FanHouse ZackBowman

With the beginning of the NFL Network's glorious Thursday night football beginning this week, fantasy football FanHouse is bringing you a preview for each and every Thursday night game from here on out. You've already seen the rankings, but things can change before Sunday. One thing that can't change? Your lineup choices for the guys playing Thursday evening. That's why we're here.

The Bears enter the game having lost three of their last four (the one win was at home over the hapless Browns). Their defense has plummeted from a respectable unit to one pretty easily shredded, whether via ground or air. The Niners come in having lost four straight and five of their last six. They are ranked fourth in the NFL in run defense and 24th against the pass.

While those truly following the Bears' every move this offseason know the defensive backfield is a much greater concern than wide receiver, the masses are left trying to figure out who newly acquired quarterback Jay Cutler will be throwing to (the sheep can now insert, "no one!" and feel good about themselves).

After all, the leading receivers -- in terms of catches -- last season were running back Matt Forte and tight end Greg Olsen. Devin Hester was the top wideout, with 51 catches and 665 yards. Rashied Davis caught 35 balls, but no other wide receiver in training camp caught a single NFL pass in 2008.

With the departure of Mike Brown from the Bears, a hole was left in the Windy City secondary. Adding Josh Bullocks via free agency and drafting Al Afalava in the sixth round of the draft don't appear to be answers. With the roster seemingly set for the 2009 season, the Bears will have to find a free safety starter in-house. They have many cornerbacks, so moving one to safety could work well.

After wrapping up the first rookie mini-camp, Lovie Smith discussed some of the options.

Chicago Bears 2008 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (14): Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
Round 2 (44): Matt Forte, RB, Tulane
Round 3 (70): Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt
Round 3 (90): Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas
Round 4 (120): Craig Steltz, S, LSU
Round 5 (142): Zack Bowman, CB, Nebraska
Round 5 (158): Kellen Davis, TE, Michigan State
Round 7 (208): Ervin Baldwin, DE, Michigan State
Round 7 (222): Chester Adams, G, Georgia
Round 7 (243): Joey LaRocque, LB, Oregon State
Round 7 (247): Kirk Barton, OT, Ohio State
Round 7 (248): Marcus Monk, WR, Arkansas

The Good: The Bears did a great job of actually selecting players. It would not be the least bit surprising to see Williams, Forte and Bennett all starting come Week One. Bennett, in particular, looks like a steal. He caught 75 or more balls every year in college, makes up for being short by running great routes and has great hands. Harrison's talent is much higher than a third round grade as is Bowman's in the fifth but character and injury concerns, respectively, pushed them down. The others were all productive college players at successful programs and you could do worse than 6'4" wide receivers that run 4.45 40s with the 248th pick.

The Bad: Where's the quarterback? I like Forte a lot and think he will be a contributor from the get-go but is the difference between him and Cedric Benson really greater than that of Rex Grossman/Kyle Orton and Brian Brohm/Chad Henne?

In further proof that God is not a college football fan, Nebraska cornerback Zack Bowman will miss 4-6 months after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee in Wednesday's practice. Bowman was participating in spring drills at about 90% as he recovered form a torn ACL in his left knee, which kept him out of the 2006 season.

"We feel very badly for Zack," Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan said Thursday in a prepared statement. "He has worked diligently to rehabilitate his previous injury, and this is a tough setback for him. Zack has a tremendous attitude, and I expect that he will work just as hard to get back on the field this fall."

This is a huge blow for the Nebraska secondary which was counting on Bowman to lockdown one side of the field. Bowman had previously contemplated entering the 2007 NFL Draft, but ultimately decided he would benefit from another year in Lincoln. The best Nebraska fans can hope for might be getting Bowman back in time for a Big 12 North battle against Missouri on October 6. In his absence, Andre Jones and Cortney Grixby, the 2006 starters, will compete with JUCO Armando Murillo for the CB spots come August.