Earl Bennett rushed three times for 31 yards on five targets against the Vikings in Week 17. After a three-game, mid-season renaissance with former Vanderbilt teammate Jay Cutler, Bennett was a forgotten man down the stretch under Caleb Hanie and Josh McCown. Even with six games lost to injury, Bennett earned a five-year, $18.55 million extension with a 24/381/1 line. He's likely to enter the 2012 season as the Bears' slot receiver.

Starting opposite Roy Williams, Earl Bennett was held to one catch for 49 yards on three targets in Chicago's Week 16 loss to the Packers. Bennett's grab was a doozy, as he was able to tack on roughly 35 yards after the catch on a routine comeback route by shaking multiple tacklers as he reversed fields. He was brought down at the one-yard line. Held to just four catches in five games since Jay Cutler broke his thumb, Bennett should be in for another quiet game in Week 17 even if he makes his second consecutive start.

Earl Bennett and Roy Williams both played 51 snaps in Week 15 to lead the Bears' receivers. 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 a Chicago wideout worth using in fantasy leagues the rest of the way.

Earl Bennett caught one pass for 20 yards in Week 15. Bennett is a non-factor without Jay Cutler at quarterback in Chicago.

Earl Bennett was held without a catch in Chicago's Week 14 loss to the Broncos. Bennett was targeted only one time, and now has just two catches in three games since Caleb Hanie took over for an injured Jay Cutler at quarterback. Bennett should remain quarantined to the waiver wire in all redraft leagues.

Earl Bennett caught one pass for five yards in Sunday's loss to the Bears. It was Bennett's second consecutive one-catch performance with Caleb Hanie under center, making it clear he's fallen off the fantasy radar with Jay Cutler out with a thumb injury. He can be safely dropped in redraft leagues.

Bears signed WR Earl Bennett to a four-year extension through 2014. Bennett had been in a contract year. The 24-year-old slot receiver has appeared in just six games this season, catching 18 passes for 276 yards and one touchdown. Bennett is short on playmaking ability, but has a nice rapport with currently injured quarterback Jay Cutler and is more well thought of by the front office than he should be. The Bears still need to find a physical outside threat to book end Bennett and Johnny Knox during the offseason. Bennett is far from Chicago's answer as a No. 1 wideout.

Earl Bennett caught one pass for five yards in the Bears' Week 12 loss to the Raiders. Bennett didn't seem to garner consistent snaps as the Bears went with run-heavy sets for much of the game. He also wasn't nearly as relied upon by Caleb Hanie as Jay Cutler, which was to be expected. Bennett is only worth rostering in PPR leagues going forward. In fantasy football, no player's value was more adversely affected by Cutler's loss than Bennett.

Earl Bennett caught three passes for 75 yards against the Chargers in Week 11. The NFL's credibility gap on what constitutes a catch continues. Bennett burned Antoine Cason for a 10-yard score only to have it overturned when it was ruled that he did not maintain control of ball through catch. Bennett continues to be Jay Cutler's favorite receiver, drawing a team-high nine targets. Keep him going as a WR3 option at Oakland in Week 12.

Earl Bennett caught a team-high six passes for 81 yards in the Bears' Week 10 win over the Lions. He efficiently hauled in each of his six targets. Bennett has come on as a respectable WR3 in PPR leagues, but his lack of dynamic talent is a negative in any other format. He'll remain a low-upside option in Week 11 against San Diego.