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With the kickoff of the NFL's regular season still a week away, that means were still technically in "list season." So if you aren't all listed out, we'll share the latest Top 100 player list, this time from ESPN.
This wasn't a list as selected by the players or the coaches, and this wasn't a list as selected by a handful of ESPN Insiders. For this one, ESPN asked over 70 experts, including NFL analysts, reporters and statisticians, some that work for ESPN and others outside of ESPN. Their voters also included former players and NFL front office members.
They asked each voter to rate players from 1 to 100, with a score of 100 equaling an all time of great and a 1 for a player who doesn't even belong in the NFL.
One Chicago Bears player made the cut, and as you probably guessed by now, here he is;
59. Matt Forte | Bears | Rating: 83.21
Here's a good trivia question: Over the past seven seasons, which player has led the NFL in yards from scrimmage? OK, so maybe we already gave it away, but remarkably, no player has more than Forte's 11,431 combined rushing and receiving yards over that span. Good but not incredible rushing totals obscure facts like the 102 catches Forte had in 2014, more than every NFL player not named Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas or Antonio Brown -- and a single-season record for RBs. "So smooth, with deceptive speed and quickness," said one voter. Forte's whole career has been deceptive.
Add it up: Forte has had at least 200 carries in seven consecutive seasons. Frank Gore is the only player with a longer active streak (nine).
I'm really excited to see how the Bears' run game shapes up this year. Forte will again be Chicago's lead back, but with a coaching staff that truly believes in rotating their runners, Forte could be fresher in the later weeks of the season for a change.
His overall touches will be down, but his average yards per carry should be up.
FYI, there was one former Bear on the list, checking in at #74 was Carolina tight end Greg Olsen.