cedric Benson has quickly fallen out of favor in Chicago. Peterson and Wolfe would both be a nice additions to fantasy teams since Rex Grossman will likely be inconsistent in the passing game and the Bears will look once again to the running game to move the chains.
Back to top of page |
