Matt Forte Continues To Be NFL’s Most Underrated Player
By Clyde A. Speller
@ClydeASpeller
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday, the NFL announced the players who were voted to this season’s Pro Bowl. As usual, there were many well-deserving players who were left out, but the player who was the biggest snub of all was Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte.
Entering the final week of the season, Forte is third in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage (1,772), leads all running backs in receiving yards (785), is tops among all running backs in receptions and is sixth in the entire league with 94 (which is more than five receivers and all of the tight ends who were voted to the Pro Bowl).
Furthermore, Forte is 13 yards shy of his fifth 1,000-yard rushing season in his seven-year career despite Marc Trestman’s pass-heavy offense, and he has more catches and receiving yards than last year when he made the Pro Bowl.
Of course, the running backs who were voted to the Pro Bowl deserve this high honor as well. But looking at the statistics of Le’Veon Bell, Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster, LeSean McCoy, Marshawn Lynch and DeMarco Murray, there could be a legitimate argument saying that Forte should have taken the place of Charles, seeing that he gained over 500 more yards from scrimmage than him.
Unfortunately, Forte’s shortcoming could be due to Chicago’s disappointing season. It’s a shame that the Bears’ second all-time leading rusher has to suffer for the team’s failures, even after producing career numbers.
Forte still may play in this season’s Pro Bowl, in the event that one of the running backs pulls out due to a lingering injury or if one is playing in Super Bowl XLIX. However, even if Forte does get a chance to represent the Bears in Arizona, it doesn’t change the fact that he is hands down the most underrated player in the NFL.
Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller.
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