Dane

Sanzenbacher

The Chicago Sun-Times’ Sean Jensen hears Bennett could miss at least two more games with the injury. The good news is that the Bears aren’t considering injured reserve as an option. Dane Sanzenbacher will continue to fill in out of the slot.

Rookie Dane Sanzenbacher will make another start at slot receiver after commanding seven targets and catching five, one for a touchdown, in Week 3 against the Packers. Sanzenbacher is worth a WR3 look in deeper leagues.

He had just three catches for 20 yards before getting hurt, and can be left on the wire in all formats. Keep an eye on replacement Dane Sanzenbacher tonight, as a good performance could make him an option in deeper PPR formats.

The Lions held a two-score lead for much of the quarter and were content to let the Bears throw underneath where Sanzenbacher operates. He got good news with Earl Bennett (chest) reportedly out a couple of weeks, but Sanzenbacher is just a weak WR3 until Bennett returns. He has more appeal in PPR leagues.

The fact that the Bears are praying for Bennett’s return is an indictment of their brutal receiving corps. It also suggests that the veteran will quickly get his slot job back from Dane Sanzenbacher once healthy. “I would have felt better if we would have been able to keep Earl in the mix,” Angelo said. “Earl established himself with Jay [Cutler].” Bennett isn’t expected back for a few more weeks.

Bennett is likely to play this week, bringing to an end Dane Sanzenbacher’s stint as the Bears’ slot receiver. Neither is worth owning in fantasy leagues.

Sanzenbacher has now made two or fewer catches in three of his past four games. With Earl Bennett (chest) expected back following the Bears’ Week 8 bye, Sanzenbacher is well off the fantasy radar.

With Johnny Knox ailing, the Bears have addressed receiver in a big way, trading for Brandon Marshall while drafting Alshon Jeffery and signing Thomas and Eric Weems. Sanzenbacher’s familiarity with the Bears’ offense could give him a leg up on Thomas, but Thomas is the far superior athlete and also capable of helping out on returns. Neither player will contribute in fantasy leagues.

"(Sanzenbacher) does the same stuff Earl does so now he can help out at the ‘X’ receiver, too,” OC Mike Martz said. “He actually plays four positions for us. He’ll be all over the place. And he’s going to start for us in our four-wide receiver sets.” Sanzenbacher can be dropped in all redraft leagues.

Bennett will join Williams in the starting lineup for Week 16 with Johnny Knox (back) done for the season and Devin Hester banged up. Playing just three offensive snaps, Hester worked behind rookie Dane Sanzenbacher (27). There is not a Chicago wideout worth using in fantasy leagues the rest of the way.