When wide receiver Eddie Royal signed with the Chicago Bears in the offseason, he was mostly expected to serve the same role he did with the San Diego Chargers as a high-percentage slot receiver. Plans change, though, and Royal could be playing a far bigger role than originally thought this season.
Eddie Royal’s fantasy stock on the rise after strong training camp
Eddie Royal has a chance to make a big impact in Chicago after drawing good reviews in training camp. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Kevin White, the No. 7 overall pick in May's draft, is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his shin. That leaves a spot open on the outside for Royal, who will be starting opposite Alshon Jeffery. Royal has drawn rave reviews in training camp, with Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times calling him the "camp MVP" and offensive coordinator Adam Gase comparing him to Wes Welker. Royal caught 62 passes for 778 yards and seven touchdowns with the Chargers last year.
Fantasy impact: Royal has always been a hit-or-miss WR3 in fantasy with big scoring weeks followed up by turkeys, but the hype might be genuine this time. With White on the shelf, the only other competition for outside receiver snaps is Marquess Wilson. The Bears figure to be airing out the ball a lot this season with their defense still a mess, so Royal has a good chance to improve on last year's numbers. His current ADP is in the 11th round, which is bound to rise over the rest of the preseason.
