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After playing seven years in the NFL, it appears that Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte is finally getting the much-needed respect he deserves from his peers. In this week’s edition of the NFLNetwork’s ‘Top 100 Players of 2015’, Forte was ranked as the 48th best player in the league.
This is the fifth installment of the Top 100 Players series, and Forte has now been on the list three times. Prior to his current No. 48 ranking, the two-time Pro Bowler made his first appearance among the league’s best in 2012 at No. 33. However, even with his consistent production on the field, Forte didn’t get enough votes from his fellow players to make the list the following year. After making the Pro Bowl for the 2013 season, Forte found himself back in the top 100 for 2014, but listed at a lowly 91.
During the 2014 season, the Bears’ second all-time leading rusher not only produced on the ground, but also contributed big time as a receiver, setting an all-time NFL record for receptions by a running back in a single season with 102. Even though Forte was snubbed from the Pro Bowl last year, his play was good enough to push him up 43 spots on the top 100 list.
Personally, I’m happy to see Forte ranked at least in the top half of the league’s best 100 players. But I might have ranked him a little higher, considering just how valuable he is to the Bears’ offense. Unfortunately, I believe that the number of unsuccessful years of Chicago not making the postseason has hurt Forte’s chances of consistently being mentioned as one of the NFL’s best players.
Forte finds himself ranked ahead of running backs Darren Sproles (81), Arian Foster (80), Justin Forsett (65), surprisingly Adrian Peterson (62) and Eddie Lacy (60). With new head coach John Fox calling the shots for the Bears in 2015 and having a reputation of running the ball a lot, I wouldn’t be surprised if Forte puts up big numbers once again and is placed even higher on next year’s top 100 list.
Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller.
