{"id":18297,"date":"2017-04-15T18:41:14","date_gmt":"2017-04-15T22:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=18297"},"modified":"2017-04-15T18:41:14","modified_gmt":"2017-04-15T22:41:14","slug":"fantasy-spotlight-2017-player-preview-jordan-howard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/04\/15\/fantasy-spotlight-2017-player-preview-jordan-howard\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Spotlight 2017 Player Preview: Jordan Howard"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fantasy Spotlight Player Preview<\/em> series focuses on players that are primed to make a fantasy impact in 2017. This week we focus on Chicago Bears<\/strong> second year running back Jordan Howard<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fantasy Spotlight 2017 Player Preview: Jordan Howard<\/a><\/h2>\n

2016 Draft<\/h3>\n

The Chicago Bears drafted Jordan Howard as the 150th<\/sup> overall pick in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft<\/strong>. Howard had just completed a\u00a01,213 yard rushing season at the University of Indiana<\/strong>. With Matt Forte<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0signing with the New York Jets<\/strong> during free agency, the Bears needed to add depth behind unproven running backs Jeremy Langford<\/a> <\/strong>and Ka’Deem Carey<\/strong>. According to NFL.com<\/strong><\/a>, Howard possessed a draft grade of 6.1. His grade was\u00a0third for running backs, behind only Ezekiel Elliott<\/a><\/strong> and Derrick Henry<\/a>.\u00a0Elliott and Henry<\/strong>\u00a0were the top two running backs selected in the draft. Howard was\u00a0the tenth\u00a0running back selected in 2016. On May 9, 2016, Howard signed a four year, $2.58 million contract with the Bears.<\/p>\n

Rookie Season<\/h3>\n

Howard impressed the Bears brass right away in the Preseason. Showing\u00a0great ball handling ability, as well as great evasiveness. During the Bears Preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns<\/strong>, Howard rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown solidifying his roster spot. Heading into week one, Howard was listed third on the depth chart behind both Langford and Carey. The Bears rookie was inactive for the first game of the season. However, Howard would be activated week two against the Philadelphia Eagles<\/strong>, a game in which he carried the ball three times for 22 yards. After amassing 92 total yards in a week three loss to the Dallas Cowboys<\/strong>, Howard then took\u00a0advantage of injuries to both Langford and Carey and showed off his abilities in his first career start week four against the Detroit Lions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the Bears 17-14 win at home, Howard was\u00a0sharp rushing for 111 yards on 23 carries. He also caught\u00a0three passes for 21 yards. The Bears rookie running back followed\u00a0up his debut performance with 163 total yards (118 rushing) and\u00a0his first career touchdown, a 21-yard reception in the Bears week five loss to the Indianapolis Colts<\/strong>. His first career rushing touchdown was scored week six against the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/strong>. Howard\u2019s most impressive performance came week eight against the third ranked Minnesota Vikings<\/strong> defense. With 202 total yards (153 rushing), Howard made a statement that he was here to stay. He was\u00a0named the NFC\u2019s offensive player of the week for that performance. Howard finished the season with seven 100+ yard rushing games. His 1,313 rushing yards were\u00a0second to fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott<\/a><\/strong>. He became\u00a0only the fifth rookie running back in Bears history to crack 1,000 yards rushing and only the second to be named to the Pro Bowl<\/strong>, Gale Sayers<\/a><\/strong> being the first.<\/p>\n

2017 Fantasy Impact<\/h3>\n

According to playerprofiler.com<\/a><\/strong>; Howard finished in the top ten in four major categories, rushing yards (2nd<\/sup>), big runs (3rd<\/sup>), evaded tackles (6th<\/sup>) and fantasy points (9th<\/sup>). Fellow Lastwordonprofootball.com<\/a><\/strong> fantasy writer Mike Randle<\/strong><\/a> recently participated in a 12-team PPR (points per reception) mock draft<\/a> on FantasyPros<\/strong>. Howard was taken with the first pick in the second round (13th<\/sup> overall). As Expected Elliott, David Johnson<\/a><\/strong> and Le’Veon\u00a0Bell<\/strong> were drafted first, second and third respectively. At 13th<\/sup> overall, Howard was the seventh running back selected. Devonta Freeman<\/a><\/strong> was picked seventh overall with LeSean McCoy<\/a><\/strong> and Melvin Gordon<\/a><\/strong> going tenth and 12th<\/sup>. While there is no debating the top three, a case most\u00a0certainly can be made for Howard to be drafted as high as fourth overall for running backs. Jordan Howard enters the 2017 season as the unquestioned number one running back in Chicago. Without question Howard\u00a0needs to improve on his pass catching skills (caught only 58% of targets in 2016). By doing that he will be a huge PPR asset in fantasy leagues for 2017.<\/p>\n

2017 Fantasy Spotlight Projections:<\/h3>\n

Rushing- 319 carries\/1506 yards\/10 touchdowns<\/strong><\/p>\n

Receiving- 41 receptions\/367 yards\/3 touchdowns<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n