Matt Forte: The Comeback Kid

It seems the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year race is usually decided well before the gun goes off. Was the case last year with Tom Brady, and appears to be the same this year with Brady’s teammate, Wes Welker.

While I admit I admire how hard Welker has worked to get back to peak playing condition, he wouldn’t be my first pick, nor do I imagine he would be the top choice for fantasy owners who also care a thing or two about players coming back from injuries.

Chicago’s Matt Forte played most of last year with a bum hamstring and knee – injuries that were kept hush-hush. Forte was the biggest fantasy disappointment of the year by a landslide, and as a result he slid into the third or fourth round of most fantasy drafts this summer.

But so far this season, Forte appears back on track. Only Arian Foster had a better fantasy performance in Week 1, and on Sunday Forte turned in a quiet 16-point effort. His yardage totals have been poor (2.9 yards per carry) but he is on pace to catch 72 balls and remains the Bears most versatile weapon.

Let Welker be crowned the NFL’s Comebacker Player of the Year; I like Forte to be my Fantasy Bounce Back Player of 2010.